It was Europa Conference League heartbreak for David Healy’s Liinfield at Windsor Park.
The Danske Bank Premiership champions came within seconds of booking their place in the group stages of the Europa Conference League and writing their own little piece of history by becoming the first Irish League to qualify in any European tournament.
Kyle McClean shot them into the lead in extra-time, it was a lead they held until seconds from the final whistle when defender Jimmy Callacher smashed the ball into his own net, sending it to a penalty shootout.
Matty Clarke and Ethan Devin missed the opening two for the Blues and, although Eetu Vertainen and Kyle McClean netted, it was the Latvians who qualified for the groups stages – pocketing a cool £3m -- with strikes from Kevin Friesenbichler, Andrej Ilic, Petr Mares and Stefan Panic.
It was all action stuff right from the off. Linfield almost broke the deadlock on six minutes. Striker Robbie McDaid managed to get a head to Chris Shields cross from the right, only for goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors to get down to save.
But the Blues missed the best chance of the half on 15 minutes. Kirk Millar produced a brilliantly delivery from the left which picked out the unmarked Sam Roscoe, whose downward header came off the legs of Pavels Steinbors.
In the second half, the Blues missed another series of glorious chances.
Robbie McDaid then missed an absolute sitter on 56 minutes. The former Glentoran man picked the pocket of Vitalijs Jagodinskis and, with only Steinbors to beat, he could still couldn’t find the net, shooting against the body of the goalkeeper.
But the Blues were let off the hook on 62 minutes. Andrej Ilic played a brilliant defence-splitting pass through the middle which was gobbled up by Emerson and, after racing clear, he attempted to curl a low shot around Johns, who produced a fabulous save.
The Blues came within inches of taking the lead on 87 minutes when Millar’s cross was headed back across goal by Devine for Eetu Vertainen, whose header was somehow scrambled off the line by Steinbors and Stuglis.
The, right on the final whistle, Callacher held his held in his hands after seeing his header crash against the base of the post following a McClean cross.
Linfield got the goal they craved on 104 minutes. Of course, it came from a Millar cross that was pawed away by Steinbors to McClean, who buried a low shot into the empty net.
But the game swung in a dramatic 40 seconds when substitute Cammy Palmer missed a glorious chance to make the game save for the Blues before RFS went to the other end and Kevin Freiesenbichler’s cross as smashed into his own net by Callacher.
And, so to penalties . . . and the heartbreak of defeat.
READ NEXT:
Gio van Bronckhorst reveals Rangers bus bedlam as they're met with 'we love you Celtic' chants
Leah Paul and Laura Delany tons see Ireland hammer Netherlands
Rory McIlroy hoping to ‘finish the PGA Tour season on a high’
Tyson Fury calls for knife criminals to be castrated in emotional interview after cousin's death
Benjamin Mendy told rape victim ‘don’t worry, it’s small’, court hears
