Skonto FC 1 Derry City 1: IT WAS mission accomplished for Derry City in Latvia last night as they claimed a vital away goal against in this Europa League second preliminary round game. It's advantage to Stephen Kenny's men for next Thursday's game at the Brandywell, and the Dubliner was delighted with the performance given Derry had fallen a goal in arrears on 17 minutes.
The Derry hero on the night was lone frontman Tam McManus, who levelled matters one minute before the break. From that point the pendulum swung the way of the Brandywell club.
Skonto opened the brighter and early pressure reaped dividends when lively striker Carvalaho Junior played an integral role in the move which led to the goal.
The Brazilian gained possession on the left and his curling cross saw the unmarked Igors Kozlovs burst into the box and the midfielder’s diving header gave Gerard Doherty no chance from 12 yards.
Riga maintained the pressure and Doherty had to dive low to his right to smother a dangerous shot from Junior.
With McManus receiving little change from Vitalijs Snirnovs and Skonto captain David Gamezardashvili, both well over 6ft, the courageous little Scot grabbed his just rewards just before half-time.
Higgins took control of the ball and when he finally fed Mark Farren, the Donegal man flighted the perfect cross which was met by the alert McManus and Derry were back in business.
Derry more or less controlled the second period and, indeed, could have nicked another goal had luck been on their side.
Skonto attempted to boss the ball but Derry’s slick passing continued to cause them problems.
That said, Olegs Laizans and Aleksandrs Fertovs went close on the break.
As the game moved into the final minutes, Ciarán Martyn could have grabbed the spoils but he failed to keep his shot down, while Gareth McGlynn went close with an 84th-minute header following Farren’s teasing cross.
Substitute Thomas Stewart, also had a chance when his low shot from an acute angle was blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Germans Malins.
“I was concerned with the opening 20 minutes when they came out of the blocks well, but I was impressed with our second-half performance as I felt we controlled the match,” said Kenny afterwards.
“Scoring an away goal was crucial, and while we can take nothing for granted, we’re still in with a chance of progressing to the next round.”
SKONTO-RIGA:Malins, Golubevs, Hscamoniqs, Gamezardashvili, Smirnovs, Kozlovs, Fertovs, Laizans (Agaeonov, 77 mins) Carvalho, Semjonovs (Cauna, 61 mins), Tarasovs.
DERRY CITY:Doherty; O'Brien, Delaney, Hutton, Gray (McCallion, 80 mins); McGlynn, Martyn, Molloy, Higgins, Farren (Stewart, 85 mins); McManus (Morrow, 80 mins).
Referee:A Tussen (Luxembourg)
