Uefa Europa Conference League first qualifying round, second leg
Linfield 3 Stjarnan 2 (Agg: 3-4)
LINFIELD defeated Stjarnan 3-2 at Windsor Park but lost 4-3 on aggregate to make an early exit from the Europa Conference League.
The defeat ends a miserable week for Irish League sides in Europe, with Larne and Crusaders also exiting the competition at the first hurdle.
Gudmundur Kristjansson scored an early own-goal for the Blues before Emil Atlason levelled the tie after half-time.
It looked like the game was heading to extra-time after goals from Matthew Orr and Matthew Fitzpatrick, but Hilmar Haldorsson scored late on to win it for Stjarnan.
Making just the one change from last week’s defeat in Iceland, David Healy was looking for goals as Fitzpatrick came into the side to partner Chris McKee in attack and the move appeared to put the hosts on the front foot as they opened the scoring after only seven minutes.
Wing-wizard Joel Cooper supplied a whipped cross and Stjarnan captain Kristjansson misjudged his header and the ball flashed into his own net to give the Blues the perfect start.
The game took on an end-to-end pattern after the goal with both sides showing an attacking ability, but Linfield should have doubled their advantage just after the 20-minute mark.
Chris Shields played a long, straight through ball that sent Chris McKee clear on goal.
The striker attempted to curl a shot beyond the keeper but he got his direction off course as his effort sailed wide of the far post.
Minutes later the visitors almost had a goal of their own when Robert Thorkelsson found himself with a glorious opportunity inside the penalty area but Sam Roscoe threw himself at the ball to make a vital block.
As the heavens opened on Windsor Park there remained just the one goal between the sides at the break.
The Icelandic side came out battling in the second period and shocked the Blues with a goal on 57 minutes to draw level on the night and go 3-1 up on aggregate. Robert Thorkelsson fired in a corner and Atlason stooped lowest to head home from close range.
Chris Johns kept Linfield in the tie afterwards with some fine saves, and just as it looked like Healy’s men were on their way out, up popped Orr on 70 minutes to make it game-on!
Kirk Millar cut inside and his left foot cross was met with the most delicate of headers by substitute defender Orr.
Just six minutes later and Linfield were back on level terms overall in the tie. After some agricultural defending at the heart of the Stjarnan defence, Fitzpatrick swivelled and delivered an angled shot inside the penalty area that found it’s way into the back of the net.
As expectation grew of a grandstand finish, Linfield hearts were broken just two minutes from time as Stjarnan grabbed a goal that would see them progress. Hakur Brink pulled the ball back across the face of goal for the in-rushing Haldorsson to fire home.
Chris Shields also received a red card in stoppage time for a foul on an Icelandic attacker but it mattered little as another European adventure came to an end for the Blues.
Linfield: Johns, McGee, Whiteside, Roscoe, McKay, Shields, McClean, Millar, Cooper, Fitzpatrick, McKee.
Subs: Walsh, McBrien, Ballantyne, Archer, Mulgrew, McCullough, Annett, Chapman, Orr.
Stjarnan: Rosenorn, Aegisson, Ingimarsson, Kristjansson, Orvarsson, Thorkelsson, Laxdal, Kjartansson, Eggertsson, Omarsson, Atlason
Subs: Olafsson, Oddgeirsson, Halldorsson, Birgisson, Valdimarsson, Adolphsson, Nokkvason, Matthiasson, Gudlaugsson, Ingasson, Brink.
