2 v 2 
HJK HelsinkiVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2023 | 7:30 pm | UEFA Champions League | 2023/24 |
Match Report
Larne Bow Out After Extra Time Thrill Ride
Larne put on a miraculous second half showing to force extra time but Pyry Soiri’s header in the ninety-sixth minute saw the Finnish champions run out 3-2 winners on aggregate.
Although both sides knew European football continued in the form of Conference League losers, both still began with a point to prove.
Larne keen to give the home crowd a winning show on a rare Champions League night whilst Helsinki’s players had a new manager to impress, assistant Toni Korkeakunnus replacing the sacked Toni Koskela despite winning last week’s first leg.
By contrast, Larne manager, Tiernan Lynch was overseeing his two hundred and fortieth match in charge, albeit at a home from home, Cliftonville’s Solitude ground the venue.
After a cagey opening twenty minutes, Larne fashioned the first few opportunities, Leroy Millar prominent in creating both.
First, he released Dylan Sloan whose teasing cross went untouched across the box before a moment later, Andrew Ryan did excellently to reach a Millar cross, his header just wide.
Helsinki however broke the deadlock twenty-six minutes in as a rapid counterattack saw Topi Keskinen release Tuomas Ollila in acres of space down the left and the defender produced a devastating finish, fired into the corner, across Rohan Ferguson.
A sucker-punch for Larne to swallow, now trailing 2-0 on aggregate.
That goal enabled the Finnish champions to emerge from their shell and only a clean block Tomas Cosgrove stopped Lucas Lingman testing Ferguson.
The keeper was jolted into action shortly after as Pyry Soiri produced a powerful header from six yards out, forcing Ferguson to dive left, an alert stop to keep his side in touch.
In more bad news for the locals, home defender Cian Bolger was forced from the fray by injury with Larne’s attacking creativity desperately diminished after Ollila’s strike, which was what separated the sides at half time, the Finns in firm control of the qualification tie.
Bonis, subdued largely, miscued from close range at the end of the half after Millar bulldozed a fierce cross in and that frustration summed up their overall emotions so far on the night.
HJK Helsinki switched netminders at the break but encapsulating their struggles, after winning a corner, Larne failed to test Jesse Ost as a short corner went disastrously wrong, so much so that home defender Aaron Donnelly was forced into taking a booking to dismantle Helsinki’s counterattack.
There was though a considerable increase in Larne’s bravery on the ball as seven minutes into the half, Shea Gordon sprayed a brilliant pass wide to Cosgrove whose hanging cross was met by fellow wing-back, Michael Glynn whose volley was just too high.
Millar was being nullified and as such, despite hogging the ball, Larne had to wait until after the hour to seriously test Ost, Bonis’ header tipped over by the replacement.
However, Greek referee, Aristotelis Diamantopoulos, went to VAR to check a handball against Jukka Ratalia which was given.
Bonis stepped up and slotted it into the corner seamlessly as Solitude erupted, renewed with hope and deficit halved.
HJK Helsinki remained a threat counterattacking though and only an impeccably timed Shaun Want tackle denied the Finns grabbing a third.
Lynch sent on former Derry City midfielder Joe Thomson and striker Isaac Westendorf, a switch which nearly paid dividends as the former’s free kick was flicked on by the latter, causing a panicky pinball which Helsinki desperately cleared as they felt themselves firmly under the cosh, Larne imposing their physicality to great effect.
And that proved foreshadowing as with three minutes left on the clock, Craig Farqahar, who had replaced the injured Bolger, made a crucial tackle in his own box.
From which Larne surged up field, Andrew Ryan digging out a terrific cross onto Thomson’s head, the substitute having scurried into the box from deep and expertly guiding a header past Ost! Solitude, despite not being Inver Park, was sent absolutely wild.
They kept their cool during four minutes of added time to set up extra time, an outcome which looked unlikely forty-five minutes earlier!
But Helsinki entered extra time with more of a spring in their step, landing a killer blow in the ninety-sixth minute when Soiri was granted space, which he gleefully exploited, heading home to make it 3-2 to the visitors on aggregate.
They ran out of steam despite a heroic late rally and Solitude rightly applauded an excellent showing off as they fell to a clinical Finnish team, packed with plenty of international prowess.
Larne now enter the second round of Europa Conference League qualifiers against Ludogorets of Bulgaria whilst Helsinki will face Norwegian outfit, Molde, in the next Champions League outing.
A fine second half showing will give the Inver faithful confidence that their side can still enjoy a European adventure as more lie in wait in the near future.
Timeline
| 26' | 2. Tuomas Ollila | |
| Cian Bolger Craig Farquhar | 34' | |
| 46' | Dejan Iliev Jesse Ost | |
| 4. Aaron Donnelly | 47' | |
| 56' | Anthony Olusanya Atomu Tanaka | |
| 64' | 22. Jukka Raitala | |
| 10. Lee Bonis | 65' | |
| 71' | Topi Keskinen Roope Riski | |
| 10. Lee Bonis | 73' | |
| 74' | 15. Miro Tenho | |
| Dylan Sloan Joe Thomson | 76' | |
| Micheal Glynn Isaac Westendorf | 76' | |
| 80' | 2. Tuomas Ollila | |
| 6. Joe Thomson | 87' | |
| Andrew Ryan Paul O'Neill | 89' | |
| 91' | Georgios Kanellopoulos Liam Moller | |
| 96' | 23. Pyry Soiri | |
| Shea Gordon Thomas Maguire | 99' | |
| 107' | 9. Bojan Radulovic | |
| 119' | Pyry Soiri Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan |
Past Meetings
|
(First Qualifying Round)
1 - 0UEFA Champions League
Bolt Arena HJK Helsinki v Larne |
Ground
| Solitude |
|---|
| Solitude - Cliftonville A&FC, Cliftonville Parade, Cliftonville, Belfast, County Antrim, Ulster, Northern Ireland, BT14 6HP, United Kingdom |
FULL TIME AFTER EXTRA TIME - Masterful game management from Helsinki allows them to see out the most hard-fought victory, they progress as 3-2 victors on aggregate!
