Larne vs Tre Fiori

The night could not have started worse for Gary Haveron's side. Tre Fiori, needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit, struck in the 11th minute. Matteo Prandelli's ball into the box was not dealt with by the Larne defence, and Pietro Mengucci swept home from close range to level the tie on aggregate.

Larne responded well. Their equaliser came in the 25th minute — Ronan Doherty's floating free-kick from the left was met by centre-half Matt Ridley, who powered a header past veteran goalkeeper Michele Nardi at the back post. The scoreline read 1-1 on the night, 2-1 to Larne on aggregate, and the hosts never relinquished control of the tie.

The decisive phase arrived just past the hour mark. Simone Rea, already booked for a foul in the 58th minute, lunged into a late challenge on Matty Lusty in the 63rd minute. Referee Sigurd Smehus Kringstad produced a second yellow card, reducing Tre Fiori to ten men.

Larne capitalised immediately. Lusty drove into the box and was brought down by Nico Manara. Dan Bent stepped up in the 69th minute and drilled the penalty into the top-right corner, giving Larne a two-goal cushion on aggregate.

Tre Fiori's misery was compounded in stoppage time when Tommaso Bernardi received two yellow cards in quick succession for separate fouls, leaving the visitors with nine men. Larne saw out the remaining minutes without alarm.

Simone Rea's red card in the 63rd minute broke the game open. Until that point, Tre Fiori had frustrated Larne after the equaliser and remained a threat on the counter. Once reduced to ten men, the Sammarinese champions lost their defensive shape, and Larne poured forward — winning the penalty within six minutes of the sending-off.

Matty Lusty (Larne) — Named man of the match in the NI Football League broadcast. The forward was a constant menace, winning the penalty that decided the tie and forcing Tre Fiori into defensive errors. His driving run through multiple defenders in the second half summed up his influence.

Matt Ridley (Larne) — Scored the crucial equaliser with a well-timed header from a set piece. Solid defensively alongside Cian Bolger, particularly after Tre Fiori's early goal.

Dan Bent (Larne) — Composed under pressure to convert the spot-kick that effectively sealed the tie. His penalty was struck with precision into the top corner.

Pietro Mengucci (Tre Fiori) — Gave his side a lifeline with an 11th-minute goal and looked dangerous on the break before the red card shifted the momentum.

Larne's 68% possession and 12 shots (4 on target) against Tre Fiori's 32% and 7 shots (3 on target) reflect a game of two clear phases. The first 25 minutes were even — Tre Fiori scored from their only real opening and threatened on transition. After Ridley's equaliser, Larne steadily took control, and the red card turned a contest into a siege. The penalty converted a period of sustained pressure that had been building since the 63rd minute. Tre Fiori's best chance to equalise came through Mohamed Ben Kacem, who fired over from inside the six-yard box with the score at 2-1 — a miss that would have set up a tense finale.

Larne advance to the Champions League second qualifying round for the first time in their history, winning a European tie 3-1 on aggregate. They will face Red Star Belgrade, the Serbian champions, in the next round. The first leg is scheduled for the week commencing 21 July 2026.

For Tre Fiori, the campaign ends at the first hurdle. The Sammarinese champions had chances — particularly in the first leg, where they matched Larne for long spells — but the aggregate scoreline reflected Larne's superior quality in both boxes.

A professional, controlled performance from Larne after a nervous start. The early goal against could have derailed the tie, but Haveron's side showed composure, equalised before half-time, and used their numerical advantage ruthlessly in the second half. Red Star Belgrade represents a significant step up in quality, but Larne have earned the right to test themselves against one of Europe's most storied clubs.