Cork City were within seconds of achieving another famous result on foreign fields at the Stade Olympique in Lausanne last night when they fell to a last-minute goal in their UEFA Cup preliminary tie. Cork looked to be heading for a goalless draw and a very creditable result for new manager Derek Mountfield, who has only been in charge for the last three weeks and was making his competitive debut on a European stage last night. Cork defended resolutely, lived a charmed life at times and were on the verge of securing a fine result before Lausanne substitute Cedric Horjak struck the killerblow in the final minute.

Cork were slow to leave their penalty area when David Hellebuyck's cross came into the area and substitute Horjak sidefooted home. There was a suspicion of offside and the reaction down on the Cork City bench told its own story.

Lausanne were the fitter, sharper team and technically stronger than their part-time opponents, but once again Cork did the League of Ireland proud, as they have certainly kept the return-leg at Turners Cross on August 24th alive.

Cork had every chance of winning the tie late in the first half when Lausanne midfielder Olivier Baudry, one of three Frenchmen in the side, was sent off for landing an elbow in Mark Herrick's face after 28 minutes of play.

Minutes later, Cork watched in amazement as the Argentine striker Javier Mazzoni, the Lausanne captain, had to leave with a stomach-muscle strain.

Lausanne had a goal from Polish striker Marcin Kuzba disallowed after 83 minutes for pushing inside the penalty area, but Cork were caught flat-footed in the final minute.

David Hellebuyck's cross in behind the defensive cover found substitute Horjak and he stabbed the ball home to give the home side a hard-fought victory.

LAUSANNE SPORTS: Rapo; Karlen, Puce, Gobet, Meyer (Horjak 55), Lombardo, Santini (Lutchenko 77), Baudry, Hellebuick, Mazzoni (Gomes 30), Kuzba.

CORK CITY: Mooney; O'Halloran, Daly, Napier, Delaney, O'Brien, Freyne (Caulfield 59), Flanagan, Herrick, Cahill, Morley (Cotter 81).