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Larne beat Auda on penalties to progress to second round

Larne beat Auda on penalties to progress to second round

BBC News16-07-2025
Larne progressed to the second round of Uefa Conference League qualifying with a 4-2 penalty shootout win against Auda in the second leg in Riga.After a goalless draw in the first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds, Larne twice fought back from behind to draw 2-2 after extra time at Stadions Skonto.Larne were perfect with their penalties as Chris Gallagher, Paul O'Neill, Dan Bent and Tiernan O'Connor all scored their spot kicks.Rohan Ferguson saved Kemehlo Nguena's penalty and Ousmane Camara missed his spot kick as Larne went through.Nathan Rooney's side will face FC Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova or FC Prishtina of Kosovo in the second qualifying round later this month.
Spot on from Invermen
It was a bright start from Rooney's side as O'Neill fired wide after two minutes before Kader Kone headed over at the other end soon after.Larne threatened again when Ryan Nolan's header from Conor McKendry's free-kick on 19 minutes was hacked off the line.Mark Randall then cleared Kone's effort off the line, but the Inver outfit's resolve was broken three minutes later as Abdoul Traore netted the opener.Kone went close again before Mattheus Clemente's snapshot came back off the post as the hosts went in ahead at half-time. Larne pushed for the equaliser and were rewarded five minutes after the break as McKendry smashed home from outside the box.They were level for just two minutes however, as substitute Enzo Monteiro's goal helped Auda regain the lead.Rooney's side continued to fight and were level once again with O'Neill scoring on 66 minutes.In extra time, Ferguson was alert to thwart Alexander Ogunji and Jackson Kenio, whilst substitute Matt Ridley's header from a corner came back off the crossbar.Larne then showed their composure from the spot with Gallagher slotting home before Ferugson saved Nguena's spot kick.O'Neill and Stevenson Jeudi were both accurate with their penalties, as were Bent and Renars Varslavans.Substitute O'Connor netted to put Larne on the brink and Camara was off-target with his spot kick to help the visitors, who reached the league phase of the Conference League last season, move into the second qualifying round.
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