Santa Clara secure 0-0 draw in Ponta Delgada to set up European playoff clash against Shamrock Rovers | OneFootball

CD Santa Clara 0-0 Larne FC

CD Santa Clara deservedly earned themselves a place in the UEFA Conference League playoff against Irish club Shamrock Rovers in what promises to be one of the biggest ties in the club's 104-year history. A hard-fought 0-0 draw against Larne FC was enough to see the Azores club progress and enter the next chapter of their European journey. The supporters who made it out to the Estádio de São Miguel may not have witnessed an action-packed, goal-filled affair, but they would've been delighted with the final result.

Vasco Matos' decision to adjust his starting 11 after a dismal defeat to FC Famalicão this weeked paid off. The Portuguese manager made seven changes to his side on Thursday, bringing on some fresh legs in the hopes of hanging on to a three-goal advantage from the first leg. The changes were exactly what the doctor order for the Azores club going into this second leg of this Conference League encounter, with the Azoreans putting on a professional display and hanging on for a 0-0 result, and secure a 3-0 aggregate victory.

Santa Clara dominates possession to maintain control of European tie

Traveling up and down Portugal to compete week in and week out can be challenging for any club, but when your club is located approximately 900 kilometers off the coast of the mainland, things become a little more complicated. Going into this European clash, Matos spoke about the gruelling schedule and travel demands facing his players. To counter the taxing fixture list, Santa Clara came out with a new-look side, opting to leave in-form forwards Gabriel Silva and Wendel Silva on the bench. It was a shrewd move from Matos, and his side looked the more focused, energetic and composed in the first half.

The first big opportunity fell to winger Henrique Pereira in the 9th minute. Unfortunately, when the ball dropped to the 23-year-old in the box, he was only able to aim his shot directly at the keeper Rohan Ferguson. Next, it was João Costa's turn, with the forward cutting open the defence with a well-timed run and angling a low shot which forced another save from the Scottish keeper. That led to a corner, which turned into another opportunity for Pedro Ferreira, whose close-range shot sailed just over the bar.

Santa Clara continued to frustrate their opponents, holding the ball and ensuring that their keeper, Gabriel Batista, had little to do. The ball remained in Larna’s half for the majority of the half, and if anything, the home side looked more likely to open the scoring.

The Azores club finished with 58% of the possession and recorded seven shots in the first half. Larna, meanwhile, failed to record a single shot on target.

Organised Santa Clara secure  third consecutive European clean sheet

Last season, it was Santa Clara's defence that propelled them up the table, and Matos once again turned to his reliable back line to close out this tie. The home side rarely looked at risk in the second half, swinging the ball from side to side and controlling the possession.

The islanders had their best chance of the game in the 50th minute, when Pereira, who was outstanding on the night, rocketed a shot off the crossbar.

Larne continued to push forward with the hopes of scoring their first goal of the tie, and in the 59th minute, almost managed to get on the scoresheet. A powerful shot from Tiarnan O’Connor forced Batista into action. In the end, however, the 3-0 deficit from the first leg was too much to overcome.

Matos prepares for tricky fixture list

This was a historic result for Santa Clara, a club that 15 months ago was still competing in the Portuguese second division. Matos and his players will be overjoyed after a comprehensive victory, but the job is far from over.

Santa Clara were brought back down to earth when they travelled to Famalicão on Sunday, losing 3-0 in a one-sided game. A deep European run will be a massive achievement for the club, but not at the expense of their Primeira Liga status.

Santa Clara will stay in the Azores for a home fixture against Moreirense on Sunday. Shortly after, they face a tricky playoff first leg against Shamrock Rovers (a team that just scored four goals against Ballkani) followed by an away match against Estoril.

Matos knows his squad will need to be at their best if they hope to maneuver through a challenging fixture list and remain competitive in multiple competitions. For now, though, the 44-year-old manager can sit back and enjoy this special night. Matos continues to elevate Santa Clara to new heights, and it will be interesting to see just how far this talented group of players can progress in Europe this season.