Linfield benefit from Belfast first-leg boost on way to aggregate win

Chris McKee’s Belfast brace and a Jack Scott finish helped Linfield carry a 3-1 advantage into the road trip.

That home boost proved crucial overall as Vllaznia secured a single-goal success off Bekim’s Balaj header in the second leg but Linfield enjoyed aggregate glory by 3-2.

Mehdi Coba had an early home goal ruled out.

Esat Mala forced Chris Johns into a smart stop and the Linfield goalkeeper was also on hand to deny Ildi Gruda.

Joel Cooper fired past the post during the Blues’ sole significant first-half attacking threat.

Marko Juric cleared the crossbar following a period of home set-piece pressure early in the second half.

Balaj broke the deadlock on 54 minutes with a powerful header.

The scorer came close to a second but it proved the wrong side of the upright.

Linfield had to regroup and work hard to defend a string of balls into the danger area – with a Vllaznia penalty shout waved away during the late pressure.

Coba had a late sight of goal but David Healy’s Blues held on to the upper hand.

LINFIELD: Johns, Hall, Scott, Newberry, M.Clarke, Millar, Shields, McClean, Cooper (A.Clarke, 81), Fitzpatrick (Devine, 81), McKee (Mulgrew, 67).

Subs (not used): Walsh, Williamson, Haygarth, Robertson, Annett, McKay, McStravick, Doherty​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.