Uefa Conference League round-up: Troy Parrot on the double as Larne and Linfield progress
Despite the first-leg defeat, the Republic of Ireland striker had a goal and an assist last week and he struck a double within 26 minutes in the second leg to give AZ control of the tie once again.
Ernest Poku, Denso Kasius and Mees de Wit added further goals on a comfortable night for the side from the Netherlands.
Irish League sides Larne and Linfield both advanced to the next round, but there was disappointment for Dungannon Swifts.
After a goalless first leg, Larne travelled to Kosovo to take on Prishtina but went behind to an early Gjelbrim Taipi strike.
Dan Bent's 56th-minute strike sent the tie to extra-time though and with no further goals, the Inver Park men advanced on penalties and it was goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson who was the hero as he scored in the shoot-out before securing their spot in the next round by saving from Ramiz Bytyqi to secure a 5-4 win on penalties.
Linfield also carried a 0-0 scoreline into their second leg, but they were comfortable winners at Windsor Park as they defeated Lithuanian side Zalgiris 2-0.
Former Antrim full-forward Matthew Fitzpatrick opened the scoring with a header in the sixth minute and although Chris Shields saw a penalty saved, Kieran Offord grabbed a second 12 minutes before the interval.
Dungannon, meanwhile, were unable to build on last week's win in Liechtenstein as FC Vaduz won 3-0 after extra-time.
The game turned on Tiernan Kelly's first-half dismissal for the Swifts with Mats Hammerich eventually breaking the resistance of the 10 men in the 79th minute before Mischa Eberhard put the visitors ahead on aggregate in extra-time at Solitude, home of fellow Irish League side Cliftonville. Nicolas Hasler added a third for the away side at the death.
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a day ago
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Uefa Conference League round-up: Troy Parrot on the double as Larne and Linfield progress
Troy Parrott was on the double as AZ Alkmaar made amends for their shock 4-3 Uefa Conference League qualifying first leg loss to Finnish side Ilves with a comfortable 5-0 win at home. Despite the first-leg defeat, the Republic of Ireland striker had a goal and an assist last week and he struck a double within 26 minutes in the second leg to give AZ control of the tie once again. Ernest Poku, Denso Kasius and Mees de Wit added further goals on a comfortable night for the side from the Netherlands. Irish League sides Larne and Linfield both advanced to the next round, but there was disappointment for Dungannon Swifts. After a goalless first leg, Larne travelled to Kosovo to take on Prishtina but went behind to an early Gjelbrim Taipi strike. Dan Bent's 56th-minute strike sent the tie to extra-time though and with no further goals, the Inver Park men advanced on penalties and it was goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson who was the hero as he scored in the shoot-out before securing their spot in the next round by saving from Ramiz Bytyqi to secure a 5-4 win on penalties. Linfield also carried a 0-0 scoreline into their second leg, but they were comfortable winners at Windsor Park as they defeated Lithuanian side Zalgiris 2-0. Former Antrim full-forward Matthew Fitzpatrick opened the scoring with a header in the sixth minute and although Chris Shields saw a penalty saved, Kieran Offord grabbed a second 12 minutes before the interval. Dungannon, meanwhile, were unable to build on last week's win in Liechtenstein as FC Vaduz won 3-0 after extra-time. The game turned on Tiernan Kelly's first-half dismissal for the Swifts with Mats Hammerich eventually breaking the resistance of the 10 men in the 79th minute before Mischa Eberhard put the visitors ahead on aggregate in extra-time at Solitude, home of fellow Irish League side Cliftonville. Nicolas Hasler added a third for the away side at the death.
