Derry City battle back to clinch superb win over Finnish outfit
Europa Conference League Qualifier
Derry City 2 KuPS 1
DERRY City produced a sensational performance when coming back from a 1-0 defeat at half time, to defeat Finnish side, KuPS at a capacity-filled Brandywell Stadium.
Two superb goals, one from Will Patching and substitute, Cian Kavanagh, this win will go down in history as Derry heads could have dropped at the break when the visitors netted a 45th minute penalty.
Instead, it was a deserved victory for Ruaidhri Higgins' troops who produced a superb second-half performance.
Rated 222 places behind the Finnish side, Derry began to manage this affair and they were deservedly rewarded, roared on by over 3,000 happy supporters at the end.
Kupos coach, Jani Honkavaara faced a few selection problems when he was informed that three prominent members of his squad failed to receive the necessary visas to travel to Northern Ireland.
Derry keeper Brian Maher was in action during the opening minutes following a KuPS corner, Maher diving low to block a header from Jasse Tuominen.
And in the 10th minute Derry's Cameron McJannet had his pockets picked by KuPS' towering Australian striker, Tete Yengi, the player on loan from Ipswich Town, but he failed to shoot having lost his footing.
Derry's response was immediate with wing-back, Ben Doherty, driving a ferocious shot at the KuPS goal, keeper Johannes Kreidl getting down low to save.
With the big attendance making their feelings heard Derry went close again in the 15th minute.
Patrick McEleney flicked the ball into the danger area to find Jamie McGonigle, the striker's effort bouncing off the crossbar with Kreidl beaten. Despite Derry's determination to remain on the front foot, KuPS got the rub of the green on the stroke of
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