Tiernan Lynch makes 'self-belief' admission after difficult Champions League night for Larne

Tiernan Lynch believes a lack of self-belief contributed to Larne's chastening 3-0 first leg defeat in their Champions League tie at the hands of RFS on Wednesday night.

Lynch had spoken in the build up calling on his side to feel like they belong on this stage. But they came unstuck against the slick Latvian champions in Riga giving themselves a mountain to climb in the second leg.

RFS – the same side who broke Linfield hearts in the Conference League play-offs two years ago – were an impressive outfit and added to their single goal half-time advantage with two more after the break to leave Larne with it all to do at Inver Park next Wednesday.

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“We talked about it pre-match but there’s definitely an ongoing issue with a confidence that we belong at this level," said Lynch. “There’s an element of a lack of belief in our ability that we belong at this level and can play at this level.

“When we got over that I thought we looked like a much better team. We tried to play and tried to play in their half, but I thought we just left it too late.”

A sold out LNK Sporta Parks and temperatures in their high 20’s didn’t help Larne, but in truth it was on the pitch against a team littered with internationals which caused most problems for Lynch and his men.

There was a scare within the first minute of action when Ivorian forward Ismail Diomande skipped past two challenges on the left flank to waltz his way into the box but, thankfully for the visitos his dangerous low cross evaded everyone before the ball was cleared up field.

Almost immediately Larne had a sight of goal of their own. The ball was moved in from the right to McKendry and he controlled it well before firing a low effort which was gathered by Fabrice Ondoa.

Ondoa, the cousin of Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, has 50 caps to his name for Cameroon and looked assured when called into action early on.

The visitors then had a let off on 17 minutes after a VAR intervention. A dangerous free-kick into the Larne box was eventually stabbed into the goal with the assistant referee keeping his flag down. However, after a delay of a couple of minutes referee Ondrej Berka signalled his video assistant had ruled the goal out for offside.

There was to be no reprieve as the home side took the lead on 30 minutes, though. Brazilian forward Emerson swept down the left flank beyond the Larne rearguard, before pulling the ball back for Martin Kigurs to sweep home from 12-yards out.

Larne suffered the worst possible start to the second half as RFS doubled their lead on 49 minutes. Pre-match Tiernan Lynch had spoken about RFS’ threat from set pieces and it was from Petr Mares’ corner they made it 2-0. The delivery from the left was nodded to the back post and defender Daniels Balodis rose highest to nod it past the stranded Rohan Ferguson.

The Latvian Champions then stretched their lead with an hour the clock. Cian Bolger was booked for a foul just outside the box and Serbian midfielder Stefan Panic stepped up to send a right-footed effort arrowing into the top right corner of Ferguson’s goal.

They almost added to their handsome advantage 10 minutes later when Emerson picked up a cross-field pass, but as he cut in in field he fired inches the wrong side of the post as the game finished 3-0.

“It was a difficult night, they were a good side,” Lynch admitted afterwards. “They looked strong and sharp and athletic and it probably told that it was our first competitive game.

“We were a bit sluggish at the start but, for all the parts we were disappointed with, we can’t fault the players’ effort and endeavour. It was disappointing to concede the goal so early in the second half, and from a set piece, and that made it an uphill task.”

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