Ten-man Cliftonville crash out of Conference League after extra-time heartbreak against Gibraltar outfit

Belfast Telegraph

5 days ago

The Reds have endured no shortage of European sob stories in recent years but this one might just top the lot, with nightmare starts to both the regulation 90 minutes and the additional 30 costing them a second qualifying round date with Shamrock Rovers.
Behind inside the first minute, Jim Magilton's side levelled before half-time and even took the lead in the minutes after having defender Odhran Casey controversially sent off.
As had been the case in last week's first leg in Gibraltar — when they also went 2-1 up despite being a man light — they were unable to maintain that advantage for long and, when the contest went to extra-time, barely 90 seconds had elapsed by the time the visitors bagged what proved to be the winner.
The Reds made two changes to the side that lined up at Europa Point Stadium for last week's first leg, with the suspended Jack Keaney — who was sent off early in the second-half of that game — replaced at the back by Shaun Leppard, while former Glenavon and Larne ace Micheal Glynn came in for Shea Kearney, who has since completed a move to Scottish Championship outfit Dunfermline Athletic.
Harry Wilson, for whom injury brought about a swift exit in the first leg, was fit enough to resume his role in midfield, while up front Ryan Curran partnered Joe Gormley on the night the 35-year-old became Cliftonville's most capped European performer on his 19th appearance on the Uefa stage.
His and the Reds' night, however, got off to the worst possible start when St Joseph's took the lead inside the first minute. What initially looked like a routine ball over the top suddenly spelt danger for the hosts as Rodriguez got there ahead of Leppard and worked his way past Odhran Casey to set himself up for a cool finish.
The hosts' response was positive with Rory Hale appealing for handball when his shot was charged down inside the box before the resulting corner delivery saw Casey head against the bar. On 20 minutes, Saints goalkeeper Bradley Banda used his feet to keep out a Gormley strike from a tricky angle before the striker sent another attempt just wide after being teed up by Wilson.
Gormley then thundered off target after plucking a Hale pass out of the air and Curran dragged a left footed attempt across the face of goal as the Reds pinned the visitors deep inside their own half.
Just when it looked like their momentum was starting to slow came the leveller; St Joseph's paying the price for allowing Glynn far too much time and space and, with the Gibraltarians seemingly inviting him to shoot, he duly obliged by steering a well-placed effort into the bottom corner.
A rasping long-range strike from Hale drew Banda into an unorthodox save in the last notable action of a fiery first-half, while the second period started with the keeper turning a Jonny Addis blast over the bar.
Banda also did well to save a shot from Casey but the home defender's involvement only lasted a few more minutes when, already on a booking, he received a second card for a challenge on Alvaro Rey - one which he emerged from with the ball, but which was too robust for Swiss referee Sven Wolfensberger's liking.
Even so, Cliftonville took the lead just four minutes later when Glynn did well to play Luke Conlan into space and, though his cross looked to have too much on it, Hale did tremendously to keep it alive and Gormley produced acrobatics to turn it in from close range.
Within three minutes, though, the Saints were level with a goal that bore a resemblance to their second goal in Gibraltar, with the hosts' inability to clear their lines punished by Juanma picking his spot from distance.
Both teams had their chances to win it in 90 minutes, none better than when Conlan did superbly to put Conor Falls through on goal deep into injury-time, only for Banda's fingertips to turn his shot against the post.
When extra-time started, just as they had done at the start of the night, the Reds found themselves picking the ball out of their own net almost immediately when a scramble inside the box saw sub Hugo Jesslen wheeling away after appearing to get the slightest of nicks on the ball.
Dead on their feet, Cliftonville did everything they could to force penalties and, having all but abandoned defending, saw Lewis Ridd make a fine stop to deny Jesslen a second right at the death - not that it mattered, with the Saints holding on to book their trip to Dublin.
Cliftonville: Ridd, Pepper, Addis, Wilson (McCay 99), Hale (Hawthorne 99), Curran (Gordon 74), Leppard (Sheridan 116), Conlan, Gormley (Falls 81), Glynn (Corrigan 81), Casey. Unused subs: Morrison, Murray, Mahoney.
St Joseph's: Banda, Jolley, Javi Paul, Barba, Manuel Sanchez, Rodriguez (Javi Forjan 62), Rey (Santos 107), Gabri Cardozo (Gibson 66), Juanma (Amadou 90), Alvarez (Jesslen 90), Armental (Martinez 62). Unused subs: Zappacosta, Olivero, Volz.