Champions League Preliminary Round 2nd Leg

Glentoran 0- 2 FC Litex Lovech

FC Litex win 5-0 on Aggregate

Glens Hold Heads High

Class and full time fitness told in the end at the Oval last night. It was the same old story for an Irish League team in Europe. Make no mistake Glentoran were every bit as good as Bulgarians top club Liteks for an hour in this Champions League qualifying round second leg tie that in itself deserves credit. But in the last third of the game Northern Ireland's finest were blown away. The Glens just could not cope with the pace and poise in front of goal that the visitors possessed. Their break aways were as sweet as chocalate biscuits. On 63 minutes Haxhi brilliantly fired home with his left foot after combining with Alban Bushai who himself concluded the scoring by heading in from close range in the final minute. Between them the goalscorers who also found the net in the first leg hit the East Belfast woodwork twice last night and if they perform to this level they have a wonderful opportunity to over come Polish outfit Widzew Lodz in the next round.

The Glens though must concentrate on domestic matters. Last season they won the title playing free flowing football and if their european experience is anything to go by Roy Coyle's men don't intend to change their style. The manager wanted an early goal to get back into the tie following the 3-0 defeat in Bulgaria. His wishes so nearly came true. Stuart Elliott actually had the ball in the net after 90 seconds heading in Tim McCann's inviting cross but the effort was ruled out for a foul on the defender. Glens skipper Pete Batey was then brilliantly denied by LIteks goalkeeper Vitomir Voutov before Elliott and McCann were off target. On 22 minutes Elliott's dangerous free kick was inches away from being turned home by Batey and John Kennedy. The 2000 strong Oval crowd were lapping it up as their favouites charged into the Bulgarians playing some tremendous stuff in the process but the goal they carved did not come. Rory Hamill was denied by Voutov on 51 minutes following a splendid cross from substitute Steven Livingstone who an impressive outing after replacing the injured Colin Nixon. Man of the Match Michael Ferguson who was operating wonderfully well with McCann down the right flank was unfortunate not to win a penalty on 58 minutes and with that went Glentoran's final chance of securing a famous victory. Five minutes later Haxhi had produced a piece of top drawer finishing and there was no way back after that for the Glens.

Teams

Referee Dick Van Egmond(Holland)