Cork City recorded a famous away victory over Malmo FF of Sweden in the Intertoto Cup tonight. A Liam Kearney goal just before the hour mark gave City a 1-0 win victory and sent them through 4-1 on aggregate. City will now meet Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in the second round. The first leg is in Holland next Saturday with the return leg at Turner's Cross the following week.
City put in a defensive display in the first period and spent most of the opening period in their own half, pegged back by a Malmo side desperate to get an early goal. However, Cork always looked comfortable and in control of proceedings.
Skoog, Lukanovic and the always-dangerous Alves all came close but Michael Devine and his brave defence kept the sheet clean at the break. The task was made slightly easier for the second half when ex Barcelona and Bayern Munich star Patrick Andersson was replaced by Glenn Holgersson after suffering an injury in the first half.
Cork had the better start to the second half but goalkeeper Michael Devine was yellow carded on 56 minutes for time wasting.
The Leesiders always looked more comfortable and took a deserved lead on 58 minutes. Devine launched a long clearance toward John O'Flynn, who nodded the ball to Neale Fenn deep on the right. The ex Spurs man took possession and passed to Liam Kearney who blasted a super shot past Malmo goalkeeper Mattias Asper from 15 yards.
Malmo nearly drew level on the night on 70 minutes through Daniel Majstorovic but Devine denied him with an excellent save.
www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0627/corkcity.html
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"Last night I nearly died,
But I woke up just in time".
Duke Special