Crusaders put in a dominant display to remain alive and kicking in the UEFA European Conference League, after an extremely impressive 2-2 draw with F.C. Haka of Finland in Valkeakoski City in their first-leg tie. Jordan Forsythe curled in the opener before Logan Rogerson and Tiemoko Fofana hit back for the Finnish full-time side. Ross Clarke scored in the second-half with a stereo-typical pearler to leave all to play for in next Thursday’s return tie at Seaview.
With the weather quite muggy in Valeaskoski, it was a bright start by Stephen Baxter’s side. The game’s opening chance fell the way of the Hatchetmen on 15 minutes. A corner from the right led to uncertainty in the Haka defence, but Philip Lowry could only fire over the bar from eight yards out. Just a minute later, Crusaders had a strong shout for a handball in the box, but these were waved away by referee Sivert Øksnes Amland. With 22 minutes played Crusaders made the deserved breakthrough. After a scramble in the Finnish side’s box, Adam Lecky showed good composure and the big forward managed to roll the ball back to Forsythe and the midfielder unleashed a thunderbolt from all of 25 yards into the top corner of the net to silence the home support. With the Crues looking comfortable, four minutes would turn the tie on its head. First, on 32 minutes a cross from Janne-Pekka Laine was blocked by a raised Ben Kennedy arm and the Norwegian referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Rogerson to send Jonny Tuffey the wrong way to equalise. Just four minutes later, Haka had their second. Winger Stavros Zarokostas broke the offside trap down the left before sliding the ball across the goal, where Fofana tucked home from six yards to leave the Seaview side stunned. Baxter’s men had opportunities to level before half-time but Lowry and Paul Heatley failed to find the net.
Lowry thought he had grabbed an equaliser five minutes into the second half with a header from a Jarlath O’Rourke flick-on but it was rightly ruled offside. On 66 minutes the hosts lost Laine to a second yellow card and just two minutes later Crusaders were on level terms. Clarke scoring a trademark curling free-kick from 20 yards. Lowry could have won it six minutes from time but he could only shoot wide from 12 yards when the goal was at his mercy as the game finished all square.