"Massive chance missed" : Kearney on Coleraine's exit from Europe
Bannsiders boss believes his side created enough chances to win
Oran Kearney was back in charge for Coleraine’s 1-0 defeat to FK Spartak Subotica. The Stripes boss missed the first-leg where his side picked up a historic 1-1 draw away in Serbia.
The Bannsiders headed into Thursday evening’s second leg Europa League Qualifier with the Serbian outfit knowing that a win would take them through to face Sparta Prague.
Coleraine were almost behind inside the opening minutes as a defensive mix up fell to Subotica’s Samuel Afum who but his heavy pass failed to find the advancing Noboru Shimura.
The Serbian’s should have grabbed the advantage early on as Duricin nut-megged Traynor inside the area before dragging his effort wide.
The Bannsiders had 2 great chances on the 20 minute mark as Ian Parkhill forced Peric into a smart save before Darren McCauley’s left footed volley flashed over.
Coleraine appealed for a handball inside the area on the half hour mark but their referee Jan Fasung disagreed.
Minutes later, Spartak Subotica went ahead. The Bannsiders conceded a sloppy free-kick which was whipped into the back post. Nemanja Calassan nodded the ball back across goal and Mile Savkovic was on hand to head into an empty net.
It was an end to end first half with Coleraine boss Oran Kearney well aware of the task in hand at the interval if his side were to progress to the next round.
Coleraine started the brighter of the sides in the second-half as Aaron Burns immediately threatened but his driven shot was expertly saved by Peric in the Spartak Subotica goal.
The Bannsiders almost grabbed their equaliser on 52 minutes as Aaron Traynors accurate cross found Ian Parkhill but his header was denied by Peric.
Oran Kearney introduced Ciaron Harkin and Jamie McGonigle in an attempt to get back into the game and progress to the next round.
McGonigle had an immediate impact as the forward latched onto Eoin Bradley’s through ball before neatly placing the ball across goal but his effort trickled wide.
The Coleraine pressure continued and their efforts nearly paid off with 20 minutes remaining. A well worked Ciaron Harkin corner was flicked on by McGonigle inside the box but Stephen O’Donnell failed to convert at the back post.
With 9 minutes remaining Coleraine had the ball in the net via Brad Lyons but his effort was ruled offside as Eoin Bradley strayed off in the build up.
Initially, Adam Mullan’s scuffed effort fell kindly to McGonigle who almost fired level but for a smart block.
McGonigle and Lowry had great chances for the home sidewith minutes remaining only to be denied by an inspired performance from Peric.
The Bannsiders went all out and were punished as Spartak hit them on the break, Mile Savkovic raced clear before squaring to substitute Cecaric who tapped home from close range.
A pleasing performance from Oran Kearney’s side who will feel a sense of injustice after the defeat however, the Bannsiders will have plenty of positives to take into the 2018/19 Danske Bank Premiership.
After the game, Kearney told Downtown & Cool FM that his side should have won the game and
"I just feel a massive chance was missed not through any fault of our own," he said. "We probably created enough chances tonight to win three games - over the 180 minutes could we have asked anything more - could we have produced anything more - No."
COLERAINE FC: Johns, Mullan (McLaughlin, 85), Lyons (Harkin, ’60), McCauley, Lowry, Bradley, McConaghie, Burns (McGonigle, ‘59), O’Donnell (c), Parkhill, Traynor
SUBS: Doherty, Kirk
FK SPARTAK SUBOTICA: Peric, Shimura, Jocic, Kerkez, Glavcic (Marcic, ’75), Dunderski, Vukcevic, Savkovic, Duricin, Calasan, Afum (Cecaric, 82