Larne manager Gary Haveron expressed his pride in his players despite a challenging 4-0 home defeat to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League second qualifying round, first leg.

The match saw the Inver Reds fall behind at halftime after Bruno Duarte converted a penalty. In the second half, Duarte netted again, while Vasilije Kostov and Muhammed Cham added to the scoreline, effectively sealing the tie.

Haveron acknowledged the significant gap in quality, stating:

I'm extremely proud. For long stages in the first half we frustrated them... probably a bit disappointed to come in one down given the soft penalty. In the second half, we got caught up in the occasion and chased the game a bit too much.

He pointed out that giving a quality team space can lead to severe consequences, as evidenced by the two quick goals that sealed their fate.

Looking ahead, Larne will travel to Belgrade for the second leg next Wednesday at 19:00 BST. Haveron, while recognizing that the Champions League might be beyond their reach, remains optimistic about future competitions. He stated:

Winning the first game [against Tre Fiori] gave us an opportunity in the Europa League... that gives us a level of football we can be competitive in. When you get to this stage of the Champions League, it's a step too far, but about the occasion, the experience and performance.

Haveron hopes the lessons learned will benefit the team as they progress in the season.