Soccer

Sligo Rovers bow out with heads held high after Showgrounds victory over Viking

Will Fitzgerald’s deflected goal secures Rovers’ fourth win from six Europa League Conference ties

Will Fitzgerald scores for Sligo Rovers during the Uefa Conference League third qualifying round, second leg against Viking at The Showgrounds. Photograph: Evan Treacy/Inpho
Thu Aug 11 2022 - 21:56

Sligo Rovers 1 Viking FK (Norway) 0 (Viking win 5-2 on aggregate)

A memorable European campaign came to an end for Sligo Rovers at a sold-out Showgrounds on Thursday night, with a morale-boosting defeat of Norwegian side Viking FK.

Winger Will Fitzgerald got the only goal of the game to secure Rovers’ fourth win from six Europa League Conference ties this season, though Viking’s thumping 5-1 win in Stavanger last week meant that the Norwegian side’s progress to the final qualifying round was rarely in doubt.

After defeats of Welsh side Bala Town and Scottish Premier League side Motherwell already in the competition the Bit O’Red went out battling. And having scored the last of the six goals in the dying stages of the game in Norway last week, they almost had another inside the opening 10 minutes here when Greg Bolger’s corner curled under the crossbar and had to be cleared off the line.

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Striker Max Mata was on the mark twice as Rovers beat Bohemians in the league at the same venue last Sunday, and he was rewarded with a role from the start this time around.

He was causing trouble again midway through the first half when he got on the end of a Paddy Kirk cross, but the Viking goalkeeper was equal to the effort.

The opening goal eventually came just before the half-time break, though it took some good fortune as Fitzgerald’s delivery spun off a defender and looped into the net.

If not exactly nervous, the goal did leave the visitors a little uneasy in the second half, and Rovers had a great chance to test their mettle further when they were awarded a penalty with 15 minutes remaining.

Frank Liivak was fouled in the area and dusted himself down to take the spot-kick, but Patrik Sigurdur Gunnarsson made the save as his side progressed 5-2 on aggregate.

SLIGO ROVERS: McNicholas, Banks, Pijnaker, Blaney, Kirk, McDonnell (Barlow, 61 mins), Bolger (Morahan, 55 mins), Burton, Fitzgerald (O’Sullivan, 79 mins), Liivak, Mata (Heaney, 79 mins).

VIKING: Gunnarsson, Pattynama, Brekalo (Lokberg, 79 mins), Vevatne, Bjoershol, Kabran (Sandberg, 61 mins), Fridjonsson, Solbakken, Tangen (Torsteinbo, 84 mins), Traore (Karlsbakk, h-t), Tripic (Austbo, 79 mins).

Referee: N Simovic (Serbia).