Fenn fires home vital away goal for Cork

Uefa Cup second qualifying round/Djurgardens IF 1 Cork City 1: Cork City's renewed efforts to fly in the face of historical precedent by launching smash-and-grab raids from Ireland on Sweden yielded more precious loot last night in Stockholm. Emmet Malone in Stockholm

Having beaten Malmo on the road a year ago, the southerners earned a fine draw at the Rasunda stadium where Neale Fenn's early away goal gave the Irish side an important edge in this Uefa Cup second qualifying round tie.

The Swedes equalised as the game moved into the closing stages but Damien Richardson, whose side has lost just once in 16 games away from home this season, was justifiably proud afterwards of a performance that leaves the Eircom League leaders with a serious chance of progressing when the tie is concluded in two weeks' time.

"We could have won," observed the City boss, "because we created a couple of very good chances but didn't take them and that's the only thing I would say we have to improve on at this level. But I'm not complaining because on balance a draw is a fair result and it was a good night for me because my team showed they have ability and they have character."

Richardson had said beforehand his team would look to play their own game but even he must have been surprised early on by the extent to which the locals stood off his players in midfield and around the edge of the box.

Neither Fenn nor Dan Murray enjoyed the best of starts with both surrendering possession more than once in the early exchanges but each more than made amends with their role in the goal. It came after nine minutes as Murray sent the ball out to the left flank from where Fenn, with help of Roy O'Donovan along the way, worked his way across the edge of the area before firing low between Gambian Dembo Tourray and post.

"I just remember thinking that if they give me a little bit of space I'll get a shot away," said Fenn, "because it was early in the game and I wanted to test the 'keeper. Luckily for me it went in and while I had quite a good chance later on I'm happy, they're the best team I've played against in Europe and it's a great result for us."

The goal prompted the expected response from the 100 or so travelling supporters in the stands and a predictable shift in the pattern of the game with the Swedes pressing forward. They failed even to get a shot on target during the hour that followed, however, and while there were two or three worrying moments for the visiting back four it was still City who came closer to doubling their lead when only fine defending by Matias Concha prevented first John O'Flynn and then, seconds later, Liam Kearney from scoring from close range.

Before the half was even over there were signs the crowd was turning on its team and the coach, Kjell Jonevret, initially seemed incapable of shaking his players up either at the break or after it as he threw on first Ibrahim Ba, once of Milan, then Patrick Amoah and Kari Arnason to liven up the search for an equaliser.

Richardson, meanwhile, stuck with a line-up that was serving him very well. In central midfield Greg O'Halloran was again a key figure, acting as City's first line of defence and winning a good deal of possession while behind him Murray and co never let the work-rate slip.

Out wide, Liam Kearney was outstanding, carrying the ball forward effectively and almost always using it well. It was his cross that set up Fenn midway through the second period when the striker, after a fine piece of skill to elude two defenders, should have done a good deal better with the shot.

The miss was to prove costly as the Djugardens substitutes were beginning to make their presence felt at the other end where Arnason finally forced Michael Devine into making his first real save 17 minutes from time. Moments later the same player should have powered the ball past the goalkeeper from close range but shot weakly straight at him instead.

A goal, though, now looked almost inevitable and it came 10 minutes from time when a cross from Tobias Hysen, a son of former Liverpool star Glenn, was turned goalwards by Amoah. Devine got a touch but not enough of one and Murphy's attempt to clear off the line wasn't sufficient to keep it out.

In injury time Alan Bennett looked to have turned another ball by Hysen into his own net but Devine saved brilliantly.

DJUGARDENS IF: Tourray; Concha, Kuivasto, Johannesson, Stenman; Arneng, Hysen, Barsom (Arnason, 71 mins); Jonson (Ba, half-time), Kusi-Asare, Sjolund (Amoah, 66 mins).

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan (Woods, 86 mins), Gamble, O'Halloran, Kearney; Fenn (O'Brien, 80 mins), O'Flynn.

Referee: O Oriekhov (Ukraine).