- Gavin White
- Thu, Jul 14 2016
Cork City produced a brilliant performance away to Swedish side BK Hacken to earn a 1-1 draw in the first-leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie.
City took the lead, and secured a vital away goal, through a Sean Maguire penalty just after the hour mark. However, Hacken, who were reduced to ten men, managed to salvage an equaliser in the 83rd minute through John Owoeri.
The Swedish side were considered heavy favourites going into the first-leg on their 4G pitch but it was City who started the game brighter, showing the sharpness wrought from being in the middle of their domestic season.
Gary Buckley had an early chance fly high and wide after three minutes before City had the ball in the back of the Swedes’ net three minutes later. Maguire had drilled home from just outside the box but celebrations were cut short when the French referee Amaury Delerue blew for a hand ball in the build-up.
City had another great chance from a set-piece when Kevin O’Connor swung in a dangerous ball that was headed back into the danger area by Alan Bennett, but Hacken 'keeper Peter Abrahamsson smothered as Buckley was about to pull the trigger.
It wasn’t until 27 minutes that the Swedes hit the target when Rasmus Schuller had a shot comfortably saved by Mark McNulty.
However, the City 'keeper would be forced into a much more difficult save soon after. Poor play from Gearoid Morissey led to Paulinho intercepting and his shot brought a wonderful save from McNulty initially before Kenny Browne helped remove the danger.
As the second-half progressed past the hour mark, drama unfolded as Dooley was played in after good work from Maguire and Steven Beattie.
Dooley was then taken down by Mensah, who received a straight red as the City winger was through on goal. Maguire stepped up and converted his third penalty in three Europa League games to give City the lead and an invaluable away goal.
Despite being down to ten, Hacken went in search of an equaliser and nearly found one after a poor clearance from McNulty led to Kevin O’Connor clearing off the line as Paulinho attempted an audacious chip.
Hacken did grab an equaliser, however. Paulinho’s dangerous free-kick was palmed away initially by McNulty, but Owoeri was there to volley home to give the hosts something to bring to Cork.
City will go into the second-leg a little disappointed having had the extra man for most of the second-half, but their away goal gives them the advantage and plenty to play for next week in Turner’s Cross.
BK Hacken: Peter Abrahamsson; Baba Mensah, Emil Wahlstrom, Jasmin Sudic, Kari Arkivuo (Egzon Binaku 78); Rasmus Schuller; Nasiru Mohammed (Joel Andersson 66), Samuel Gustafsson, Martin Ericsson (Demba Savage 56), Paulinho; John Owoeri.
Substitutes: Christoffer Kallkvist, Mohammed Abubakari, Alexander Jeremejeff, Adam Andersson.
Red Card: Baba Mensah (63).
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Michael McSweeney, Alan Bennett, Kenny Browne, Kevin O'Connor; Greg Bolger; Steven Beattie (Karl Sheppard 74), Gearóid Morrissey, Garry Buckley (Mark O'Sullivan 85), Stephen Dooley; Sean Maguire (Colin Healy 90).
Substitutes: Matthew Connor, Gavan Holohan, Danny Morrissey, Ian Turner.
Booked: Greg Bolger (33), Michael McSweeney (72).
Referee: Amaury Delerue (France).
