Eu Reds: Copenhagen

Two days on from marking Cliftonville’s record European defeat, our latest continental anniversary steps back to an evening that threatened to usurp that landmark.

For today marks 13 years since the Reds suffered a 7-0 loss at the hands of FC Copenhagen, whose goalscoring exploits at Parken Stadium was thankfully halted with a full 30 minutes left to play.

Trailing 4-0 from the first leg of this UEFA Cup First Qualifying Round tie at Mourneview Park a fortnight earlier, Cliftonville shipped three first-half strikes as Ailton Almeida, Jose Junior and Atiba Hutchinson put the Danes firmly in control once again.

A particularly distressing goal glut in the first 15 minutes of the second-half saw William Kvist, Morten Nordstrand (from the penalty spot), Thomas Kirstensen and Junior further extend Copenhagen’s advantage on an occasion that, scoreline aside, remains a cherished European memory for the Red Army, who forged strong and ongoing connections with their FCK counterparts throughout the night.

Cliftonville: Connolly, Donaghy, R Scannell, B Holland, O’Hara, O’Connor, M Holland, Hamill, C Scannell, McMullan, Catney. Subs: Boyd (for McMullan), Patterson (for Hamill), McAlinden (for O’Hara).