Coleraine faces 5‑0 deficit against HJK Helsinki in Europa Conference League

HJK Helsinki defeated Coleraine 5‑0 in the first leg of the Europa Conference League second‑qualifying round played in Helsinki, giving the Finnish club a commanding aggregate lead. The match saw HJK score early through Liam Møller, double the lead with Pyry Mentu, and finish with a brace from Teemu Pukki. Coleraine supporters travelled to Finland, joining fans from Italy, Russia and South Korea, while the club’s manager Ruaidhri Higgins prepared his side for the daunting task ahead.

The second leg is scheduled for Thursday at The Showgrounds in Coleraine, where the Northern Irish team must overturn the five‑goal deficit. Analysts note that a comeback would require at least five or six goals, making progression highly unlikely. The fixture is expected to focus on preserving pride rather than qualification hopes, with HJK arriving in Northern Ireland confident that a single goal or even a goalless draw would see them advance.