Shamrock Rovers exit Champions League in meek defeat to Breidablik in Iceland

Champions League first qualifying round: Breidablik 2 – 1 Shamrock Rovers (Breidablik win 3-1 on aggregate)

Shamrock Rovers exited the Champions League in meek fashion at the very first hurdle, falling to a 2-1 defeat against 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 10 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.

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The visitors can’t say they weren’t warned and in the 16th minute they found themselves a goal down after Jason Svathorsson found the net, doubling their advantage in the tie. 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 with VAR then confirming that the decision from the assistant referee was correct.

Rovers really seemed to miss the natural width of the injured Neil Farrugia or Trevor Clarke as they lacked penetration to get in behind the home side.

Pohls pulled off a brilliant save with his foot to stop Svanthorsson scoring his second as Rovers rode their luck but from the resulting corner Breidablik reworked to ball with Gunnlaugsson heading home to effectively end the tie for the Hoops.

They got a lifeline in the 64th minute with a handball in the box that required a VAR check on the sideline monitor from the Swedish referee. Graham Burke slotted home the spot kick for his eight goal in Europe – Rovers first goal in their last four matches.

Burke audaciously almost grabbed a goal moments later shooting from 45 yards with goalkeeper Anton Einarsson doing well to push out the ball out before he back peddled over the goalline.

Rovers will have to wait till Wednesday evening to find out who their opponents are in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. They will face the defeated team from the KI Klaksvik and Ferencvaros tie, with those teams having played out a scoreless draw last week in the first leg in the Faroe Islands.

BREIDABLIK: Einarsson; Gunnlaugsson (capt), Margeirsson, Muminović, Yeoman (Adalsteinsson 88); Sigurdarson (Ingvarsson 81), Sigurjónsson, Einarsson; Svanthórsson (Hlynsson 81), Steindórsson (Orrason 88), Eyjólfsson.

Subs not used: Bragason, Stefánsson, Lúdvíksson, Thorsteinsson, Olsen, Gunnarsson.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls; Hoare, Lopes, Cleary; Finn (capt), (Grace 86), O’Neill, Poom (Watts 70), Towell (Greene 70), Kavanagh; Burke (Kenny 78), Gaffney.

Subs not used: Mannus, Cruise, Power, Noonan, Naj Razi.

Referee: Adam Ladeback (Sweden).