Rubin Kazan 4 Shamrock Rovers 1:Shamrock Rovers' vain search for a point in the Europa League continues as Rubin Kazan inflicted yet another defeated on the League of Ireland side. Nelson Haedo Valdez scored twice for the home side who took another step towards the knockout stages.
Valdez gave the Russian side an early lead and, though Ken Oman quickly equalised, Rubin restored their lead before half-time through Bebars Natcho. Valdez and strike partner Obafemi Martins added further goals in the second half to seal an ultimately comfortable win, their side’s third in the group to leave them on 10 points.
James Paterson’s early cross caused problems for the home defence, but Rubin were soon on the attack. Valdes fired across the face of goal and Martins was off target with an overhead kick before the breakthrough arrived in the 10th minute. Valdez beat Oman far too easily and finished calmly past advancing keeper Ryan Thompson to put the hosts in front.
But Oman quickly made amends when he equalised two minutes later from Ronan Finn’s free-kick, after the midfielder had been hacked down by Cesar Navas.
Martins shot wide from Salvatore Bocchetti’s low cross before Navas, who was arguably fortunate to collect only a yellow card for his foul on Finn, escaped again after lunging at Karl Sheppard.
Billy Dennehy shot straight at home keeper Sergei Ryzhikov from a narrow angle, with Sheppard better placed in the centre, but Rovers had a let-off when Thompson flapped at a cross and Dan Murray had to clear Martins’ effort off the line.
But Rubin retook the lead moments later when Rovers failed to clear their lines and the ball broke to Natcho, who finished low with Thompson unsighted. Bocchetti then shot wide under pressure from Pat Sullivan with the last meaningful effort of the first half.
More sloppy defending saw the Dubliners fall 3-1 behind six minutes after the interval as Valdez sauntered past a misjudged offside trap and fired past Thompson. And Martins got his name on the scoresheet from close range just after the hour mark, though Gokdeniz Karadeniz appeared to take the ball out of play before crossing to set up the goal.
The Nigeria striker curled another effort just wide before Rubin settled for their three-goal margin.
That allowed Rovers to go in search of a consolation goal, but Sheppard’s volley clipped the top of the bar and the same player then had a penalty appeal turned down, Bocchetti’s foul ruled to be outside the box. Dennehy skied the free-kick well over the bar as the game ended 4-1.
