LARNE came from a goal down to win against Tre Fiori at Inver Park on Tuesday evening to win the match 2-1 and seal progress to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.
After coming into the second leg with a slender lead earned in San Marino a week ago, it was Tre Fiori who struck first with 11 minutes on the clock.
Nico Manara’s cross from the left reached experience frontman Matteo Prandelli but his airshot inadvertently allowed him to feed the ball out left to Pietro Mengucci.
The winger then took and touch before slicing a shot goalwards which caught goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson unaware with the ball sailing between his legs and into the far corner of the goal.
Haveron’s men settled themselves as the game went on, however, and drew level with 25 minutes on the clock from a pinpoint set piece.
Conor McKendry’s progress down the right flank was halted abruptly allowing Ronan Doherty to float a free-kick to the back post, which was misjudged by visiting goalkeeper Michele Nardi allowing towering defender Matt Ridley to head into an unguarded goal.
The visitors’ task was made that bit more straightforward on 63 minutes when Tre Fiori were reduced to 10 men.
Defender Simone Rea, who had just received a card for asking to a Larne player to be cautioned, tugged back Matty Lusty in a dangerous position to receive his marching orders to leave his side with a huge task – now a man down and a goal down.
The was then over as a contest with 21 minutes remaining. Matty Lusty, who had been a livewire across both ties, ran at a tiring backline and was fouled just inside the box by Brando Sami.
Norwegian referee Sigurd Kringstad immediately pointed to the spot and allowed Dan Bent to step up and slot into the top right corner of the goal to put Larne 3-1 up on aggregate.
Tre Fiori substitute Mohamed Ben Kacem somehow scooped the ball over the crossbar with an empty goal at his mercy, before finishing with nine men when substitute Tommaso Bernardi fouled Tomas Cosgrove and then received a second yellow straight away for something he said to leave his side two men light.
Larne will now face FK Crvena zvezda.(Red Star Belgrade) in Round 2, with the home leg taking place on Tuesday 21st July at 8pm. You can purchase your tickets HERE.
Larne: Ferguson, Ridley, Donelly, Gallagher, McKendry (’58 McEneff), S Graham (’80 Simpson), Doherty (’76 Sloan), Cosgrove, Bent, Lusty (’80 O’Neill), Gibson (’58 O’Hara)
Subs: Collett, D Graham, Wallace, Magee, Ukek
Tre Fiori: Nardi, D’Addario (’58 Ben Kacem), Sancisi, Sami, Rea, Syku, Prandelli (’58 Ponticelli), Benedettini, Mengucci. Bertani (’83 Cesoni), Manara (’72 Bernardi)
Subs: Castagnoli, Pesaresi, Dolcini, Sirri, Terenzi
Referee: Sigurd Kringstad (Norway)
