Linfield exit Champions League

Linfield 0 - 0 AEL Limassol

Published Thursday, 26 July 2012

Linfield are out of the Champions League after Limassol took a draw from their second leg tie at Windsor Park to progress 3-0 on aggregate.

Mark McAllister and Maykon Arajo during Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier. (© Pacemaker)

PICTURE

GALLERY

Ryan Henderson and Edwin Ouon during Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier between Linfield and AEL Limassol.

Billy Joe Burns and Edwin Ouon during Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier between Linfield and AEL Limassol.

Mark McAllister and Carlitos during Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier between Linfield and AEL Limassol.

Rui Miguel spurned an early chance for the Cypriots but Ryan Henderson then forced a great save from keeper Matias Degra with a header.

Peter Thompson and Daryl Fordyce gave the Argentine goalkeeper some work to do in the second half.

Limassol's aggregate victory sets up a clash with Partizan Belgrade.

The kick-off was delayed for around five minutes because the referee was not satisfied with the pitch markings.

A Limassol side boasting players from Brazil, Argentina and Portugal showed some adept touches early on as Linfield struggled to get a foothold in the tie.

Portuguese star Miguel came close to scoring for the visitors in the 14th minute as he only had Alan Blayney to beat after a thrusting move but he shot wide.

Linfield began to feel their way into the match and a delightful bit of skill by Jamie Mulgrew set up Henderson's 21st-minute headed effort.

Mulgrew's stepover completely bamboozled the Limassol rearguard and Henderson cleanly connected with Stephen Douglas' cross which pushed Degra to make a full-length tip over the crossbar.

Brazilian Edmar fired at Blayney with a stinging drive after the start of the second period, but Linfield continued to soldier on and Thompson failed to get a clean touch on a chance in the 68th minute.

As Limassol poured forward, Michalis Konstantinou and English-born Ghanaian international Chris Dickson went close to opening the deadlock with Blayney denying the latter effort.

But Linfield almost grabbed a morale-boosting winner in injury-time as substitute Fordyce forced another good stop from Degra.

Comments

2 Comments

s magowan in belfast wrote (302 days ago):

What Irish League needs is a massive cash injection to raise standards in the game here.Linfied by far are the best supported team here at the moment and they are not allowed to exceed their budget which has been set by the IFA.If they overspend they are deducted ten points in the league.Irish League football will remain stagnant until full time professional football is introduced here and the executive at Stormont realise that football is the national sport in this country,and pump more money into the game here.

David in spain wrote (302 days ago):

The usual outcome of Linfield in europe,Linfield will never progress in europe unless they invest in better quality players,cyprus is a country with a similar population to Northern Ireland,how can they attract players from around the world,when we are a stone throw from England,a stepping stone for any good player who is trying to make it,the ifa is the second oldest association in world football,we get worse while the rest of the world gets better,Northern ireland football is a joke,no wonder nobody goes anymore.