Uefa Europa League second qualifying round
COLERAINE forward Eoin Bradley is hoping the Bannsiders can take another big scalp against Motherwell tonight (7.30pm, streamed live on the BBC Sport NI website) to keep their European odyssey alive.
It is three weeks since Oran Kearney’s men travelled to Slovenia as huge underdogs, only to defeat NK Maribor on penalties and move a step closer to the money-spinning group stages of the Europa League.
At the Showgrounds tonight they take on a Motherwell side that defeated Glentoran 5-1 in the previous round, but who have been struggling domestically since the start of the season. The Steelmen only picked up their first win of the season against St Johnstone on Saturday, having taken just two points from their opening six games.
Bradley is well aware of the size of the task that lies ahead, but insists Coleraine come into the game with plenty of confidence after their spot kick glory last time out.
“I’d say easily it’s the biggest achievement of an Irish League team in Europe ever. I know other teams have gone further but they haven’t beaten a team of that calibre,” said the 36-year-old plasterer, who was back at work the following morning after the team flew back from Slovenia straight after the game.
“We’re at home and we know that if we play the way we played against Maribor, and give 100 per cent like we did, then after that who cares? That’s all you can ask for. They’re full-time, they’ve seven or eight games played in their season so they’ll be well up to speed.
“People maybe get carried away, and it was a brilliant result for us over there, but you have to be realistic – Motherwell have three or four internationals, we have none.
“Yes we’re confident of a performance, but we need a lot of things to go right for us and a few things to go wrong for them.”
And if the game against Stephen Robinson’s side goes to penalties, the former Derry GAA star will have no problem putting up his hand again – even if his spot kick against Maribor wasn’t the cleanest strike of his career.
“It wasn’t my best penalty but I still scored it,” he laughed.
“When I was walking up, the only thing going through my head was ‘don’t put it over the bar’. I just wanted to go up and hit it down the middle, not wile hard.
“I scuffed it a bit but thankfully it went in. Ben [Doherty] slipped on his too at the last but it went it as well. When it goes to penalty kicks it’s a lottery but we were lucky enough to come out the right side of it.
“It’s great for the club from a financial point of view, but then also the memories for the players.”
Irish League champions Linfield also have their eyes set on a place in the third qualifying round, after making it to the play-off stage last year.
Then, the Blues defeated Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag FK at Windsor Park – a stunning Shayne Lavery double helping them to a 3-2 win – before bowing out on away goals after going down 2-1 in the away leg.
Tonight Linfield – who are without suspended winger Kirk Millar - take on Maltese champions Floriana at Windsor (7.45pm, streamed live on the BBC Sport NI website), as they bid to come back stronger following last month's Champions League qualifier defeat by Legia Warsaw.
Linfield started their European adventure in the Champions League preliminary round semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Sammarinese champions Fiori 2-0 in Nyon back on August 8.
They were granted a bye to the Legia Warsaw game after their Kosovan side FC Drita had two positive Covid-19 cases before the scheduled kick-off. A 1-0 defeat in Poland saw Linfield drop into the European League qualifiers but they will be aiming to emulate last season's impressive feat in the competition.
