INTERTOTO CUP: St Patrick's Athletic were left to rue the concession of a sloppy late goal which ultimately cost them a third-round meeting with Spanish side Malaga as they were left livid with themselves for bowing out of the InterToto Cup before a crowd of over 3,000 at Richmond Park on Saturday night.

"We've gone out on the away goal to a club that have massive resources, with a full-time set-up and international players in their team," said St Patrick's midfielder Paul Osam. "Yet, we absolutely annihilated them out there tonight. On the evidence of the performances over the two legs, we haven't got far to go as regards competing well in European football at this club."

Osam who, having headed the St Patrick's third goal, played on for the last few minutes after receiving a head-cut that needed eight stitches.

After a frenetic first half, St Patrick's rallied superbly from the resumption to level the tie on aggregate by the hour mark. Ger McCarthy put them in front on the night on 49 minutes, his cross deceiving Gent goalkeeper Oliver van Impe. Charles Mbabazi Livingstone got the second goal 11 minutes later when forcing the ball home after Colm Foley headed down a Martin Russell free-kick.

But a bad goal on 77 minutes cost St Patrick's the tie. Ibrahima Faye's cross wasn't attacked by a defender and the ball was squared by Djima Oyawole for Ahmed Hosny to side-foot home.

Now needing two more goals to win the tie, St Patrick's rallied again and Osam gave them hope right on 90 minutes when heading home a Michael Holt corner. But, despite a rousing display, the damage had been done.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly; Croly, Foley, Maguire, Burke (Holt 81); Donnelly, Osam, Russell (Harris 89), Bird (Hughes 81); Mbabazi, McCarthy.

KAA GENT: Van Impe; De Deker, Vanic, Pedersen; Bernaert (van Hoyweghen 90), Verbrugghe (Dimbala 73), Krouche (Krisanovic 73), Hempte, Faye; Oyawole, Hosny.

Referee: J Kacenga (Slovakia).

Aggregate: 3-3. Gent win on away goals.