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It could have swung either way but ultimately it was a ‘Devine finish’ for Linfield who netted a crucial stoppage time winner to edge out Crusaders in a five-goal thriller at Windsor Park this evening.

Linfield threatened after one minute and twenty seconds on a counter-attack from a Crusaders free-kick. It was well worked with Eetu Vertainen bursting forward before slipping it to Kirk Millar to his left. The winger cut inside and clipped a clever pass into Chris McKee but he didn’t connect as he’d hoped to on the volley from inside the box.

Then Crusaders went close after four-and-a-half minutes. Forsythe slipped a clever reverse pass into Ben Kennedy inside the box and he slipped the ball across the face of goal, but there were no takers as Ben Hall crucially cleared. Kennedy did very well and was rightly disappointed that none of his teammates were following up to take advantage. Shortly after, from a corner, Ross Clarke had a volley blocked at close range and Josh Robinson headed over from a decent position.

Another well-worked move saw Linfield threaten again after eight minutes. Chris Shields burst out from the back and found Millar who then gave it to Salam advancing down the right and when he teed up Eetu Vertainen the Finnish striker’s low strike from the edge of the box was well beaten away by Tuffey.

The breakthrough that the match had promised in the early stages did then arrive after 19 minutes. Ahmed Salam got on the ball and threaded a beautiful through ball to send Chris McKee in the clear as he timed his run to perfection in behind a high line and from there the 19 year-old showed great composure to slot the ball beyond Johnny Tuffey. It was the Rangers loanee’s third goal in as many games and his fourth of the season.

Linfield’s lead lasted just four minutes, however. Crues full-back Jordan Forsythe clipped a ball forward and it was misjudged by a Linfield defender as Crusaders forward Jonathan McMurray anticipated it to turn and lob the ball clinically over Chris Johns to level the score.

The game settled down a little until the end of the first half when Linfield would retake the lead. After pinball in the box which seemed to go on forever, the ball eventually broke for Kirk Millar to strike on the volley but his well-struck effort was handled by Crusaders’ Robbie Weir and referee Tim Marshall pointed to the spot after a moment of consideration. Chris Shields stepped up to the spot to convert for the second game in succession as he tucked the ball into the bottom left for his seventh goal of the season.

Half Time: Linfield 2-1 Crusaders

Crusaders were awarded a penalty on 57 minutes in a similar incident to the one which brought Linfield’s second goal. A handball was given against Jimmy Callacher who will feel hard down by as the ball seemed to strike his side from Forsythe’s strike. Ben Kennedy did what he had to do from the spot to level the scores once again with a good penalty into the bottom left corner.

A good reactive save from Johnny Tuffey denied Linfield from retaking the lead three minutes later. It looked a certain goal when Eetu Vertainen did brilliantly to beat Chris Hegarty down the wing and put it on a plate for Kirk Millar whose effort from a few yards out was too central. Either side and it would have been a goal. In fairness, it was slightly behind him and he had to readjust his body position quickly to make contact.

As the game swung back and forth Crusaders then created a well-worked opening when Clarke slipped in the run of Lowry into the box and he slid a dangerous low cross across the face of goal but McMurray couldn’t convert at the back post at full stretch. Minutes later, there was a let-off for Linfield as Chris Johns was unable to grasp a corner delivery amidst a sea of bodies and Chris Shields had to hook the ball off the line.

Substitute Keiron Evans went close to a first Linfield goal when he hit a strike from 20 yards which Tuffey parried to his right. Jordan Stewart latched onto the loose ball but Crusaders defender Aidan Wilson did very well to cut off the square ball across to Vertainen otherwise it would have been a certain goal.

Both teams had attacking opportunities in the latter stages of the game and there was no danger of the game fizzling out. The introduction of the returning Jordan Stewart proved troublesome for Crusaders with the midfielder’s direct run and creation of space.

Jimmy Callacher had a back post header from Jordan Stewart’s corner not far wide after a good leap before the Crues almost snatched it in the 89th minute. Ross Clarke found the feet of Adam Lecky and he turned for a close range volley which was vitally saved by Chris Johns as the spectators held their breath.

Then came a late, late sting in the tale. In the third minute of added time Jordan Stewart supplied a lofted corner delivery to the back post where substitute Ethan Devine would rise to head brilliantly in off the post and send the South Stand into delirium. It was heartache for Crusaders but Linfield’s bravery ultimately paid off as David Healy emptied his bench to get as many attackers on as possible.

Full Time: Linfield 3 – 2 Crusaders

LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Eetu Vertainen

Match Images

1. David Healy : Hard work, but what an enjoyable finish
2. Manager’s programme notes
3. Jake Hastie programme interview