Sports Direct Irish Premiership
Crusaders 1-3 Glentoran
Glentoran came from behind to win 3-1 over Crusaders in an enthralling Irish Premiership tie at Seaview this evening.
The Glens’ manager Declan Devine will be ecstatic with his substitutions as all three of their goals came from the bench.
Jordan Forsythe opened the scoring early on for Crusaders and it remained that way until the last 15 minutes when they fell apart. Goals from Jordan Jenkins, Charlie Lindsay and Wassim Aouachria did the damage and left the hosts shell-shocked and pointless.
After a bright opening, it was Crusaders’ dangerman Kieran Offord who had the first real opportunity of the game after only three minutes. However, the Scot could only drag his effort across the face of goal and out for a goal-kick.
Danny Amos then had the Glens’ first shot on target from distance on 20 minutes. But Crues’ stopper Jonny Tuffey was more than equal to the effort. Declan Devine’s side were to pay for this missed opportunity just four minutes later when the hosts grabbed the opener.
Full-back Jarlath O’Rourke took a trademark corner, and it was playmaker Jordan Forsythe who lost his marker inside the Glens’ box and powered home a header into the net - much to the enjoyment of the Seaview faithful.
The goal seemed to spark the away team into action, and they almost got back on level terms on the half-hour mark when Marcus Kane’s delivery was nodded on by Amos before David Fisher latched onto a rebound.
The ball looked destined for the back of the net but defender Jimmy Callacher came to the rescue with a tremendous clearance to keep Declan Caddell’s side ahead at the break.
A tetchy start to the second period had Crusaders looking towards the final whistle, but Devine’s troops had other ideas and struck back with 15 minutes on the clock.
Aaron Wightman’s cross into the box was half cleared by Callacher, but only to substitute Jenkins who controlled the ball before firing home. This was to be the beginning of a spectacular implosion from the home side.
Four minutes later the scoreline was turned on its head. Wassim found space down the left before centring for super-sub Lindsay, and his curling strike gave Tuffey no chance.
The game was then made safe on 83 minutes when Wassim grabbed a third for the visitors. The replacement was first on the scene when Jenkins’ shot was saved by Tuffey and he made no mistake from close-range.
Crusaders appeared out of ideas in the final moments, and it is back to the drawing board for them. For the Glens, they move upto third and will feel that they have some momentum to build on.
Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Weir, Lowry, Jewitt-White, Blaney, Forsythe, O’Rourke, Offord, Larmour, Clarke.
Subs: Kerr, Stewart, Williamson, Owens, Vance, Donnelly, Downey.
Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Kane, Sule, Connolly, Fisher, Amos, Russell, Wightman, Douglas, Thorndike.
Subs: Mills, Aouachria, Parfitt, Murphy, Lindsay, Jenkins, Farley.