Levadia delight in Dublin
Tuesday, 27 July 2004
By Aidan Fitzmaurice at Dalymount Park
[1] Estonian Cup holders FC Levadia Tallinn are the first team through to the UEFA Cup second qualifying round after a fine away performance at Dublin side Bohemian FC.
Early goal
[2] The Irish side had secured a useful 0-0 draw in Estonia in the first leg, but an early away goal was to prove invaluable for the visitors. On ten minutes Konstantin Nahk sent in a corner which the home defence failed to clear and Levadia defender Vitoldas Cepauskas was left unmarked to head into the net.
Kotento heroics
[3] Bohemians started to take control after that as Levadia sat back to protect their precious lead, and it was a mixture of the woodwork and away goalkeeper Artur Kotenko which kept Bohemians scoreless. David Morrison went agonisingly close for the home side on 33 minutes but his shot came off the crossbar, and Kotenko saved the winger's header two minutes later. The custodian frustrated Morrison yet again just before the break after another header.
Bohemians level
[4] Both teams made changes at half-time and Bohemians substitute Bobby Ryan almost stole a goal on 51 minutes but his shot from Morrison's cross went wide. Four minutes later Bohemians were level, though, as a Simon Webb free-kick was not cleared, Kevin Hunt headed the rebound back towards goal and Republic of Ireland international Glen Crowe scored the equaliser with a superb overhead kick.
Tšelnokov beats Kelly
[5] It seemed that Bohemians had every chance of getting the second goal they needed to book their passage, but 21 minutes from the end they fell behind again as Levadia substitute Vladimir Tšelnokov managed to get on the end of a Nahk pass, sneak past the home defence and slide a shot past Seamus Kelly to send his side into the lead for the second time
Dovydenas clincher
[6] On 78 minutes Marius Dovydenas wrapped up the win for Levadia with their third goal after he pounced on another pass from playmaker Nahk, sending the small band of Estonians in the crowd into ecstasy.