Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PRAISE THE JORD
Jordan cracker breaks minnows
DEADLY debut boy Jordan Stewart gave Linfield a crucial home win as David Healy's men edged closer to a Champions League date with Celtic in the next round. Summer signing Stewart danced past two defenders and the keeper in the 89th minute to gift the Blues a narrow advantage ahead of next week's second leg in San Marino. Boss Healy (right), who saw Aaron Burns miss a 63rd minute penalty, is confident they can capitalise in Serravalle on Tuesday and book a showdown with the Scottish champions. He said: “I believe we definitely have enough to get through now and hopefully we can go there and score an away goal. Jordan came up with a wonderful goal.”
LINFIELD inched closer to a Champions League date in Paradise thanks to a narrow win over lowly La Fiorita in last night’s first round qualifier at Windsor Park.
A nervy victory came at the death courtesy of a stunning debut goal from Jordan Stewart.
With 89 minutes on the clock the former Glentoran winger – who joined the Blues after departing Swindon Town in May – produced a moment of magic to break the visitors’ hearts.
Latching on to a Cameron Stewart pass inside the area, Stewart evaded a couple of challenges before waltzing past keeper Gainluca Vivan to steer the ball into the empty net.
What a sublime goal. What a way to introduce yourself to the Windsor Park faithful. Afterwards, manager David Healy waxed lyrically about Stewart’s decisive contribution.
“It was a wonderful goal and a great winner on his debut,” said the former Northern Ireland striker.
“I thought he was going to hit it with his right foot and then his left. Then he put his keeper on his bum and I was just thinking, ‘Hit it!’.
“I knew Jordan would come in and give us that bit of quality – he can leave people for dead.”
Linfield, who saw Aaron Burns miss a 63rd minute penalty, had to work for their slender advantage ahead of next week’s return leg in San Marino.
But an advantage it is as David Healy’s men chase a high-profile, money-spinning showdown with Scottish champions Celtic in the next round.
Linfield dominated the early stages but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Niall Quinn planted a closerange header over the bar from a Paul Smyth cross before the Blues went agonisingly close to opening the scoring 15 minutes in.
Smyth’s looping corner found Mark Stafford at the back post and his thumping header cannoned back off the woodwork with
Vivan beaten all ends up. The ball ricocheted back into Stafford’s path but the big defender blazed his snapshot over the bar under pressure from a tight angle.
La Fiorita were reduced to rare forays into the Linfield half, although the visitors did look dangerous on the break and might have been ahead just before the interval.
Raiding full-back Andrea Martini dug out a dangerous cross to the back post for Jose Hirsch but the winger’s bundled effort squirmed past the far post.
The Blues were gifted a golden chance to take the lead on the hour mark when referee Duje Strucken pointed to the spot after Vivan caught Stephen Lowry with a high boot.
Burns stepped up to take the spot kick but his rising shot was batted away by Vivan full length to his right. Smyth saw a 76th minute shot blocked by the keeper’s foot before the lively Stewart, a 60th minute replacement for Quinn, forced a smothered save from the keeper.
Remarkably, La Fiorita – who have now lost all 11 legs of European football they have played – almost took the lead on 85 minutes when Italian 2002 World Cup finalist Damiano Tommasi’s close-range header bounced wide.
But just as it looked as it Linfield were to be denied a crucial win in their quest to book a date with Celtic, Stewart took centre stage with a minute of normal time remaining.
The 22-year-old’s tour de force moment at the Railway End proved the difference in the end.
Now all that remains is for Linfield to complete the job in San Marino on Tuesday and secure a blockbuster double date with Brendan’s Bhoys in the next round.
Healy (right) insists the C-word is still banned in the Linfield dressing room.
He said: “There are a few c-words in that dressing room but not that one.
“I can’t stop the lads, they are grown men so they will talk, I would imagine. But when it comes to work and training it’s all about the HW – hard work.
“The focus remains on the San Marino game. The players are well aware of what’s at stake, you’d have to live on the moon not to be aware of the talk around here but it certainly doesn’t happen in the dressing room.”