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Cliftonville exited the Champions League following a 2-0 defeat to Hungarian hosts Debrecen in Budapest.

With the tie scoreless after last week's draw at Solitude Tommy Breslin's side went into the game with not unrealistic hopes of progressing.

Debrecen pounded the visitors in the opening exchanges, forcing a number of corners and efforts on goal inside the first quarter-of-an-hour, including a ninth minute Dalibor Volaš shot onto the crossbar.

Cliftonville did begin to find their feet, however, with Stephen Garrett, Chris Curran and Johnny Flynn all testing home 'keeper Nenad Novaković.

Debrecen had further chances as the first half progressed with the pick of them arriving just before the break when Conor Devlin was forced into tipping over a Jozsef Varga drive.

But the nature of the tie changed early in the second half.

On 53 minutes Jaimie McGovern was shown a straight red card by Serbian referee Vlado Glođović for a foul on Dalibor Volaš just outside the area - with Rene Mihelič despatching the subsequent free-kick beyond Devlin into the top left corner.

Further chances followed from Volaš again and Ádám Bódi as Debrecen pushed to put the game beyond doubt.

Cliftonville held out, however, until 11 minutes from time when Mihály Korhut delivered a low cross from the left for Ibrahima Sidibé to slot home the second.

Debrecen: Novaković, Mészáros, Máté, Korhut, Jovanović, Mihelič, Bódi, Varga, Szakály, Volaš, Sidibé subs Verpecz (not used), Zsidai (replaced Bódi 80), Lázár (not used), Vadnai (replaced Szakály 72), Brković (not used), Tisza (replaced Sidibé 83), Seydi (not used)

Cliftonville: Devlin, McGovern, Scannell, Flynn, Seydak, Cosgrove, Johnston, Curran, Donnelly, Catney, Garrett subs Brown (not used), Smyth (replaced Cosgrove 56), Caldwell (replaced Catney 81), McMullan (not used), Winchester (replaced Garrett 62), Murray (not used), McGrandles (not used)