Cork put one foot into the next round
LEVADIA TALLINN 0 CORK CITY 2
CORK CITY took their all-conquering roadshow to Estonia as they proved a cut above European opponents as well as all those they have steamrolled on the domestic front.
This season just keeps on getting better and better for John Caulfield’s side with goals from Garry Buckley and Steven Beattie either side of half-time ensuring they took control of this Europa League first qualifying round tie with Levadia Tallinn.
The 2-0 victory also stretches the Leesiders’ unbeaten run to 27 games in all competitions and, as a result, Caulfield was confident enough to state that he feels his charges have one foot in the next round, where they will most likely face AEK Larnaca of Cyprus following their 5-0 demolition of the Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps.
‘It was a great show from the lads and we fully deserved it,’ he beamed. ‘We scored two great goals on a rock hard pitch and in difficult conditions with a strong and swirling wind.
‘I honestly don’t see Levadia getting three goals against us at Turner’s Cross given our own superb defensive record there but, having said that, we will respect our opponents.
‘We have only conceded 10 goals at home in the league and that’s a remarkable record. I think the game turned in a minute coming up to half-time with the red card and our breakthrough goal. I think their heads may have dropped a little after that double blow,’ he added.
Buckley and super sub Beattie were Cork’s heroes when their goals gave the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup champions an historic first ever win over Estonian opposition in the resort city of Parnu.
A controlled first-half performance by the runaway Premier Division leaders was rewarded just before half-time when Levadia centre back Tabi Manga was dismissed for two bookable offences before Buckley rifled home a daisy cutter of a free-kick in the 43rd minute.
The Cork midfielder made the most of a feeble defensive wall by drilling his effort low and hard for a precious away goal. The visitors looked in complete control, and it’s testament to their mental strength because they had to overcome the loss of skipper Alan Bennett who failed a late fitness test on an ankle ligament injury.
Conor McCormack was deployed at centre back with Greg Bolger skippering the side in midfield but it had little impact on how they went about their business.
Cork’s class continued to show and while goalkeeper Mark McNulty made what proved to be a vital save in the 75th minute, tipping the ball onto the crossbar, they remained a threat on the counter-attack.
Caulfield didn’t have a problem dipping into his pool of talent on the bench and sprung Beattie, Achille Campion and Shane Griffin for some fresh legs to see things out.
And it was that trio who combined to put the game to bed with a fine breakaway goal in the 82nd minute. Griffin showed tenacity in the middle of the park to win a breaking ball, he drove forward and picked out the run of Campion who had peeled away to the inside left channel.
The Frenchman showed his experience to tee up Beattie on the opposite side and he rounded off the move with a pearler of a curled shot into the top corner from outside the box.
Job done, and now Cork must kill the tie off in front of a baying Turner’s Cross next week.