Long hails brave Bohs after penalty heartbreak
FEHERVAR 1 BOHEMIANS 1
(aet - Fehervar win 4-2 on penalties)
BOHEMIANS boss Keith Long hailed his side after they bowed out of the Europa League on penalties last night. Hungarian side Fehervar were the least desirable draw for the Gypsies on their return to Europe after an eight-year absence but they still managed to take the lead through Keith Ward after 22 minutes before Nemanja Nikoli equalised from the penalty spot. Chances fell to both sides but extra-time and penalties were required to separate them.
An upset still seemed on the cards when goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness saved a spot-kick from Armin Hodzic but misses by Dan Casey and Kris Twardek allowed the Hungarian powerhouses to recover and seal the win. ‘I don’t like to overegg this but we’re a part-time squad that trains four evenings per week,’ said Long. ‘To come here and more than match a side of Fehérvár’s strength shows how this side is progressing. If we qualify again next year, this squad will be better prepared from this experience.’ Twardek was the architect of the opener, racing past his marker and cutting a low square ball back across the box for Ward to connect first-time. Rob Cornwall was guilty of a mistimed lunge on Attila Fiola inside the box. Nikoli stepped up to blast the penalty into the right top corner. Ward blazed wide with a great chance to nick it jusr before full-time.
FEHÉRVÁR: A Kovacsik; L Nego, A Rus, Stopira, A Fiola; Alef (M Patkai 75), L Houri; F Bamgboye, Evandro (B Nikolov100), I Petriak (K Geresi 109); N Nikoli (A Hodzic 74). Scorer: Nikolic 37 (p).
BOHEMIANS: S McGuinness; A Lyons, R Cornwall (J Finnerty 71), D Casey, A Breslin; JJ Lunney (C Levingston 78), K Buckley (D Mandroiu 109); D Grant, K Ward, K Twardek; A Wright. Scorer: Ward 22. Referee: Timotheos Christofi (CYP)