Larne 2-1 Tre Fiori: Champions League qualifier secured
Here we go: Larne beat Tre Fiori 2-1 on 14 July and closed the tie 3-1 on aggregate, Inver Park erupting as Gary Haveron’s side advanced from the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.
Tre Fiori landed the first punch. In the 11th minute Pietro Mengucci met Marco Prandelli’s pass and silenced the ground. Larne reset quickly. Patience on the left, then Ryan Doherty spotted Matthew Ridley’s run and the centre-back levelled in the 25th minute, restoring belief and calming the tempo.
From there Larne pinned Matteo Cecchetti’s 4-2-3-1 deep. Conor McKendry’s booking in the 53rd minute hinted at frustration but Haveron reacted, sending Kofi O’Hara and Jordan McEneff on at 58 minutes. The fresh legs stretched the pitch, provoking errors. Simone Rea collected yellows in the 58th and 63rd minute, leaving Tre Fiori at ten men with half an hour still to navigate.
Pressure told inside six minutes. Dan Bent kept his nerve from the spot in the 69th minute after relentless pressure forced the penalty, pushing Larne in front on the night and the tie. Nico Manara’s caution at 67 minutes and the change introducing Tommaso Bernardi at 72 minutes showed Tre Fiori hanging on.
Chaos marked stoppage time. Bernardi collected two yellows in the 90th minute and Giulio Ponticelli was also booked, meaning Tre Fiori ended with nine men. Larne controlled the final passages, Haveron rotating in David Sloan, Paul O’Neill and J. Simpson to close it out.
Tactical view
Larne’s 4-3-3 brought control through the Gallagher-Doherty axis. With 68 percent possession and five corners, the hosts kept Tre Fiori’s lines pinned and targeted the full-backs. Bent’s conversion from centre-back to penalty taker underlined the trust Haveron places in his back line. Tre Fiori’s 4-2-3-1 started brightly thanks to Prandelli’s movement underneath Mengucci, yet once Rea departed the defensive block crumbled. Cecchetti’s double swap on 59 minutes, introducing Mehdi Ben Kacem and Giulio Ponticelli, failed to halt the tide because the midfield screen could not get out to halt Larne’s rotations.
Key incidents
- 11th minute: Pietro Mengucci scores, assist Marco Prandelli
- 25th minute: Matthew Ridley equalises, assist Ryan Doherty
- 63rd minute: Simone Rea receives second yellow, Tre Fiori down to ten
- 69th minute: Dan Bent converts penalty for 2-1
- 90th minute: Tommaso Bernardi sent off after two bookings, Giulio Ponticelli also booked
Statistics
- Possession: Larne 68 percent, Tre Fiori 32 percent
- Shots: Larne 12 total (4 on target), Tre Fiori 7 total (3 on target)
- Corners: Larne 5, Tre Fiori 1
- Cards: Larne 1 yellow; Tre Fiori 8 yellows (including two second yellows) and 2 reds
What’s next
Larne will learn their second qualifying round opponents later this week, with internal planning sessions already pencilled in as Haveron targets another disciplined display. Tre Fiori travel back to San Marino reflecting on discipline issues that turned the tie, needing a response when their domestic campaign resumes. For more from this qualifying phase, read Shamrock Rovers vs Floriana.
