Shamrock Rovers face uphill battle as Breiðablik take spoils in Tallaght

UEFA Champions League (First qualifying round, first leg) 

Shamrock Rovers 0 Breiðablik 1 

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley had warned that their Icelandic opponents were on a par with any of the three teams they met in last year’s group stages of the Europa Conference League.

And so it proved as Rovers face an uphill task to repeat last summer’s advancement into the second round of this season's Champions League qualifiers as a stunning first-half strike from Damir Muminovic has a talented and well-organised Breiðablik very much in the driving seat after this deserved win before 7,216 at Tallaght Stadium.

As expected, Ireland international midfielder Jack Byrne was fit to start for Rovers against a side containing 10 full internationals, though only striker, Klaemint Olsen, is a current one with 57 caps for the Faroe Islands.

The Icelandic champions, comfortable on the ball, enjoyed good early possession as Rovers struggled initially to get a foothold in the game.

The speed and guile of right winger Jason Dadi Svanthorsson, in particular, was causing worry in the home defence and it was from a corner he won that brought the game’s first opening on 11 minutes.

The delivery found the head of Olsen whose effort was parried by Leon Pohls and scrambled clear.

Rovers were quick to respond with two clear-cut chances within the following minutes as they stretched the visitors’ defence.

First Byrne’s sublime ball over the top found the run of Rory Gaffney who galloped away to bring a smart save from Anton Einarsson.

A fine move, once more instigated by Byrne, opened up Breiðablik again. Skipper Ronan Finn, on his record-extending 60th European appearance, picked out Dylan Watts who turned cleverly in the area, if