Champions League qualifier
Breidablik 2 Shamrock Rovers 1 (3-1 agg)
Shamrock Rovers exited the Champions League in meek fashion at the very first hurdle. The Hoops were defeated 2-1 by Icelandic champions Breidablik in Kopavogur in the first qualifying round (3-1 on aggregate).
Stephen Bradley’s side now drop into the Europa Conference League second qualifying round. If they are to make it to the group stages of that competition for the second season in a row, they will now have to do it the hard way – progressing through three consecutive ties over the next six weeks. A hard task after Rovers’ poor showing across the two games against Breidablik.
The home team sat off more in the opening stages of the game but ten minutes in they begin to push on and get on top of the Hoops. There were half hearted shouts for a penalty when Breidablik skipper Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson went down in the box with Dan Cleary in close attendance.
The Icelandic champions then created a trio of chances in a four minute period, scoring from the third one. First, the goal scorer from Tallaght, Damir Muminovic wasted a backpost header from a corner when he was under no pressure.
Alex Sigurdarson then should have scored racing onto a Viktor Einarsson through pass but he couldn’t beat Leon Pohls. The visitors can’t say they weren’t warned and in the 16th minute they found themselves a goal down. The Icelandic champions doubled their advantage in the tie as Breidablik moved the ball quickly from front to back. Jason Svathorsson took the ball on from half way getting by Pico Lopes before slotting it home by Pohls.
The Hoops had the ball in the net in the 20th minute after Gaffney raced through clear on goal. However the offside flag went quickly up
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