Ipswich came within three minutes of a place in the third round of the Uefa Cup for the second year running before fate dealt them the cruellest blow as they went out on a penalty shoot-out.

Joe Royle's men may not be the dogs of war that he had under him at Everton, but his new charges are dogged and deserved something for their determination as they resisted the Czech champions for so long.

"I couldn't knock the spirit or the attitude from our lads but it's heartbreaking to lose on penalties. We restricted a very good side to very few chances before the goal. I'm disappointed but not mortified," said the manager.

Hanging on to a 1-0 lead from the first leg at Portman Road two weeks ago, Ipswich looked like going through until the 87th minute when Liberec's Ghanaian striker Baffour Gyan headed his side ahead.

With no further goals it went to penalties and while Liberec scored with their first four, Ipswich missed two, Jermaine Wright and Finidi George both being foiled by the goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. It was cruel after Ipswich's backs-to-the-wall performance for most of the opening 90 minutes before the game became stretched in extra-time as players tired.

Royle's men also had a reasonable penalty appeal turned down in the 20th minute when the lively Darren Ambrose was pushed over as he shaped to shoot from 15 yards.

The Czech side did not really test Andy Marshall in the Ipswich goal during the first half, although Gyan should have done better than put his header over the bar from close range after half an hour. Gyan again missed a sitter, heading wide of the far post and Liberec's skipper Janu Tomas scooped a good chance over the bar.

The all-important goal came in the 87th minute as a corner was headed back from the far post for Gyan to finally get a header on target, although his weak effort went through a forest of legs on Ipswich's goal line.

Gerry Cox (The Guardian)