Ipswich knocked out in cruel fashion as Liberec leave it late

Slovan Liberec 1

Jermaine Wright and Finidi George both missed from the spot after Joe Royle’s side came within two minutes of reaching the third round of this competition for the second season in succession.

Baffour Gyan’s header somehow found its way through goalkeeper Andy Marshall after a stout display from a side languishing in 20th place in Nationwide Division One.

Ipswich had been attempting to earn a place in the third round of the UEFA Cup for the second season in succession. Joe Royle’s First Division side went into the second leg of the second-round tie with a 1-0 lead over Czech champions Slovan Liberec.

Imposing the passing style that reaped fifth place in the Premiership two seasons ago, they quietened a vociferous home crowd in the early stages.

But an emphasis of how slight their hold on the tie is was provided in the 11th minute when Darren Ambrose, given a free role in midfield, was robbed and Baffour Gyan swivelled, at the end of a swift break, to fire narrowly wide of Andy Marshall’s left-hand post.

Martin Zboncak was off-target with a fierce strike from distance before Marshall was forced into his first save in the 47th minute.

Having survived that intense spell of pressure from the hosts, Royle made two changes with Bent and Holland on for Pablo Counago and Ambrose on the hour-mark.

All Liberec’s most threatening attacks were via the right flank and when Johana’s cross took a deflection, McGreal reacted brilliantly under pressure to nod the ball out.

With just two minutes remaining Ipswich were dealt a cruel blow. Petr Lukas looped a header, from a corner, back across goal, Gyan headed down and the ball squirmed through Marshall’s grasp and over the line.

After a further 30 minutes had failed to separate the teams, Matt Holland began the penalty shoot-out positively by dispatching into the top corner - but Jermaine Wright and Finidi George’s efforts were both saved by Kinsky. Liberec, meanwhile, were unerring and scored all four of their penalties with Papousek firing in the decisive one.

LIBEREC: Kinsky, Gyan, Martin Zboncak, Nezmar, Hodur, Miroslav Holenak, Polak, Johana, Lukas, Janu, Papousek.

IPSWICH: Marshall, Wilnis, Hreidarsson, Makin, Clapham, McGreal, Gaardsoe, Ambrose, Wright, Armstrong, Counago.