F91 Dudelange 0
Bohemians 1
Bohemians moved one step closer to the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League as they ran out 1-0 winners over F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg on Thursday evening.
Eight thousand tickets sold out in just 90 minutes for the second-leg tie that will take place at the Aviva Stadium and Bohs will have a precious advantage heading into that game courtesy of Ross Tierney’s first-half strike.
The Republic of Ireland Under-19 star found the scoring touch at the end of a wonderfully-constructed move with just 11 minutes on the clock.
Dawson Devoy’s stunning through ball from the halfway line sent Ali Coote one on one and, while he was denied by keeper Jonathan Joubert, Tierney was on hand to slot into an empty net.
Pressure
Keith Long’s side had to endure a barrage of second-half pressure as the searing heat took its toll on the Dubliners, but they defended defiantly to keep a clean sheet.
Bohs keeper James Talbot had already been forced into an early save to deny Kevin van der Kerkhof when Devoy picked the ball up in space but seemingly posing no danger to the hosts.
He spotted Coote’s run from deep on the right, however, and picked home out with a perfectly angled pass. The Scot couldn’t round the keeper, but the loose ball ran perfectly for Tierney.
The visitors had to endure some rough treatment from the ultra-physical home side, who picked up five yellow cards but struggled to create until late on.
Sub Filip Bojic was the most likely threat for the home side but he couldn’t manufacture an effort on target, nor could his team-mates, as Bohs eased to victory.
Dudelange: Jonathan Joubert; Kevin Van Den Kerkhof, Ricardo Delgado (Filip Bojic 73), Kobe Cools, Jules Doiuf; Nélitop Dos Santos, Charles Morren, Mehdi Kirch; Dejvid Sinani (Eliot Gashi 73), Samir Hadji (Mohcine Nader 66), Adel Bettaieb (Edvin Muratovic 66).
Bohemians: James Talbot; Andy Lyons, Rob Cornwall, Ciaran Kelly (Rory Feely 79), Anto Breslin; Keith Buckley, Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney (Conor Levingston 68); Ali Coote, Liam Burt (James Finnerty 83), Georgie Kelly.