Billy Joe Burns bags superb late strike as Crusaders seal European progress

The North Belfast boys swatted away the challenge of Bruno’s Magpies at home by 3-1 to claim their big prize off a 4-3 aggregate triumph.

It took a wonder strike from defender Billy Joe Burns to ensure the Crues progressed – and make it one European night to remember on the Shore Road.

Paul Heatley and Jude Winchester were also on the mark for the Crues, while Kyle Casciaro kept the Magpies in the hunt by scoring in the first half.

The Crues approached the game 2-1 in arrears from the first leg in the heat of Gibraltar last week, but they finished the job with a certain degree of panache.

Not only do they now face Basel – a team accustomed to the group stages of the Champions League – but their prize money will be enhanced considerably.

The Crues went for the jugular right from the off.

Heatley had a close-range attempt blocked by the outstretched boot of Ruben Diaz before Daniel Larmour’s bullet header flashed inches wide.

Ben Kennedy then tried his luck with an audacious effort from the edge of the box that curled just over the top.

After soaking up all the early pressure, Magpies almost silenced the big home crowd when Juan Pablo Pereira Sastre’s header brought a marvellous response from Jonny Tuffey.

Crusaders broke the deadlock on 33 minutes.

Burns burst into the box on the right only to see his fierce shot saved by Matthew Silva.

When the ball broke to the big defender his diving header was again repelled, but Heatley was on hand to ram home.

But their lead lasted merely four minutes.

Pereria Sastre caught the Crues napping at the back and, after a lightning 20-yard dash and with only Tuffey to beat, he squared the ball to Casciaro to tap into the empty net.

The visitors were happy to take the pace