KRC Genk Defeats Cork City In 2nd Leg Europa League Tie 2-1 (3-1 agg)

Cork City's Europa League dream has ended for another year with a 2-1 defeat to KRC Genk at Turner's Cross.

The Belgians scored two goals in the first half to settle the encounter, and though the SSE Airtricity League side pulled one back after the break, they never came close to taking control of the tie.

With Ireland boss Martin O'Neill in attendance, City looked bright early on; however, a perfectly executed assist from Leon Bailey fed the ball perfectly to Thomas Buffel who put his team ahead after a well-worked move on 13 minutes before Sebastien Dewaest doubled the KRC Genk's tally with minutes to go to the half-time whistle.

John Caulfield's men never gave up their chase and continued to press their opponents, eventually scoring through an Alan Bennett header on 62 minutes.

Try as he might, substitute Mark O'Sullivan couldn't fashion an equaliser despite having two fantastic attempts late on. Genk, for their part, also missed a penalty in added time - Neeskens Kebano blasting his spot kick off the crossbar.

The Leesiders retained faith in the side that had performed so well in this third qualifying round fixture in Belgium last week, while the visitors made one sole alternation and introduced Congolese striker Kebano in place of Nikolas Karelis, who dropped to the bench.

A goal down from the first leg, City knew they had to score at least two on the night and not concede to have any change of progressing to the next round of the competition. As a result, they started with intent and several early set pieces to try and threaten their opponents.

The game's first real chance fell to last week's goal scorer, Leon Bailey. Former Swansea City boy Alejandro Pozuelo supplied the ball into the box from a corner and winger Bailey was waiting at the back post to pounce, only for Kenny Browne to deflect the effort away from danger.

The breakthrough came four minutes later. Bailey, again, was the instigator by racing away clear down the left before finding the incoming Buffel with a pinpoint cross.

The ex-Rangers man hit the ball first time, side footing his shot into the roof of the net and leaving Mark McNulty with no chance of a save.

City, to their credit, didn't fall back and continued to press. However, that also left them open to counter attack and Bailey should have done better on 18 minutes when he broke away only to fire right and wide.