Soccer

Pat's turn it around against IBV

Europa League qualifiers : First half goals from Ian Daly and Derek Doyle saw St Patrick’s Athletic through to the Europa League…

Thu Jul 07 2011 - 01:00

Europa League qualifiers: First half goals from Ian Daly and Derek Doyle saw St Patrick's Athletic through to the Europa League's second qualifying round at the expense of Iceland's IBV Vestmannaeyjar at Richmond Park.

Trailing 1-0 from the away leg, Pat’s needed to take the game to their opponents but remain disciplined at the back. They did both.

Daly stretched to finish Stephen Bradley’s cross in the 24th minute and Doyle sent Pat’s ahead on aggregate when heading home after Evan McMillan did well to keep Danny North’s miscued effort in play.

The visitors controlled a good portion of possession in the early stages of the second half but were unable to breach a resolute home defence and North remained an outlet for Pat’s on the counter.

READ MORE

As the game wore the Icelandic side’s frustration grew and a late challenge on Bryan Shortall almost led to a goal on the break for Daryl Kavanagh, but his shot flew narrowly wide.

Still, a goal was all that was needed for IBV, which made for a nervy closing spell in which Matt Garner shot straight at Gary Rogers and then saw a header come back off the crossbar.

Pat’s survived and now face a trip to Kazakhstan to face FC Shakhter Karagandy on Thursday next.

Olimpija Ljubljana's3-0 win over Bosnian side Široki Brijeg means the Slovenian outfit await the visit of Bohemianson the same day.

Fulhamwere held to a frustrating goalless draw by Faroe Island part-timers NSI Runavikin their second leg - but still progressed.

Martin Jol's side will face the Crusadersof Northern Ireland after completing a 3-0 aggregate victory over the minnows.

Damien Duff hit the crossbar after five minutes and then sliced a shot over from six yards out as Fulham peppered the NSI goal but they could not find a breakthrough.

It was the hosts who created the only clearcut chance of the second half when Klaemint Olsen shot wide from inside the box.

Cliftonvillewere knocked out by Welsh side TNS on a 2-1 aggregate scoreline, while Glentoranwent to extra-time with Macedonian side Renovawith the scores locked at 3-3.