Premiership

CRUES HAVE IT ALL TO PLAY FOR

13 Jul 2023
football

Crusaders have everything to play for in their UEFA Europa Conference League tie with FC Haka after a hard fought 2-2 draw in Finland.

Stephen Baxter's side moved in front midway through the first half with a superb Jordan Forsythe strike into the top corner from the edge of the area.

However New Zealand born striker Logan Rogerson levelled for Haka just after the half-hour mark from the spot after Jarlath O'Rourke had been penalised for hand ball.

Then, three minutes after that, the home side seized the lead through Tiemoko Fofano after being teed up by Stavros Zarokostas.

Philip Lowry might have levelled for the Crues only to see a 'goal' ruled out by the match officials while, at the other end, Janne-Pekka Laine came close to adding a third after turning a free-kick against the crossbar.

Laine was later dismissed after collecting a second caution on 66 minutes and, from the free-kick that followed, Ross Clarke found the net to bring the Crues back into contention in the tie.