Larne were held to a goalless draw by FC Iberia 1999 in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie at Inver Park. Despite dominating possession, Gary Haveron's side failed to break down the Georgian outfit's resolute defence, leaving everything to play for in the return leg in Tbilisi.
What happened in the match?
Larne started brightly with Matthew Lusty and Ronan Doherty creating early chances. The home side controlled possession but were denied by Giorgi Makaridze, who made smart saves to keep out Sean Graham and Tomas Cosgrove. The best chance fell to Vahid Selimovic, but his header was ruled out for offside. The second half saw few clear-cut opportunities, with both sides cancelling each other out.
Why it matters for Larne
The draw leaves Larne with work to do in the second leg. A clean sheet at home is a positive, but they will need to find a way past Iberia 1999's defence in Tbilisi. The winner of this tie will face either Rangers or Jagellonia Bialystok in the next round, a significant step up in competition.
What comes next for Larne?
Larne now turn their attention to their next fixture, a home game against Crusaders FC on 12 December 2026, where they sit 6th in the Northern Ireland Premiership table. Before that, they must navigate the second leg in Tbilisi on 11 August, knowing a goal could be crucial in deciding the tie.
