Chris Johns (GK), Trai Hume, Michael Newberry, Jimmy Callacher, Matthew Clarke, Chris Shields, Jamie Mulgrew ©, Stephen Fallon (Navid Nasseri 89’), Cameron Palmer (Niall Quinn 64’), Kirk Millar (Ahmed Salam 89’), Billy Chadwick (Christy Manzinga 64’)
David Walsh (GK), Conor Pepper, Sam Roscoe, Andrew Clarke, Adam Carroll
Linfield let a lead slip in front of their 2,227 supporters at Windsor Park as Luxembourg champions Fola Esch came from behind to win 2-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League 3rd Round Qualifying clash.
The Blues lined up with a diamond system – just as they did in the 4-0 hammering they gave to Bosnian champions Borac Banja Luka a few weeks ago – and as a result they dominated the ball. However, possession wasn’t turned into chances or goals and when the visitors stole possession they were swift at breaking.
The first chance of the night fell for the visitors. A loose ball in the midfield was seized upon and the champions of Luxembourg broke through Jules Diallo who played a one-two before getting in behind the back line. The winger took a shot on when under pressure from the backtracking Chris Shields and the low shot was well saved by Chris Johns in the opening minutes.
Then David Healy got the start he was dreaming of as Linfield took an early lead on eight minutes. Hull City loanee Billy Chadwick – who made his debut as a sub in Bosnia last week and was making his first start on the night – was rewarded for hard work as he closed down a pass and the ball fell in his favour as he raced in on goal. Faced by an onrushing goalkeeper who’d temporarily lost his footing, Chadwick opted to take it early as he coolly slotted the ball through the ‘keeper’s legs.
But that was as good as it got on the night for Linfield, who just didn’t seem to get going, whilst the visitors grew into the game. No further questions were really asked of the opposition goalkeeper, who’d looked shaky when he needed three attempts at grasping a corner put in by Kirk Millar. Trai Hume heading another Millar corner across goal was the closest Linfield came to a second, but it wasn’t one that worried the goalkeeper.
Fola Esch threatened on the break again as another loose pass in midfield was intercepted and when they worked the ball left to their talisman, Luxembourg international forward Stefano Bensi, he fired low into the side netting.
The game was very stop-start which didn’t help Linfield get into the rhythm they were in two weeks ago as the Latvian referee took a very strict approach, and it didn’t make for what could have been a good spectacle.
Half Time: Linfield 1 – 0 Fola Esch
Fola Esch’s main man Stefano Bensi went close again seven minutes into the second half. Indeed, he went so close that many of the visiting personnel and staff thought it was in. It was a wicked 25 yard free-kick which whistled just wide of the post at the Kop end by about an inch.
Linfield’s only real creation and chance of the second half came on 66 minutes when Kirk Millar floated in a deep free-kick delivery which was well met by Jimmy Callacher at the back post but his header landed on the roof of the net.
The dreaded leveller came two minutes later. As they broke, the ball was worked left to Stefano Bensi and this time as he got just inside the box he went with his supposedly weaker right foot as he bent a cracking strike into the top corner which Chris Johns had no chance with.
In the following ten minute spell Linfield endured two major scares. Firstly, substitute Idir Boutrif raced onto a loose ball and went past the onrushing Chris Johns before he was smothered out by Matthew Clarke and could only hit the side netting from an angle. It definitely then should have been 2-1 on 77 minutes when another substitute, Gauthier Caron, nicked the ball and ran in behind before showing composure to pick out Bensi in the middle. Uncharacteristically, he somehow fired over with the goal at his mercy from close range.
Unfortunately for Linfield, there was no let-off when the visitors won the first leg in the 87th minute. Chris Shields took a man down who was breaking towards the box and a free-kick was given to the left, 20 yards out. Stefano Bensi hit a strong strike which was well saved onto the post by Chris Johns but there was little he could do as Gauthier Caron fired in the rebound from close range.
A disappointing night for Linfield who will feel they weren’t at their best and will look for improvement when they travel to Luxembourg for the second leg which takes place Thursday of next week in their national stadium.
Full Time: Linfield 1– 2 Fola Esch
Match Images
