Larne’s hopes of progressing in the Europa Conference League were dealt a major blow after they fell to a 4-0 third round qualifying first leg defeat by Pacos de Ferreira in Portugal.
Denilson Pereira Junior bagged a double for the hosts, his first coming just prior to half time when he robbed Larne goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson of possession and poked the ball into the empty net.
The Brazilian striker then added to his tally after 70 minutes before goals by Stephen Eustaquio and Ze Uilton completed the rout.
After defeating Welsh club Bala Town and Danes AGF Aarhus, Larne knew that finding a positive result at Estadio Capital do Movel would edge them closer to a glamorous play-off encounter with Tottenham.
However, the Irish Premiership side must now stage a comeback of near miraculous proportions in the return leg at Inver Park on 12 August if they are to prolong their maiden European campaign.
Larne were under pressure from the outset with Ferguson called into action after just three minutes to keep out Denilson’s header.
Ferguson made another fine save to deny the Brazilian on the half-hour mark but the Scot cut a disconsolate figure after he gifted Pacos’ number 10 the opener in the 44th-minute, his heavy touch allowing Denilson to close him down before bundling the ball home.
![It was a disappointing night for Larne boss Tiernan Lynch, who signed a new contract on Thursday](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/E380/production/_119804285_gettyimages-1234489229.jpg)
The home side’s opener had come not long after Larne striker Davy McDaid had a goal ruled out after Cian Bolger’s foul on Pacos goalkeeper Andre Ferreira.
Larne stopper Ferguson, who spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Linfield, redeemed himself when he produced an excellent stop with his feet to stop Denilson doubling his tally following a sloppy pass by Larne midfielder Fuad Sule.
However, Denilson – a threat throughout – was not to be denied as he again profited from a Larne lapse in concentration, calmly stroking the ball into the corner after John Herron’s errant pass fell to Pacos substitute Helder Ferreira, who duly supplied the assist.
From there, the Northern Irish side’s misery was further compounded as Eustaquio produced a deadly strike from outside the box in the 73rd-minute before Uilton made it four with a simple finish in the closing minutes.
It was a difficult night for Larne and Lynch, who on Thursday signed a new contract to keep him in the Inver Park dugout until 2024.
While their hopes of making the play-off round appear all but over, Lynch will hope his players can restore some pride when they welcome the Primeira Liga outfit to Inver next week.
Line-ups
Paços de Ferreira
- 13Magalhães Ribeiro Ferreira
- 2Costa Baixinho
- 27Ribeiro VigárioSubstituted forPacheco Antunesat 45′minutes
- 22Martins Moreira
- 21dos Santos SilvaBooked at 38mins
- 77Valente SantosSubstituted forBobó Djalóat 74′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 23da Silva de JesusSubstituted forCastro Ferreiraat 67′minutes
- 15DelgadoSubstituted forSilva de Jesusat 67′minutes
- 6de Brito GonzagaBooked at 11mins
- 46Eustáquio
- 10Pereira JuniorSubstituted forDa Silva Souzaat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Pacheco Antunes
- 7Castro Ferreira
- 8Ibrahim
- 9Silva de Jesus
- 12Menezes de Almeida
- 16Bobó Djaló
- 17Duarte Castanheira
- 26Guerra Pires
- 29Ferreira Fonseca
- 32da Silva Ramos
- 45Alves Correia
- 99Da Silva Souza
Larne
- 34Ferguson
- 4WatsonBooked at 34mins
- 18BolgerBooked at 50mins
- 26Jarvis
- 2Balmer
- 8RandallSubstituted forKellyat 77′minutes
- 23Cosgrove
- 24Hughes
- 7SuleSubstituted forMitchellat 67′minutes
- 6Herron
- 10McDaidSubstituted forHaleat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Kelly
- 5Robinson
- 9Hale
- 13Argyrides
- 14Scott
- 16Lynch
- 17Mitchell
- 30Lusty