Crusaders out despite second-leg win

Crusaders clinched a 3-2 win at Seaview in the Champions League second round qualifier but 10-man Skenderbeu Korce progressed 6-4 on aggregate.

Renato Arapi's dismissal on 11 minutes gave the hosts hope, which grew after Stephen O'Flynn netted the opener. 

The Albanians hit back with Bernard Berisha slotting home before Lindon Latifi lashed in to make it 2-1. 
Crusaders hit the woodwork three times before injury-time goals from Matthew Snoddy and Andrew Mitchell. 

The Irish League champions faced a huge task to overturn a 4-1 deficit from the first leg but they were handed an early boost. 
Arapi was shown a straight red card after an off-the-ball incident with BJ Burns, who picked up a yellow card. 

Crusaders seized control and bombarded the Skenderbeu box with strike pair Jordan Owens and O'Flynn the targets. 
The pressure was finally rewarded early in the second half when O'Flynn tapped in after Owens headed down from Craig McClean's cross. 

The visitors had rarely threatened but the goal sparked them into life and they went close twice before Berisha latched on to a weak back pass from Colin Coates and calmly slid the ball beyond keeper Sean O'Neill. 

Skenderbeu broke as Crusaders pressed for a second goal and a flowing move ended with Latifi firing home. 
The tie was finished as a contest but the Crues were determined to add to their tally and in the closing minutes Michael Carvill hit a post and the bar while Snoddy headed against an upright. 

Stephen Baxter's men finished with a flourish, first with Snoddy heading into the bottom corner and then Mitchell blasting in a superb winner on the night from 25 yards deep into added time. 


Skenderbeu Korce will now play Moldovan side Milsami Orhei in the penultimate Champions League qualifying round.