SLO PIERCER
Rovers down Slovakian giants but fall just short after killer goal from Weiss
JUST as Shamrock Rovers were busy laying foundations for a longer than anticipated night, and even an historic aggregate result, the rug was pulled from under them.
No League of Ireland side has overturned a two goal deficit in Europe before and few gave the Hoops a chance here judging by last week’s first-leg evidence.
But Stephen Bradley (right) had insisted there was more to come from his side, not least away from the 36 degree furnace that was Bratislava.
And he was on the money as it was Slovan feeling the heat here with Rovers fans daring to dream of Champions League
progression after Graham Burke’s early penalty. Even more so when Richie Towell scored an unstoppable thunderbolt just after the hour to level matters.
But Vladimir Weiss’ 73rd minute strike against the run of play – and following a foul on Roberto Lopes in the build up – punctured hopes of a
clash with Young Boys.
While the win on the night will prove important for coefficients, the deflation was etched on the faces of the Rovers players as they applauded their fans at the death.
They left nothing behind in a blink-and-you’ll-miss it cracker that had it all, but must make do with the Europa
Conference League – the draw for which is next Monday.
Rovers knew this would be a tall order and it certainly looked like a long night in the making when Slovan pinged two balls at Alan Mannus’ goal inside five minutes.
But the visitors couldn’t capitalise and Rovers were in dreamland themselves soon
after when Slovan skipper Vasil Bozhikov upended Burke in the box.
Burke nailed the penalty and the 1,500 fans allowed into Tallaght Stadium sounded like multiples of that as the venue rocked to the Rovers tune performed by a fired up side desperate to put its best foot forward.
At times, the Hoops lived a charmed existence at the back. Lopes was caught cold on two occasions, leading to rapid attacks but the centre-back refused to let those moments of concern rock him and he steadily became more and more influential.
Mannus also had a ropey moment of his own before the break, when a poor short kick-out was almost intercepted. That could have been curtains, but by then the goalkeeper had already pulled
off an heroic save for the second game running.
His late penalty save in Bratislava last week gave Rovers their lifeline here and his 19th minute double save to deny Joeri de Kamps from distance and then David
Hrncar with a close range diving header allowed the hosts cling to their rescue mission ambitions.
But to flip the tie, or at least force extra-time, Bradley’s charges had to discover a sense of adventure in the final third. They rarely threatened in that area during that opening half but, playing into the south stand after the break, they upped their game.
Skipper Ronan Finn unleashed an angled drive that had goalkeeper Adrian Chovan clawing the ball out of the top corner, and suddenly the Hoops had the scent of opportunity in their nostrils. And they didn’t have long to wait for their next reward.
Rory Gaffney found Towell with a tremendous 64th minute ball from the right ball from the right and the Hoops big summer signing took one touch before unleashing a rocket high into the Slovan net to spark chaos in the stands.
And yet the joy only lasted nine minutes.
While Lopes argued that he was fouled in the build up to Weiss’s low, slotted winner, the Croatian referee was having none of it.
So Lopes took matters into his own hands and, with nine minutes to go and forced a flying save from Chovan.
Aaron Greene – off the bench – and Liam Scales both went close to forcing extra-time in the dying stages but although there was only one side attacking, that elusive third goal just wouldn’t fall Rovers’ way.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; O’brien (Hoare 80), Lopes, Grace; Finn, Towell (Greene 84), O’neill (Watts 72), Scales;
Burke, Mandroiu; Gaffney. SLOVAN BRATISLAVA: Chovan; Medvedev, Kashia, Bozhikov, De Marco; Hrncar (Cavric 59), Kankava, De Kamps (Abena 90), Ratao (Zmrhal 83); Weiss (Mustafic 90); Henty (Ibrahim 59).
REFEREE: Mario Zebec (Croatia)