Soccer

Sean Maguire penalty gives Cork crucial Europa League away goal

Cork went 1-0 up against BK Häcken in their Europa League second round tie in Sweden

Cork City’s Gearoid Morrissey is tackled during his side’s Europa League second round qualifier. Photo: Inpho
Thu Jul 14 2016 - 20:26

BK Häcken 1 (J Owoeri 83) Cork City 1 (S Maguire (P) 64)

Once again a Sean Maguire penalty sets Cork City up for progression to the next round of the Europa League, after securing a vital away goal in the Leesiders’ 1-1 draw against BK Häcken at the Bravida Arena on Thursday.

The visitors thought they were in dreamland with only five minutes on the clock as they had the ball in the back of the net; Sean Maguire reacted first to a bouncing ball to fire home, but was adjudged to have handled the ball in the process of controlling.

Much was made about the hosts’ superiority by both camps ahead of the game; a poor ball by Morrissey was intercepted by dangerman Paulinho; however Mark McNulty made a brilliant double save to bail the Leesiders out as the teams went into the break scoreless.

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The game changed after the hour mark, as Gearóid Morrissey’s excellent through ball found Sean Maguire, his link up with Stephen Dooley earned the Rebel Army a penalty in their first leg away to Linfield, and once again Maguire’s slip into the former Derry City winger drew Baba Mensah into the foul, earning City the penalty. Mensah saw red from ref Delerue, and Maguire stepped up to the spot to score his third European penalty in a row to put City into the driving seat.

City boss John Caulfield called for concentration from his side heading into the game, and with the Leesiders trying to close the game out it was a distinct lack of said quality that saw Owoeri extract his revenge, profiting from a Paulinho mishit shot to turn the ball in with seven minutes remaining.

On the balance of things, however, it was a fantastic result for the Rebel Army, who will be hoping to make home advantage count next Thursday and progress to the third qualifying round.

BK Häcken: P Abrahamsson; B Mensah, E Wahlström, J Sudic, K Arkivuo (E Binaku 78); S Gustafsson, R Schüller, M Ericsson (D Savage 57); N Mohammed (J Andersson 66), J Owoeri, Paulinho Guerreiro.

Cork City: M McNulty; M McSweeney, A Bennett, K Browne, K O'Connor; G Buckley (M O'Sullivan 85), G Bolger; S Beattie (K Sheppard 75), G Morrissey, S Dooley; S Maguire (C Healy (90+2).

Referee: A Delerue (France).