ŠK Slovan Bratislava 1 UCD 0
There was unkind, late heartbreak for UCD in Slovakia as they came within minutes of holding Slovan Bratislava to a remarkable scoreless draw.
Collie O’Neill’s valiant Students continued to defy the odds with another tenacious display in central Europe.
And though slick Slovan had to play with ten men for over an hour, UCD only fell to an 86th minute, cruelly deflected goal from Adam Zrelák.
In an uncanny reversal of last week’s passage at Dudelange in Luxembourg, it was UCD who played with an extra man for much of the game when Slovan’s Argentinian defender Nicolas Gorosito was sent off.
Record Slovak league and cup holders Slovan, fielded a side with over 200 senior caps including a front two of Tamas Priskin and Robert Vittek with 39 internationals goals between them.
UCD started as they finished at Dudelange last week with both Michael Leahy and Tomas Boyle passed fit as expected.
Showing no nerves at all, UCD side settled well, before enduring their first real scare on 10 minutes.
Vittek threaded Priskin through with Boyle getting across to make a terrific block tackle on the Hungarian international.
Gary O’Neill soon did likewise when winning the ball off Slovan captain Marko Milinkovic to throw down a marker in the midfield battle as UCD maintained their positive start.
If that frustrated Slovan, there was worse to come when their numbers were reduced on 28 minutes.
A dreadful challenge by central defender Gorosito on UCD skipper Robbie Benson was rightly punished with a straight red card from Georgian referee, Lasha Silagava.
Four minutes later, though, Slovan should really have been ahead. A deep ball in from the right by Milinkovic was met at the far post by Zrelák who completely missed the target with a volley.
Zrelák brought the stop of the half from Niall Corbet with a low drive following an incisive counter on 36 minutes.
UCD then shaped their first real opening of the half four minutes before the break with an incisive passing move.
It finished with Benson putting Mark Langtry in on the overlap on the left.
Slovan keeper Jan Mucha did enough to put off the UCD left-back whose toed effort at a stretch was off target as he took a knock from the Slovak international keeper.
Slovan boss Dusan Tittel took the ineffective Vittek off at the break and the 10-men certainly came out with far more purpose as Jakub Podany had a header deflected over the top from a corner two minutes in.
Podany then got in behind on the left to drive a shot into the side-netting.
Well-organised and keeping their shape, UCD weathered that early second half pressure from Slovan before their best chance of the game arrived on 64 minutes.
The hugely impressive Benson crossed from the right. Ryan Swan just didn’t get enough purchase on his snap shot from close range as Mucha saved on his line.
Slovan pressed in the latter stages with Corbet, as he did last week, really coming into his own.
First the big College keeper made a diving save from Milinkovic.
An even better save arrived on 74 minutes when Corbet was off his line promptly to push a shot from substitute Frantisek Kubik away for a corner.
And when Corbet wasn’t there, Swan headed off the line from Milinkovic’s in swinging 79th minute corner with Kubik blazing the rebound over the bar.
Corbet then made the stop of the night on 81 minutes when diving full stretch to palm away a thumping header from Kornel Salata from another corner.
But it came undone for UCD on 84 minutes when left winger Zrelák’s left-foot drive from the edge of the area deflected to the net past Corbet.
Slovan Bratislava: Mucha; Sekulic, Saláta, Gorosito, Podany; Milinkovic, Simovic' (Hudak, 44), Štefánik, Zrelák; Priskin (Zahumensky, 90+2), Vittek (Kubik, h/t).
UCD: Corbet; Leahy, Boyle Kouogun, Langtry; O'Neill; Mulhall, Watts (Cannon, 85), Benson, Doyle; Swan.
Referee: Lasha Silagava (Georgia).
