19.45 2 Jul 2015 -
Referee:
Europa League Preview: Cork City -v- KR Reykjavik
- John O'Shea
- Wed, Jul 01 2015
CORK CITY
European football returns to Turners Cross for the first time since 2008, when Cork City host KR Reykjavik at Turners Cross on Thursday evening in the Europa League first qualifying round first leg.
City have recorded a number of impressive results in European competitions over the years and there is just something about the European odyssey which always generates a huge sense of excitement on Leeside and the people of Cork are looking forward to seeing their side playing in Europe once again.
Overall, the draw with KR was one which many feel will be a closely fought tie over the two legs. Like the League of Ireland, domestic Icelandic football runs throughout the summer.
Some would have preferred City to have been away in the first leg, but that is not to be and KR may have the slight edge, with the return leg in the KR-vollur Stadium to look forward to on Thursday week.
However on the other hand, being at home first means that City know what they need to do and go out and perform at Turners Cross.
Cork prepared for their Europa League game with a recent 2-0 away win over Derry City in the Brandywell. A Karl Sheppard strike and a Billy Dennehy penalty were enough to give the Leesiders all three points.
The result keeps City right on the tails of Dundalk and, like they have shown in the league, John Caulfield’s side will be seeking to bring their hard work and determination into the game with KR.
The mood among the City camp was summed up perfectly by Colin Healy, when the midfielder spoke to Extratime.ie after the draw was made. He and his fellow Cork players are all really excited about the club’s first game in Europe for seven years.
“For the club and for the city it's good to be back in Europe,” said Healy. “There's a buzz about the place when the European games come along, so everybody's looking forward to it.
"Anytime you go away in Europe and you win, it's a great night for the club. With the first game at home, we have to get a good positive result to take over there and it will all be to play for then.
“Everybody knows the Cork City supporters. We are a big club and that's what we are. The supporters travel everywhere they can to watch us play. Listen, it doesn't matter if it's a small stadium or a big stadium. We just go out to play the game and we're looking forward to it, so hopefully we progress to the next round.”
Having played over 17 times for Ireland, Healy is one of the leaders in the City dressing room and his experience will be key if City are to progress.
In team news, Healy will come back into the side after domestic suspension. However John Kavanagh is ruled out for Thursday’s first leg. He missed the trip to Derry last Friday because of a hamstring injury. So more than likely Ross Gaynor or Michael McSweeney will be starting in that position.
Kavanagh will join long term injury victims Johnny Dunleavy and Kieran Djilali in missing a game that Caulfield is targeting for a win.
They are more than capable of doing that as a consequence of the sheer quality and variety in the squad, with the creativity of the likes of Billy Dennehy, to the experienced players such as Dan Murray who were with City the last time they were in Europe.
Centre back Murray will be looking to add to his European goal tally and he is the club’s leading all time goal scorer in Europe.
City will be most certainly hoping for a repeat of the last result when they face Icelandic opposition. In 2007 they beat Valur in the Intertoto Cup, courtesy of a 2-1 win on aggregate. The crucial thing for Caulfield’s side is to take an advantage going into the second leg.
KR REYKJAVIK
KR Reykjavik travel to Ireland in a positive frame of mind, coming off the back of a 1-0 derby victory over Leiknir Reykjavik over the weekend. Not only did that win secure local bragging rights, but it meant that KR are just three points off the top of the table as they sit in second place after 10 league games played.
Reykjavik arrived in Cork on Tuesday on the back of a six game unbeaten run, conceding only one goal during that time. So overall the outfit from Iceland will feel that they have more than enough in the tank to progress.
The Icelandic side are a big, strong and physical force and they are a side built around aggression and set plays. Their manager is Bjarni Gudjonsson, a man who played for and captained KR in the past, and also had a spell in England playing with Stoke City. He was appointed head coach of the club last October.
KR are the most successful side in Icelandic football and they have won the Premier Division on 26 occasions, while they have won the Icelandic cup 14 times.
They have a significant amount of European experience, with their most recent voyage into Europe coming 12 months ago, in the 2014/2015 Champions League. They met Scottish side Celtic in the second qualifying round, going down 5-0 on aggregate.
However, KR’s most successful season in Europe came in 2009/10 campaign, when they defeated AE Larissa 3-1 over two legs in the Europa League second qualifying round, before they were knocked out by Swiss side Basel 5-3 on aggregate, following a 2-2 draw in the first leg.
KR trained at Turners Cross on Wednesday evening in preparation for the game. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s game, Gudjonsson is convinced that his side can do what is required over the two legs against Cork.
“We go to every game always to get a win, but this is always different as it is over two legs. So we are coming here for a win, but we know it is going to be a very tough game. Cork will be looking to win the game also, so it will be an interesting game.
“Our team can adapt to a number of different situations and unlike Cork, we have qualified for European competition for the last seven years in a row.”
KR have a full squad to choose from for the trip to Cork, with no injuries or suspensions to report on.
With the winners more than likely to face Rosenberg of Norway, a side who reached the last eight of the Champions League in the past and have been regulars in European competitions over the years, there is plenty at stake for both KR Reykjavik and Cork City in this tie.
Referee: Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen (DEN)
MATCH STATS
City’s one and only encounter with Icelandic opposition prior to this year’s tie was a meeting with Valur in the Intertoto Cup. Cork lost the first leg at Turners Cross, before going to Iceland and progressing courtesy of a 2-0 wins. Goals came from Colin O’Brian and Liam Kearney.
KR Reyjkavik were the first ever side from Iceland to play in Europe in 1964. They were to face Liverpool in the European cup, with the English side having too much for them over the two legs and deservedly went through.
KR have played against Irish opposition in Europe before, when they faced Shelbourne in the Champions League first qualifying round in 2004. After a scoreless draw in Tolka Park, Shels went through on the away goals rule, following a 2-2 draw in Iceland.
BETTING
Cork City 13/10; Draw 21/10; KR 2/1.
PREDICTION
Cork City 2-0 KR Reykjavik.
Cork City
Injured: Kieran Djilali, John Dunleavy, John Kavanagh.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None
KR
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
About John O'Shea
John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for …