Elfsborg 1 Linfield 0

25th July, 2007

Team: Mannus, Douglas ( Mouncey 77 ) Curran ( Ferguson 75 ) Bailie, Lindsay, O'Kane, McAreavey, Gault, Mulgrew ( Stewart 65 ), Thompson, Dickson


So it wasn't to be. Good effort by Linfield on the night, but if we're being really honest with ourselves, we didn't relly deserve to go through. We had two 100% chances to get the equaliser and progress, Noel and Thompo both missing sitter headers that they should have buried, and Dicko had a snaphot well saved, but Mannus made at least 3 outstanding saves, and the woodwork saved us on at least 2 occasions.

We can blame lack of match fitness and 'what if' chances all we want, but realistically, such small things make the difference, and time and again, we are found wanting in Europe.

Always next year.

VERY brief highlights here:

Elfsborg - Linfield Live Online!

OK, you have to part with 4 of your finest Pounds Sterling, but it's still well worth it, imo. I'm like a kid on Christmas day. Top effort, Elfsborg!

Here's the link:

http://www.streamcode.tv/elfsborg/ifelfsborg.htm

Enjoy! Come on the Blues, with a bit of luck, and a cheeky early away goal, we can get through. Let's just hope Winkie is fit to play.

Linfield 0 Elfsborg 0

UEFA Champions' League, 1st Qualifying Round, 1st Leg

Windsor Park, Belfast, 17th July 2007

Linfield: Mannus, Douglas, O'Kane, Murphy, Bailie, McAreavey (Mouncey 77), Gault, Mulgrew, Curran, Dickson (Ferguson 87), Thompson (Stewart 79)

Subs not used : McKendry, Lindsay, McCann, Ervin

I listened to the match, first on SR, Swedish Radio (the South Stand was its usual vocal self!) and then on Radio Ulster MW, given a rare outing online, hats off.

Apparently the Blues gave a good account of themselves, despite some breakaways after Linfield's high defensive line playing for offside failed in Europe YET again, luckily Alan Mannus continued his excellent shot-stopping form of last season and bailed us out. Then apparently we had a real go at them in the second half, Jamie Mulgrew should have done better with a close-range header after an O'Kane cross, and Thompo had a chance; then we were fortunate near the end.

But a clean sheet, and a real chance going into the return leg, even if I think we're beat. If we score first over there, who knows, and the Exile would be free to go to the away leg of any second round...

Match report on SSS.

Highlights on youtube:

Exile Interviews Part 1- Wellington Blues

A new series of articles on the relaunched South Stand Says features an excellent interview with Linfield's furthest-flung exile, Wellington Blues.

The interview.

More great ones to come...