Uefa Europa Conference League second qualifying round, first leg
Cliftonville 1 FK Auda 2
CLIFTONVILLE have it all to do in a week’s time after conceding late on to lose 2-1 to Latvian side FK Auda in the first leg, second round qualifier in the Europa Conference League at Solitude.
After a miserable week for Irish League sides last week in Europe, there was conscious optimism that Jim Magilton’s side could buck the trend, but it wasn’t to be.
Abiodun Ogunniyi put the visitors ahead in the opening period before Luke Conlan equalised. However, just as it looked like it may finish a draw Abdulrahman Taiwo scored the winner to make the Latvians favourite in next week’s return leg.
Auda started the brighter of the sides and it was evident that they were midway through a domestic season, however, it was the Reds who could have taken the lead on the quarter-hour mark. Sean Stewart whipped in a dangerous ball to the back post, which found new man Ruaidhri Donnelly, but the former Glentoran man had his close-range effort well saved by Krisjanis Zviedris in goal for the Latvian side.
There were some nerves in the Cliftonville defence thereafter, with Michael Newberry being caught in possession near his own area, and they were made to pay on 32 minutes when the visitors went ahead.
After more confusion in the home box from a corner, the ball bounced to Ogunniyi, and the 22-year-old fired in a volley past David Odumosu from six yards out.
But just seven minutes later, the Reds were back on level terms.
Conlan pounced on some poor defending from Shea Gordon’s corner to make it 1-1 and make the home faithful believe that a result could be on the cards.
On the hour mark, Magilton’s side had a fantastic chance to take the lead. Stewart again showcased his delivery expertise with a teasing cross that flashed across the six-yard area. But, somehow it evaded everyone - including Ryan Curran, and Donnelly who just couldn’t get on the end of it.
As Cliftonville grew more and more into the game, they were dealt a hammer blow with just 13 minutes remaining.
Taiwo skipped past the challenge of Jonny Addis before dispatching the ball past Odumosu. The Reds battled hard but failed to produce a clear threat thereafter, and now must re-energise themselves for a tricky tie next week in the Baltics.
Cliftonville Odumosu, Pepper, Stewart, Addis, Newberry, Kearney, Curran, Donnelly, Conlon, Gordon, Doherty
Subs Breen, Leppard, Jordan, Gormley, McGuiness, Berry, Wylie, Corrigan, Sheridan
FK Auda Zviedris, Hrvoj, Clemente, Ogunniyi, Mane, Melniks, Korotkovs, Taiwo, Bosancic, Tavares, Talla
Subs Sturins, Saveljevs, Ramos, Ogunji, Isajevs, Rubenis
