Seeing Red

Cliftonville 2-3 St Joseph’s [4-5 on aggregate]

Cliftonville were once again left to rue a controversial sending off as St Joseph’s booked progress to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League at the end of a mammoth showdown at Solitude.

As had been the case during last week’s first leg in Gibraltar, the Reds were reduced to 10 men early in the second period when Odhran Casey was shown a second yellow card despite cleanly winning the ball when challenging Alvaro Rey.

By that stage, the contest on the night was already tied at 1-1 after Micheal Glynn had cancelled out Pablo Rodriguez’s early opener but the Reds made light of their numerical disadvantage to take the lead through Joe Gormley.

Mirroring what had happened at Europa Point Stadium, the 10 men only led for a few minutes before the Saints levelled and, after being grateful to goalkeeper Bradley Banda for a last-gasp save that denied Conor Falls a winner deep into injury-time, St Joseph’s themselves grabbed a winner when Hugo Jesslen got the slightest of touches on the ball amid a goalmouth scramble.

That proved enough to send the away side through 5-4 on aggregate at the end of an evening that had started disastrously for Cliftonville.

Not even a minute had elapsed by the time Rodriguez had stolen in behind to give the away side the lead.

The Reds responded well, though, and twice threatened through Rory Hale before Casey sent a header against the crossbar.

Gormley was then denied by Banda and Ryan Curran sent an attempt off target before the deserved equaliser finally came when Glynn picked his spot in style.

Saints keeper Banda was called into action to deal with long-range strikes from Hale and Jonny Addis either side of the break, while another stop from Casey went undetected by the officials, who contrived to award a goal kick – unfortunately not the last time Casey would come out on the wrong side of a contentious call.

Just a few minutes later, the defender nicked the ball off Rey in the middle of the pitch and was stunned to see referee Sven Wolfsenberger not only call a foul, but issue a second yellow card in the progress.

Even so, Cliftonville were in front shortly afterwards when the impressive Glynn picked out Luke Conlan on the flank and when his cross was kept alive by Hale, Gormley’s overhead kick made it 2-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

Just like last week, though, the Reds taking the lead with 10 men provided an advantage that didn’t last long; Juanma finding the net from distance after the hosts had been unable to clear their lines.

Lewis Ridd saved from Angel Martinez, Mitch Gibson and Manuel Sanchez as the away side sought a winner but it was Banda who had the final say of a compelling 90 minutes when, following a surging run from Conlan, Falls executed a shot that the keeper just about managed to turn against the post.

There was further drama to come as St Joseph’s had a goal ruled out for offside almost immediately, however they atoned for that at the start of extra-time when Jesslen put them ahead.

Cliftonville gave it everything they had in the time that remained and, in the second period of extra time, saw Shea Gordon shoot over from a challenging angle before Falls headed straight at Banda.

At the other end, Hassane Amadou almost bagged a bizarre goal when he appeared to miscue after Ridd had raced out to head the ball clear; his attempt from distance rolling agonisingly wide.

With the Reds throwing everyone forward, they were always susceptible to being caught on the counter attack and the away side should have added another in the final seconds only for Ridd to somehow keep a Jesslen effort out from point blank range but there was to be no final charge from Cliftonville, who will look back on a string of missed opportunities and yet another controversial red card.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Pepper, Addis, Wilson (McCay 99), Hale (Hawthorne 99), Curran (Gordon 74), Leppard (Sheridan 116), Conlan, Gormley (Falls 81), Glynn (Corrigan 81), Casey. Unused subs: Morrison, Murray, Mahoney.