CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Plucky Larne knocked out

Larne exited the Champions League at the first qualifying round stage tonight - but it certainly wasn't for the want of trying.

A superb second half display saw Tiernan Lynch's men come from a goal behind to level the tie and take it to extra-time. And while they were undone by HJK Helsinki's second goal, in the first period of extra-time, it was a fantastic showing from the Irish Premiership champions.

It was Larne who made the most of the running in the early stages of the first half and had three half chances to go in front on the night.

Firstly, Andy Ryan blocked a clearance from HJK goalkeeper Dejan Iliev early on, before the striker then nodded wide from Micheal Glynn’s left-wing cross. Lee Bonis also went close, before the visitors took the lead just past the midway point of the half

Topi Keskinen's pass found its way through to Tuomas Ollila on 26 minutes and he drilled it home from a tight angle to put Helsinki 1-0 up on the night to the visitors and 2-0 in front in the tie.

They away side could have doubled the advantage and essentially put the tie to bed on 32 minutes as Larne began to look susceptible at the back.

A mix-up in defence saw the ball loop up to Bojan Radulovic eight yards and the striker – who scored in the first leg – powered in a bullet header that looked destined for the bottom right-hand corner, only for Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson to produce a stunning one-handed saved low to his left.

Lynch’s side were then dealt a blow just three minutes later when Cian Bolger went down injured with young defender Ryan Farquhar coming on for his competitive debut at the heart of the defence.

Then right on the half-time whistle, Leroy Millar dragged a low left-foot drive just wide of the post.

Larne came out with all guns blazing early in the second period and almost levelled seven minutes after the restart.

Tomas Cosgrove whipped in a teasing ball from the right, but Glynn’s acrobatic volley flew just over the bar.

They thought they had gone even closer two minutes after the hour mark.

Ryan found space down the left and stood a perfect ball up to the back post for strike partner Bonis to head on goal. It looked to be an excellent save from HJK keeper Jesse Ost – a half-time substitute. However, Greek Referee Aristotelis Diamantopoulos was called to the VAR monitor for a potential handball. He didn’t take long to make the decision, adjudging Jukka Raitala to have handled. Bonis stepped up to slot home from the spot and give Larne a lifeline.

Then the unthinkable came another step closer three minutes from the end of normal time as Larne went in front on the night.

Having piled on the pressure for most of the half, it was nothing more than they deserved.

Ryan did well down the left channel again and clipped another cross to the back post where Thomson, on as a second half sub, volleyed home from 10 yards out to send the large Larne support into hysterics.

But things then took a turn for the worse six minutes into the first period of extra-time.

Pyry Soiri got to the right hand byline and his cutback took a nick off a combination of Roope Riski and Larne defender Shaun Want to spin into the net. It was unfortunate for Want, who was comfortably the best Larne player on the pitch over the course of the match.

But Larne did rally somewhat after that setback and Leroy Millar will have expected to hit the target from just outside the box on 104 minutes after being teed up by Bonis – but the midfielder could only fire over.

The last few minutes petered out to an extent as Larne's legs gave way to the superior fitness of HJK.

They gave everything, but it just wasnt enough over the course of the two legs.

MATCH STATS'

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Donnelly, Want, Bolger (Farquhar 35), Sloan (Thomson 76), Gordon (Maguire 98) Glynn (Westendorf 76), Millar, Bonis, Ryan (O’Neill 89)

Subs not used: Dowling (GK), Omar, Kearns, Smith

HJK Helsinki: Iliev (Ost H-T), Ollila, Toivio, Radulovic, Lingman, Tenho, Keskinen (Riski 71), Raitala, Soiri (Kouassivi-Benissan 119), Kanellopoulos (Moller 91), Olusanya (Tanaka 57)

Subs not used: Toivonen, Boamah

Referee: Aristotelis Diamantopoulos (Greece)