Kearney goal keeps Linfield hopes high

Halmstad 1 Linfield 1

The Blues fell behind in the 31st minute to an Andreas Johansson strike but battled back to level the tie with Kearney running in from midfield to power home the equaliser in the 72nd minute.

Linfield rode their luck at times but rarely looked out of their depth and will be in the first round proper if they can prevent the Swedes from scoring in a fortnight’s time.

Noel Baillie made his 25th European appearance for Linfield, equalling George Dunlop’s record, as the visitors took the game to Halmstad in the opening exchanges.

The Blues might have taken the lead after just four minutes when Glenn Ferguson got on the end of Aidan O’Kane’s corner but fired against a post.

Halmstad started to exert more control on the game and Baillie had to clear at the back post in the 26th minute.

However, the Swedes got the first goal on 31 minutes, five minutes later when a wild shot from Emil Jensen fell to Johansson who rifled the ball home into the roof of the Linfield net from close range.

Linfield continued to create chances in the second half and O’Kane saw his 25-yard effort shave the Halmstad crossbar.

However, the Blues were lucky not to concede again as keeper Alan Mannus had to be at his best in the 56th minute to save from Gunnar Thorvaldsson.

Linfield kept working however and got the goal their endeavours deserved when Kearney steered the ball home.

MyPa 0 Dundee United 0

DUNDEE UNITED manager Gordon Chisholm praised defender David McCracken after the big defender helped the Taysiders to a goalless draw in the first leg of their UEFA Cup second qualifier against MyPa in Finland.

McCracken turned in a poor performance in United’s 2-0 defeat by Celtic in the Bank of Scotland Premier League last weekend but was one of the team’s best players tonight in the rain-lashed Anjalankoski stadium.

Chisholm said: “Alan Archibald is Mr Consistency and he was excellent but I thought David McCracken was outstanding.”

Chisholm admits he was pleased with his side’s result which leaves United firm favourites for the second leg on August 25.

“I always felt from set plays that they would be dangerous because they are a big strong team,” he said.

“And they gave quite a lot of free-kicks and corners away.

“But I thought the boys played some good stuff and after the first five or 10 minutes I thought we controlled the first half.

“I think we missed a killer touch though because we had a couple of chances in front of goal and I feel that we have to punish teams at this level when we do make chances.”