UCD triumph in Uefa Youth League to advance to second round

The UCD team starting XI against Stjarnan pose for a team photo before their Youth League first leg at the UCD Bowl

The UCD team starting XI against Stjarnan pose for a team photo before their Youth League first leg at the UCD Bowl Credit: UCD

UCD advanced to the second qualifying round of the Uefa Youth League with a 5-3 aggregate win over Stjarnan of Iceland.

The Sky Blues held a commanding 3-0 first leg advantage before making the trip to Iceland with goals from Adam Brennan, Roy Lawlor and Odhran MacLaughlin.

And while they were defeated 3-2 away from home, they went through.

But it was far from straightforward for Shane Fox’s young side.

Olafur Vidar Sigurdsson gave Stjarnan an early lead to set the tone, though MacLaughlin levelled matters on the night just before the half-time break.

Second half goals from Ingolfur Gauti Ingason Hafþor Andri Benediktsson brought Stjarnan back into the tie that looked to have got away from them.

But UCD shrugged them off late on when Hugh Parker settled it in the 90th minute.  

They will now face 2 Korriku of Kosovo in the second round. The first leg will take place on October 23 in Kosovo, while the second leg is scheduled to be played at the UCD Bowl on November 6.

The winners of the tie will face the winners of the two-legged showdown between Dinamo Kyiv and Maribor in the third round of the competition.

It ensures a fine season in Belfield will continue for at least another month, with the side winning the Enda McGuill Cup last weekend against Sligo Rovers at home.



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