Brave Larne went down with their heads held high at the Stozice Stadion in Ljubljana.
The Invermen went to the home of the Slovenian League leaders Olimpija and kept them at bay for a full 68 minutes with a performance that displayed the sorted of defensive discipline that hasn’t always been on show in their maiden Conference League voyage.
The goal that undid them came courtesy of a set-piece that was nodded home by substitute Ivan Durdov. It proved to be the only goal of the game.
While it’s fair to say Olimpija did enough to deserve the points, dominating possession and creating more chances, Larne can take pride on their solid defensive showing. The home side were often limited to causing the Irish League champions problems from corner-kicks.
While technically there is still the slimmest of chances that Larne could squeak into the next round with two games left to play, realistically this defeat extinguished any small hope they had.
In all honesty, it’s been clear since the first game in Molde that Larne were not going to escape the league phase. There’s no shame in that. This is an echelon of football far above our own domestic game.
The fact Larne qualified for this round was the achievement – the product of seven years’ hard work. But this performance suggests they are starting to get to grips with this level – it was certainly a marked improvement on the much talked about loss to Shamrock Rovers last month.
Olimpija dominated possession from kick-off and it was over three minutes before a Larne player got a touch of the ball.
Goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson was caught in possession inside his own six-yard box in the seventh minute but, thankfully for the Scottish stopper, Raul Florucz’s interception bounced just wide.
In the 11th minute, Jorge Silva’s corner kick was cleared straight back to him by the Larne defence. His pinpoint cross found defender Ahmet Muhamedbegovic, whose looping header landed in the roof of the net.
The Inver aces soon settled, making life difficult for the Slovenian League leaders with a well drilled 5-4-1 shape.
Larne even enjoyed a rare forage forward in the 19th minute. A botched free-kick eventually fell to Sean Graham on the right-flank, he got to the byline before cutting in and clipping across into the middle. Paul O’Neill rose high but his weak header drifted wide.
Another Silva corner caused problems for the visitors in the 38th minute as gangly skipper Marcel Ratnik headed the ball goalward, only for Ferguson to gather the shot with ease.
Ferguson was called into action again a minute later, this time blocking a near post effort from Florucz after a smart through ball from Silva.
Florucz had another chance in first half stoppage time after David Sualehe cut the cross in from the left-wing but the striker blasted well over the ball from ten yards. It was a let-off that Larne deserved.
Olimpija had a golden opportunity to score in the 50th minute when Marko Brest beat the Larne offside trap, running onto a lofted pass, but Ferguson raced out to block his close range header.
At the other end, Dylan Sloan found himself in space 20 yards from goal after some slack Olimpija defending. He tried to find the bottom corner, but his shot went just wide.
By the hour mark, Larne were growing in confidence while the home side were starting to look a little frustrated.
The home support kept faith throughout, roaring the men in white and green forward. Their patience was rewarded in the 68 minute from a Silva corner-kick and sub Ivan Durdov jumped high to guide a 10 yard header into the top corner. The goal was greeted with a cacophony of noise – and some relief.
Ten minutes from time, Graham received his second yellow card of the game after he gave an Olimpija opponent a gentle shove. It was needless from Graham, but a harsh call from the Dutch ref.
At the final whistle the travelling support gave the Larne players and interim boss Gary Haveron a standing ovation. Nights like this one have lost none of its novelty for those fans.
Just over 220 tickets were sold for the away support, although around 20 missed the game after their flight out of George Best City Airport on Wednesday afternoon was cancelled due to heavy fog in Belfast. A nightmare scenario for any loyal Larne fan.
For others, this trip to picturesque Ljubljana was something of a dream. A small group of Larne High School pupils enjoyed the school trip of a lifetime, travelling to the match alongside the players on the club’s chartered plane.
Not all of Larne’s travelling support hailed from east Antrim. Four Atletico Madrid supporters were converted to the club after bumping into the chairman Gareth Clements in Kosovo in August.
He made such an impression on the young Los Colchoneros, they’ve taken up supporting the Invermen, travelling to Slovenia by train to catch them in person.
Larne seem to make friends wherever they go.
This was another European defeat, but the memories created, for both the fans and the players, will last a lifetime.
Now, the question is, can Nathan Rooney keep the show on the road?
Olimpija: Vidovsek; Manuel Pedreno (Pinto 45), Ratnik, Muhamedbegovic; Jorge Silva (Lasickas 87), Agba, Doffo, David Sualehe; Thalisson Charles (Marin 45), Brest (Durdov 65); Florucz (Kojic 89).
Unused subs: Pintol, Fink, Blanco, Ristic, Boultam, Govea, Acimovic.
Larne: Ferguson; Graham, Bolger, Want, Donnelly; Thomson (Magee 87), Randall (McKendry 69), Gallagher; Sloan (Todd 69), O’Neill (Lusty 69), McEneff (Cosgrove 58).
Unused subs: Besant, Collett
Referee: Sander van der Eijl (Netherlands)
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It’s a great ball through that sends Antonio Marin racing into the box, he times his pass across well for Durdov to tap in but Marin was offside from the original pass and the assistant’s flag correctly goes up on the far side.
Industrious work from Matty Lusty to win the ball back on the edge of the box from Ahmet Muhamedbegovic and he spots Matevz Vidovsek – who hasn’t had a save to make all night – off his line, so he tries to chip the goalkeeper… but it’s straight into his arms rather than over his head!
There is footage of him giving an Olimpija player a push but if that’s what it’s for then it’s possibly the softest sending off I have ever seen because he barely even makes contact with the Slovenian.
It’s their tenth corner of the game that finally unlocks the Larne defence, a wonderful in-swinging delivery that lands right on the six-yard box and there’s Ivan Durdov, who’s only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, to rise high above Paul O’Neill to find the top corner.
Ouch.