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By
David Farrelly at the Rheinpark stadium
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Martin Stocklasa captained
Vaduz
tonight
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A
77th-minute goal from substitute Michele Polverino provided FC Vaduz
with their first-ever victory in Europe in 21 attempts, and an
opening-leg lead to take to the Republic of Ireland as they defeated
Longford Town FC in their UEFA Cup first qualifying round engagement.
Late
winner
The match seemed destined to end scoreless as both sides lacked the
requisite vision and creativity in the final third before Polverino
gained possession midway inside the Longford half and picked his spot
from 12 metres with a low shot that eluded the diving Stephen O'Brien
inside his right-hand post.
Early
exchanges
Longford, despite their poor recent form domestically, started brightest
but Sean Prunty spurned a promising opportunity when firing the ball
across the face of goal after a combination of Eric Lavine and Vinny
Perth had robbed Vaduz captain Martin Stocklasa in midfield. But,
despite dominating possession, Longford failed to muster any consistent
threat in front of goal and Phillip Keogh's long-range effort which
whistled narrowly wide of Carlos Silva's right-hand post was the only
other chance they created during a positive opening spell.
Stocklasa chance
Vaduz, who entered the competition as Liechtenstein Cup winners although
they also compete in the Swiss domestic league, soaked up what their
Irish opponents had to offer and created a succession of scoring chances
around the half-hour, the pick of which came from Stocklasa, who rose
highest at the far post to meet Marius Zarn's cross only to fail to find
the target.
Prunty close
The visitors responded before the break, but Prunty again wasted a good
opportunity when lobbing wide of the target from inside the penalty area
and then substitute Dean Fitzgerald, introduced for the injured Keogh,
volleyed over when Prunty's corner was only half-cleared. But Longford
remained unsure defensively and O'Brien was required to deny Marco Pérez's
low long-range effort before saving with his feet from Eduardo Dos
Santos, who was quick to exploit Barry Ferguson's under-hit backpass.
Game opens up
Tonight's game opened up as a contest after the interval and
Stocklasa should have profited from some poor Longford defending after
54 minutes only to mis-hit his shot from ten metres. Dos Santos then
shot over from eight metres moments later after being played in by
Pulverino before Thomas Weller hit the side-netting as O'Brien scrambled
desperately to clear the ball following another defensive slip.
Decisive
goal
But Prunty displayed that the visitors still posed a scoring threat when
volleying narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area on the hour
before Fitzgerald headed Sean Dillon's cross wide and Shane Barrett
fired narrowly over. That was until Pulverino had the final say, and
with only eleven goals in 21 games this season, Longford will need to
find their scoring form on 29 July.
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Polverino
