Crusaders Are Off To Europe After Playoff Win

6th May 2024

It was a glorious day at Seaview as Crusaders qualified for the Conference League Qualifiers in July as they defeated Coleraine 3-2 in a pulsating game they won in dramatic style in the 92nd minute.

Despite going behind to an early 5th minute goal by Jamie McGonigle who got his shot under Johnny Tuffey they battled back and went into the break 2-1 up after Jarlath O'Rourke scored with a good finish on 36 minutes and Daniel Larmour put Crusaders ahead just two minutes later in the 38th minute when his goal bound shot took a deflection of Stephen O'Donnell and went in Rory Browns goal.

The second half Crusaders where the better side but where rocked by a Josh Carson thunderbolt from distance to bring the sides level again after 70 minutes. The game rocked back and forward and as the fourth official put the board up for six minutes additional time most of the people in Seaview where settling for extra time. Crusaders thought otherwise and a Jordan Forsythe shot was helped over the line by Jordan Owens in the 92nd minute to send the home support into a frenzy. There was little time to react and on the whistle Crusaders where into Europe and it was a dream finish to Stephen Baxters 19 year tenure as Crusaders manager.