Victorious Cork set sights high

Cork City FC are dreaming of a meeting with 1991 European champions FK Crvena Zvezda following a home victory in the UEFA Champions League last night.

Cyprus trip
Billy Woods's first goal in continental competition, 12 years after the 32-year-old winger's European debut, means the Irish league leaders travel to Apollon Limassol FC in Cyprus next week with a 1-0 advantage and every chance of progressing to the second qualifying round. Manager Damien Richardson said: "It was a superb goal, he set himself up well, didn't panic or lose his nerve, saw a chance and took it. Maybe we could have scored another but 1-0 is a good result.

'First priority'
"I'm confident in this team, I feel we can score again out in Cyprus and we will be ready for the heat and the conditions in the second leg. As we were at home, my first priority was to not concede a goal, my second was to get a good performance and I got that, but most important of all we won the game. If we had scored a second goal, which we threatened to do, it would have made it very difficult for Apollon in the second leg, but I am happy enough as I feel we can score out there."

Confidence high
Despite the defeat, Apollon are equally upbeat. German coach Bernd Stange said his cosmopolitan squad, featuring players from ten different countries, would have the nous to come from behind next Wednesday. "One-nil is not a bad result for us and I am confident we will go through," Stange said. "I am disappointed we didn't get a draw but we are at home in the next leg and that will be an advantage to us. We are still in this competition."