HJK defending very well as Larne search for another moment of inspiration
Back underway! Can Larne find a late leveller?
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME - A narrow advantage to the Finns
In from Donnelly and Cosgrove almost gets on the end of it!
Thomas Maguire comes in for Shea Gordon
Soiri guides the Finns back ahead with a header, so frustrating for Larne!
EXTRA TIME - Into the first fifteen minutes we go!
FULL TIME - 2-2 ON AGGREGATE! Wow, into extra time at Solitude we will go!
FOUR minutes of added time
THOMSON!! 2-1 TO LARNE, LEVEL ON AGGREGATE! Ryan's cross met by Thomson to cue pandemonium, extra time looms!
Those subs making an impact as Thomson's free kick results in flick ons from Millar and Westendorf which somehow evade the back of the net!
Goalscorer Ollilia booked
Cosgrove! Decent chance but he can only head into the waiting gloves of Ost
Double home change - former Derry man Joe Thomson and striker Isaac Westendorf replace Glynn and Sloan
Cards for Bonis and Tenho! Getting fiesty
Roope Riski replaces the lively Topi Keskinen as Larne look to pile the physicality on
BONIS CONVERTS, 1-1! Larne back in the tie!
PENALTY TO LARNE - Handball given after a VAR check
They could have one back, Bonis with a header deflected on goal and Ost tips it over superbly! Great reactions!
Whilst the momentum has shifted Larne's way, still coming back from two goals down looks a considerable challenge as we enter the final thirty minutes
Atomu Tanaka replaces Olusanya in HJK's second change
Brilliant play! Shea Gordon architechts the move, sweeping a great cross ball out to Cosgrove, his cross is dangerous and arriving at the other side was Michael Glynn whose effort is over, Gordon then rolls an effort at Ost!
The hosts win an early corner but are too clever for their own good, a short corner going so astray that Helsinki counter and home defender Aaron Donnelly is forced into making a foul to take tonight's first yellow card
SECOND HALF - Will Tiernan Lynch's team talk spark Larne into life? HJK have changed their netminder at the break too, Jesse Ost who started last week, replacing Dejan Iliev
HALF TIME - it's the Finnish men ahead and in control of this Champions League qualifying tie. Millar though lashes a cross in which Bonis can't quite get to!
Lingman and last week's scorer, Bojan Radulovic, threatening for Helsinki yet up goes the flag, Larne just need a goal to spark them
Needless to say, Larne HAVE to score next to have a hope of rescuing this, although Ollila's strike has somewhat punctured their creativity
Unfortunate for Cian Bolger who has to depart through injury, Craig Farquhar in for his club debut!
Brilliant save from Ferguson keeping Larne in touch! Pyry Soiri produces a thumping header but Ferguson is equal to it, diving to his left quickly
Helsinki in the ascendency now and Lucas Lingman lets fly only for Cosgrove to get across and make a clean block
Against the run of play, Helsinki score! Tuomas Ollila in space down the left and he rifles the shot across Rohan Ferguson into the corner! What a sucker-punch to Larne's hopes
Volley from Ryan is wild but great buildup play from Bonis to find Tomas Cosgrove wide whose hanging cross found Ryan, all Larne right now, can they find the opener?
The NIFL champions getting into their stride here, Millar marauds down the left and Andrew Ryan attacks his cross well, his header just the wrong side of the post
Best chance arrives Larne's way as Leroy Millar silkily feeds Sloan whose cross goes all the way across goal, untouched with Michael Glynn not far away!
Not much in the way of scoring chances so far for either side, both feeling each other out and enjoying spells of meandering possession
Nervy moment for Dylan Sloan there! The youngster, excellent last week, is dispossessed inside his own half and Anthony Olusanya races in only for Shaun Want to take command of the situation
Lee Bonis gives Iliev something to think about as he presses the goalkeeper ferociously who hurries to hoof clear
KICK OFF - Action commenced at Solitude!
TEAM NEWS - Helsinki, by contrast, have changed five - Dejan Illiev replaces Jesse Ost in goal, midfielder Georgios Kanellopoulos and forward Anthony Olusnaya are promoted from subs to starters with Tuomas Ollia and Pyry Soiri also earning starts as new manager, Toni Korkeakunnus shuffles his cards
TEAM NEWS - Larne have named an unchanged starting eleven and substitutes bench from last week, new signing Levi Ives not yet able to feature
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of a Champions League qualifier. Tonight, we have the second leg of Larne vs HJK Helsinki to be decided, the Finnish champions 1-0 up from last week's first leg. Kick off at Solitude is an hour at 7:30pm and team news is on the way