Uefa Europa League Qualifying Round Two: Crusaders 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 (Wolves win 6-1 on aggregate)
IGNORE the final score-line - this was a night to remember for gutsy Irish League club Crusaders as they exited the Europa League to a Wolves side who were far too slick.
Three first half goals - two from Raul Jimenez and Ryan Bennett - and a second half own-goal from Jordan Forsythe put a bit of polish on the final score for Wolves who carried a two-goal first leg advantage into last night's encounter.
But this was a brave effort from the Irish League men considering the gulf in class between the two clubs.
And yet, mission impossible seemed slightly less improbable when Crusaders shocked the English Premiership side by having the temerity to score first in last night’s second leg Europa League tie.
In the 14th minute, Wolves defender Ryan Bennett headed Ross Clarke’s excellent cross into his own net under pressure from winger Paul Heatley.
It was just reward for some good, early pressure from the Hatchetmen.
But just when the Crues needed to ‘mind the house’ for the next few minutes to keep the dream of a dramatic European upset alive, Raul Jimenez accepted Diogo Jota’s low cross from the left and turned on a sixpence from 18 yards out to drive the ball past Sean O’Neill who had no chance of saving it.
For the remainder of the half, Wolves owned the ball, passing it from side to side with the Crusaders midfield and their well-drilled five-man defence coping manfully with the constant movement of their illustrious opponents.
Rory Hale and Philip Lowry had to work over-time to protect the home defence, but it was only a matter of time before Wolves edged ahead on the night - putting them 4-1 in front on aggregate - although nobody among the 3,000-capacity crowd expected the home side to cough up such a soft goal.
Ryan Bennett, the Wolves centre back, made up for his own goal earlier when he found himself in oceans of space to nod home Joao Moutinho’s corner seven minutes before the interval.
And on the stroke of half-time, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were out of sight.
Their third goal was rough justice on Chris Hegarty – one of Crusaders’ impressive new signings from Dungannon Swifts this summer – who defended stoutly before the ball broke invitingly to Jimenez, with the Mexican international striker flashing the ball past O’Neill from the edge of the area.
Three moments of quality in the first half was a sickening blow to the Crues, with the 3-1 half-time score-line perhaps slightly harsh on Stephen Baxter’s men.
In the second half, the emphasis continued to be on defence for the home side for fear of the floodgates opening.
Philip Lowry tried to press the Wolves midfield, lone striker Jordan Owens made any quality balls that were hoisted up to him stick, Sean Ward was vigilant as ever at the heart of the defence alongside the hugely impressive Hegarty who was arguably Crusaders’ best player on the night.
It was a blessing for the Crues that Jimenez was substituted in the early stages of the second period while Wolves metronome Moutinho probably had a 100 per cent success passing rate and breezed through last night's second leg.
Towards the end Jordan Forsythe misdirected his header and it lobbed over O'Neill's head to make it 4-1 on the night.
Baxter gave run-outs to Declan Caddell, David Cushley and Gary Thompson in a bid to freshen the home side's legs but, in truth, Crusaders never threatened Rui Patricio's goal.
Despite Wolves' convincing win, it was a night to remember for all associated with the Shore Road club, and the Crusaders players deserved the rousing applause they received at the end of a testing night.
Crusaders: S O’Neill, BJ Burns, C Hegarty, S Ward, J O’Rourke, R Hale (G Thompson 84), J Forsythe, P Lowry, P Heatley, R Clarke (D Caddell 77), J Owens (D Cushley 79) Subs not used: G Doherty, H Beverland, C Coates, M Ruddy,
Wolverhampton Wanderers: R Patricio, A Traore, W Boly, C Coady, R Bennett, Jonny, J Mountino, R Neves (RG P Saiss 68), L Dendoncker, R Jimenez (M Gibbs-White 56), D Jota (R Vinagrae 67) Subs not used: J Ruddy, DD L Sanderson, T Perry, M Kilman
Referee: N Kajazovic (Slovenia)
