Larne make history with Uefa Conference League qualification, Chelsea squeak through

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,