Match Details
Competition :
Europa Conference League
Venue :
Stadion Miejski im. Floriana Krygiera
Referee :
Abdulkadir Bitigen (TUR)
Linfield Scorers :
Jamie Mulgrew (16) and Kyle McClean (51)
Pogoń Szczecin Scorers :
Koulouris (49), Wahlqvist (58) and Bichakhahyan (75)
Pogoń Szczecin Yellow Card :
Loncar
Teams
Linfield Team :
Chris Johns, Daniel Finlayson. Matthew Clarke, Ben Hall, Jack Scott, Jamie Mulgrew (Josh Archer 85), Chris Shields, Kirk Millar, Joel Cooper, Chris McKee (John Robertson 85) and Kyle McClean
Linfield Subs not used :
David Walsh, Matthew Williamson, Michael Newberry, Ryan McKay, Rhys Annett, Liam McStravick, Andrew Clarke, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Max Haygarth and Aodhan Doherty
Pogoń Szczecin Team :
Bartosz Klebaniuk, Rafal Kurzawa (Mateusz Legowski 71), Efthymis Koulouris (Adrian Przyborek 79), Luka Zahovic (Alexander Gorgon 64), Kamil Grosicki, Marcel Wedrychowski (Vahan Bichakhchyan 64), Joao Gamboa, Linus Wahlqvist, Leonardo Koutris (Leo Borges 71), Mariusz Malec and Danijel Loncar
Pogoń Szczecin Subs not used :
Axel Holewinski, Mariusz Fornalczyk, Wojciech Lisowski, Pawel Stolarski, Kacper Smolinski, Yadegar Rostami, Stanislaw Wawrrzynowicz
Report
Linfield were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League, following this 3-2 defeat in Szczecin in the North West of Poland. (8-4 on aggregate).
David Healy made the one change to the starting line up from last week’s first leg - Jamie Mulgrew standing in for Matthew Fitzpatrick who had a slight injury which wasn’t to be risked.
17000 supporters were inside the hugely impressive Szczecin stadium, including 57 who had made the journey in support of David Healy’s squad.
Former Hull player and Szczecin captain Kamil Grosicki thumped a fine strike against the crossbar in the 3rd minute but after this, Linfield settled and grew into the game.
Linfield took a 16th minute lead through Jamie Mulgrew and a fine strike it was too from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net.
It was Jamie’s first goal since his ‘goal of the season’ strike against TNS a year earlier and it was the Linfield skipper’s 50th career goal for the club.
Linfield were comfortable until the interval, with every player implementing David Healy’s game plan excellently against the side that had finished 4th in last year’s Polish league.
Half time - Pogon Szczecin 0 Linfield 1
Pogon pulled level on 49 minutes to draw huge noise from the vocal home support. Koulouris netted the back post equaliser from close range, following a low left wing centre.
However, on 51 minutes Linfield were back in front when Kyle McClean headed home a Joel Cooper right wing cross from close range.
The home team were back on level terms after 58 minutes when Wahlqvist had time inside the box to control a left wing cross, before sweeping home from close range.
Chris McKee came agonisingly close to restoring Linfield’s lead after 63 minutes - after an initial effort had been blocked, McKee’s follow up drive was stopped brilliantly by the home keeper and the loose ball rolled agonisingly millimetres wide of the post.
A superb goal from sub Bichakhchyan on 75 minutes settled the game on the night. The strike from outside the box looked to be going over the bar but a late dip saw the strike nestle in the top corner of the net. Wonderful technique on an unstoppable shot.
Linfield kept competing right to the end and didn’t let heads drop and Chris Johns produced a great stop to a fierce drive on 84 minutes to keep the deficit to a hugely respectable 3-2 reverse.
The European adventure ends with pride, dignity and honour, with lots of positives for David Healy to take from this impressive display by every one of the players on duty.
For Linfield, the mission to get back into Europe next season starts on Saturday August 12 with a league trip to Dungannon Swifts.
Full time - Pogon Szczecin 3 Linfield 2
Match Images
