Sport

Late goal takes Cork joy edge off

Cork City suffered the crushing disappointment of losing a goal three minutes into injury time of a European Cup Winners' Cup…

Fri Aug 14 1998 - 01:00

Cork City suffered the crushing disappointment of losing a goal three minutes into injury time of a European Cup Winners' Cup tie at Turner's Cross last night which should have yielded their biggest win in European competition.

With the final whistle seconds away and the home side enjoying utter domination thanks to two first-half goals, Cork were cruising against Ukraine's CSKA Kiev and looking at a comfortable trip to the former Soviet republic in two weeks' time.

CSKA's Revut had other ideas, though, and as a Kiev corner was scrambled around the Cork goalmouth, the ball fell for the Ukrainian centre-half who drilled it low into the left-hand corner of the goal, putting a darker complexion on Cork's away leg.

"Cork were the better team but our goal is very important," said Kiev's manager Vladimir Bezsonov, the former Soviet Union international. "I am not disappointed with the result because of that goal, but I was disappointed with our performance.

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"Cork were excellent and the midfield player Freyne played very well - we underestimated them."

The part-timers shocked Kiev by jumping into a 2-0 lead before half-time - Kelvin Flanagan crashing home a penalty after 20 minutes and Derek Coughlan scoring with a header following an excellent cross from Ollie Cahill after 32 minutes.

Thereafter, Cork defended in depth and used the ball so accurately that Kiev failed to maintain effective pressure on the home defence, making the 93rd-minute away goal an even crueller blow for City.

"I am a very proud of all the players," said Cork manager Dave Barry. "We were under some pressure after the performances of Shels and St Pat's in Europe and we scored a win that reflects credit on the standard of the game in the League of Ireland."

Cork City: Mooney, Daly, Coughlan, Hill, Cronin, O'Halloran (Caulfield, 81), Flanagan, Freyne (Herrick, 74), Murphy, Cahill, Hartigan (Kabia, 72). Goals: Flanagan 20 pen, Coughlan 42.

CSKA Kiev: Reva, Levchenko, Revut, Daraselia (Koryenev, 57), Sernchuk, Bezhenar, Oliynyk, Shkapenko, Zakarlyuka (Oleksiienko, 33), Leonenko (Coriaka), Tsyhmeistruk. Booked: Shkapenko. Goals: Revut 90.

Referee: D Javel (Switzerland).