Superb Coleraine seal famous Europa League win over Maribor

The Bannsiders defeated the European regulars 5-4 on penalties after a superb performance over 120 minutes in Slovenia.

James McLaughlin fired in another Europa League goal to give Oran Kearney’s men the lead on the hour mark.

They were pegged back four minutes later when Pozeg fired in from close range.

Neither side mustered a goal in the remainder of the game, or the half hour of extra time so it was on to spot kicks.

Both sides netted their opening four penalties before Pozeg struck the upright for Maribor.

Up stepped Ben Doherty, who had missed in the Irish Cup semi-final shoot-out, but he made no mistake this time to send Coleraine into dream land.

The Bannsiders started with purpose with Josh Carson getting on the end of Stephen Lowry’s cross inside the first minute, but he glanced his header wide.

The home side were awarded a soft free kick on 18 minutes after a coming together between Aaron Canning and Mesanovic.

But Gareth Deane pulled off a great save to deny Rok Kronaveter from the set piece on the edge of the box.

The visitors had a let off six minutes before half time as Kramaric drilled the ball across the face of goal, Matko lost his marker in front of goal but he couldn’t get enough purchase on the ball and screwed it wide.

It was the visitors though who broke the deadlock just past the hour mark, and it was that man McLaughlin who showed his class again.

The hosts failed to clear their lines from a free kick, the ball was headed around before it fell to the striker on the edge of the box, and he fired home a glorious left foot shot.

But within four minutes Maribor drew level as a cross into the box wasn’t dealt with and it fell for the substitute Pozeg, unmarked at the back post, to fire home.

Coleraine substitute Eoin Bradley almost produced a moment of magic of his own with two minutes to go as he weaved past a couple of defenders, but his dinked effort was saved by Azbe Jug.

Deane produced an excellent save to deny Mesanovic in extra time before he had the woodwork to thank on 105 minutes after the hosts were awarded a penalty following a foul on Vilea. But substitute Dervisevic rattled the bar from the spot.

So it was on to penalties as Ian Parkhill, Lyndon Kane, Gareth McConaghie and Eoin Bradley all held their nerve to cancel out Maribor before Doherty stepped up to send Coleraine through to the next round and seal a famous victpry.