A devastated David Healy described Linfield’s Europa Convention League play-off heartbreak towards Latvian aspect RFS as “gut-wrenching”.
he Blues boss was struggling to seek out the phrases to specific his feelings after his aspect agonisingly missed out on changing into the primary Irish League membership to make group stage of a European competitors.
The Premiership champions had been simply seconds away from the membership’s best ever achievement, solely to see Jimmy Callacher’s merciless personal aim result in a penalty shoot-out which the house aspect misplaced.
It was a crushing finish to the second leg which Linfield had dominated at Windsor Park and had been on the point of a particular little bit of historical past after Kyle McClean’s aim on 104 minutes.
Callacher’s personal aim got here in damage time of additional time to make it 1-1 and the guests received 4-2 on penalties in an unlikely and devastating smash and seize.
Matthew Clarke and Ethan Devine missed spot-kicks for the Blues after their Europa Convention League play-off completed 3-3 on mixture.
And that meant it’s RFS who will likely be included in at the moment’s Europa Convention League group stage draw and likewise financial institution that profitable £2.5million in prizemoney.
A surprised Healy mentioned he was pleased with his Linfield gamers who dominated the sport and created extra alternatives however by the end they had been left distraught.
“The style of the loss will harm, it stings and the dressing room is down and rightly so,” mentioned Healy.
“I’ve been in soccer a very long time and I do know there’s a person (David Jeffrey) who understands the despondency and disappointment when issues transpire like that.
“It takes time (to get well) however I do must entrance up and reward our workforce for his or her efficiency. I believed we had been distinctive from begin to end – a few of our play and motion was distinctive.
“We’ll reassess and go once more towards Carrick Rangers on Sunday. However I’m a proud man and privileged to handle this nice soccer membership.
“The gamers gave me the whole lot which is what I requested for and it’s onerous to take. It might be onerous for anybody to absorb any sport. It’s gut-wrenching.”
Former Linfield supervisor and present Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey, who suffered his personal dose of heartbreak within the Irish Cup Last when Crusaders scored late targets towards his Sky Blues aspect, backed Northern Eire’s file goalscorer to reply in the precise method.
“He couldn’t be prouder of them. Tactically he received it proper on the cash,” mentioned Jeffrey.
“On the finish of the day, Linfield ought to have gone by means of however they didn’t and that’s a reality of life.
“You both lie down otherwise you rise up and go ahead, David will try this.”
Jeffrey added: “Linfield had been miles forward, completely miles forward, and deserved to undergo however generally that’s soccer – it’s the cruellest of merciless video games.
“They’ve finished so many individuals proud however that can depend for completely nothing. I hope folks don’t flip in a short time and begin to be super-critical – Linfield gave a unbelievable effort tonight.”
Though Eetu Vertainen and Kyle McClean netted within the shootout for Linfield, strikes from Kevin Friesenbichler, Andrej Ilic, Petr Mares and Stefan Panic received it for the Latvians.
Crusaders midfielder and former Linfield ace Philip Lowry mentioned he additionally felt Linfield’s ache.
“Linfield had been greater than immense, they had been sensational, not simply with their onerous work however the high quality and dedication they performed with,” mentioned Lowry.
“You simply can’t under-estimate the influence that (personal aim) would have had on their mentality as a result of they’d been so dominant. To concede a aim in that method was so unlucky and to have to choose themselves up and go right into a penalty shootout – I’m simply devastated for them.”
