Larne enjoyed an historic night as they became the first Irish League club to make the group stage of a major European competition.
They overturned a one-goal deficit against Europa Conference League play-off opponents Lincoln Red Imps to win a dramatic second leg 3-1 and secure a 4-3 aggregate triumph.
Scottish striker Andy Ryan was the Larne hero, scoring a hat-trick that included two first-half penalties, before netting a late winner after Chris Gallagher had been sent off for a second yellow card earlier in the second period.
Bernando Lopes converted from close range to give the Gibraltar side the perfect start after 20 minutes, but the home side had turned things around by the interval.
Ryan calmly converted from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark after VAR intervened following a Joe handball, and he again scored from the spot 12 minutes later – after Gallagher was crudely hacked down – this time sending the ball to Nauzet Santana’s left.
Their cause wasn’t helped by Gallagher’s second yellow for catching Ethan Britto as he flicked the ball away, but a breakaway goal from Ryan in the 83rd minute, after being set up by recent signing Benji Magee, sealed a famous night.
Chelsea scraped through to the group stages after a 3-2 aggregate victory despite a 2-1 defeat in Servette.
The Blues won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge a week ago and things looked to be going further to plan when Christopher Nkunku buried a penalty to hand them a three-goal lead in the tie, seemingly opening up an unassailable advantage in Chelsea’s bid to reach the competition’s league phase for the first time.
But they were given an almighty fright by the team currently seventh in the Swiss League by two goals that gave the game a wholly different complexion, first Jeremy Guillemenot striking low beyond Filip Jorgensen to level the match on the night before Enzo Crivelli came off the bench to head Servette into the lead and leave Chelsea sweating.
The New Saints became the first Welsh domestic league club to qualify for a major European competition group stage after they beat FK Panevezys on aggregate.
Cymru Premier champions TNS won their UEFA Conference League play-off tie first leg 3-0 in Lithuania a week ago thanks to goals from Danny Davies, Ben Clark and Dan Williams.
Having taken a commanding lead, a goalless draw at Park Hall Stadium meant that they progressed comfortably to Friday’s draw in Monaco.
Kilmarnock’s bid for a comeback win against Copenhagen fell short after a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park saw them exit the competition 3-1 on aggregate.
Killie lost 2-0 in the first leg of their play-off last week and boss Derek McInnes called on his side to make the second leg the “biggest nightmare” for the visitors.
The Danish side were certainly given a fright in front of 8,083 supporters when striker Marley Watkins pulled a goal back in the 16th minute although the home goal survived the first half thanks mostly to keeper Kieran O’Hara.
However, the Ayrshire outfit succumbed in the 67th minute when defender Lewis Mayo scored an own goal trying to cut out a cross from Elias Achouri.
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