Larne booked their spot in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League by beating Prishtina 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout. The tie ended 1-1 on aggregate after extra time in Kosovo.
Prishtina took the lead in bizarre fashion. After a goal kick was awarded, Ryan Nolan rolled the ball to Rohan Ferguson, who picked it up. The referee ruled the ball was live and gave an indirect free-kick. Gjelbrim Taipi scored from close range, hammering the ball into the top corner.
Larne struggled in the first half. Conor McKendry fired wide from distance. Then the visitors survived a penalty scare when Ardian Muja went down under pressure from Sean Graham.
Before halftime, Valmir Veliu stole the ball from Nolan and set up Leotrim Kryeziu, but Ferguson made a crucial save. Muja nearly scored directly from a corner, but the ball bounced off the post into Ferguson’s hands.
Bent Levels, O’Neill Sent Off, Ferguson Saves the Day
Larne returned stronger after the break. Ten minutes into the second half, Dan Bent scored his first goal for the club. He fired home after goalkeeper Ardit Nika failed to punch clear.
Both sides pushed for a winner, but neither broke through. Substitute Rin Ahmeti created a golden chance for Prishtina, but Ferguson denied him again. With three minutes left in extra time, Paul O’Neill received a red card for striking Diar Halili. Despite the setback, Larne held on and forced penalties.
Chris Gallagher saw his opening penalty saved. Dorde Saletic missed too. But Ferguson stepped up in sudden death, saving Ramiz Bytyqi’s spot-kick to win it. This was Larne’s second shootout win in a row. They beat FK Auda on penalties in the previous round.
Nathan Rooney’s team will now face Portuguese club Santa Clara. The Inver Reds aim to match or surpass last year’s historic run to the league stage of the competition.
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