Rovers have it all to do in Champions League qualifier

SHAMROCK Rovers will feel buoyed heading into the second leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying on Tuesday, despite slipping to defeat in the opening round against Breidablik.

Rovers hopes of progressing in the top European competition were somewhat dented last Tuesday, with Breidablik leaving the first leg at Tallaght Stadium with a 0-1 lead.

Stephen Bradley’s side failed to score for the third game in succession, but had done well to repel much of their Icelandic opponents’ in the final third.

Yet, with the second leg looming, the Hoops will need to dust themselves down and pick themselves back up ahead of a test on Breidablik’s artificial grass surface in Iceland next Tuesday.

Both teams worked to contain each other, leading to a poor spectacle as each squandered their few opportunities over the course of the first leg.

After Daniel Cleary clipped Klaemint Olsen 25-yards from goal, it took a thunderous Damir Muminovic strike from the resulting freekick to decide the game.

Some of the passing from the home side lacked quality in the opening half, with Jack Byrne leaving his role supporting Rory Gaffney up top to drop deep and get on the ball.

Leon Pohls did make an early save, denying Olsen from a corner, as his team struggled to get into the occasion, Gaffney having the only real clear-cut chance.

For large spells, Breidablik seemed to be the more alert of the two teams as they were quicker to the ball for the most part, pushing for an opening which eventually came from the freekick.

The introduction of Graham Burke after 60 minutes had a huge impact on the Hoops’ prospects as the clock ticked down.

Rovers enjoyed a share of possession, particularly in the second half as they turned up the heat with Burke, Johnny Kenny and Sean Kavanagh all going close to equalizing.

Kavanagh was the Hoops best outlet down the left flank, having their best chances of the game with Jack Byrne constantly on the lookout to thread the needle.

Oskar Thorvaldsson’s team left Tallaght with the one-goal advantage on aggregate, and they will be happy having toppled Rovers, who went into the game favourites, on their own turf.

The cards are stacked against the Tallaght outfit heading to Iceland, but they have a week to prepare and try right their wrongs before the second leg.

Breidablik host Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday (July 18) at 8.15pm.

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