Larne's fairytale European adventure continued this evening in Denmark when a draw with AGF Aarhus saw Tiernan Lynch's side progress to the next round of the UEFA Conference League.
The Inver Reds went into the game holding a 2-1 advantage following last week's home leg but knew it would be a tall order if they were to hold out against their illustrious hosts.
After an expected tough start Larne were handed a massive boost midway through the first half when AGF were reduced to ten men when Icelandic international Jón Dagur Þorsteinsson was dismissed after collecting a second booking for attempt to win a spot-kick.
And as if it couldn't get any better for the visitors it duly did on the stroke of half-time when Ronan Hale handed them the lead on the night and extended their aggregate advantage with a cool, composed finish past Jesper Hansen after Mark Randall had laid the ball off.
Chasing two goals to force extra-time Aarhus stepped up a gear after the break and levelled on 73 minutes courtesy of a successfully converted Patrick Olsen penalty, awarded after Josh Robinson was adjudged to have handled in the area.
Then, in the closing minutes, South African midfielder Gift Links saw a low drive stopped by Rohan Ferguson before, in stoppage time, another effort was blocked on the line.
But Larne managed to do it, and will continue their continental odyssey next week (5th August) in Portugal against Pacos de Ferreira with the return seven days after that back at Inver Park.
AGF Aarhus: Hansen, Bisseck, Tingager, Poulsen, Olsen, Links, Munksgaard, Lund, Þorsteinsson, Kurminowski, Grønbæk subs Andersen (not used), Gersbach (replaced Lund 70), Jevtović (not used), Tengstedt (not used), Juelsgård (not used), Duncan (not used), Kristensen (replaced Tingager 88), D'Alberto (replaced Munksgaard 61), Hausner (not used), Ammitzbøll (replaced Kurminowski 70)
Larne: Ferguson, Watson, Herron, Sule, Randall, McDaid, Lynch, Bolger, Cosgrove, Hughes, Jarvis subs Argyrides (not used), Kelly (replaced Randall 87), Robinson (replaced Cosgrove 71), Hale (replaced Lynch 42), Scott (not used), Mitchell (replaced Sule 87), Lusty (not used)
