Shamrock Rovers 3
Celje 1
(Shamrock Rovers win 3-2 on aggregate)
A BRILLIANT long-distance Graham Burke extra-time strike ensured Shamrock Rovers beat Celje 3-1 in this evening’s Europa League third qualifying round second leg encounter.
The thrilling 3-2 aggregate victory means the reigning Irish champions advance to the competition’s next round.
Most significantly, it means Rovers are guaranteed European group-stage football this season, as even if they lose their next tie, they will drop into the Uefa Conference League.
A Dylan Watts penalty and a Neil Farrugia wonder strike put the home side in control but a late goal by Žan Karničnik brought the game to extra-time.
The hosts were well worth the 2-0 first-half lead and survived a few scares after the break before the demoralising 83rd-minute equaliser.
The Hoops were aiming to recover from a narrow 1-0 first-leg defeat in Slovenia, knowing that progress would ensure a financial boost encompassing several million euros.
Stephen Bradley’s side have had a frustrating domestic season — they were recently knocked out of the FAI Cup by Bohemians and are fifth in the table, 10 points behind Premier Division leaders Shelbourne.
Rovers made one change to the starting XI from last week’s first leg. Lee Grace came into the defence with Daniel Cleary dropping to the bench.
The reigning Slovenian champions, meanwhile, made two alterations. Luka Menalo and Marco Dulca were dropped, while Matija Kavčič and Damjan Vuklišević came into the team.
The Hoops made the better start. Early on Aaron Greene was sent through on goal by Farrugia. The angle was tight for the striker though, and Lovro Štubljar produced a comfortable save.
Yet it was a cautious, stop-start opening 20 minutes otherwise, with neither side registering additional chances of note.
Farrugia was looking like Rovers’ best attacking outlet and midway through the half, he won a free kick on the edge of the area after being fouled from behind by Jošt Pišek, but Aaron Greene could not get the ball past the wall from a promising position.
📺 | The TV angle of Dylan Watts’ penalty. ⚽️#RoversInEurope 🟢 || @sharp_security pic.twitter.com/pJYdn9x44Q
— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 15, 2024
As the first half appeared to be petering out, 10 minutes before the break, Rovers were awarded a penalty. Štubljar tried to claim a long ball but committed an over-zealous challenge on Greene as he did so. After consulting VAR, the referee pointed to the spot.
Watts then sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to level the tie on aggregate.
Rovers had momentum now and five minutes later, they were 2-0 up and in front for the first time on aggregate.
After receiving a throw from Josh Honohan, dangerman Farrugia carried the ball towards the area and launched a thunderbolt that found the corner of the net and left the goalkeeper with little chance.
That Neil Farrugia finish in the first half 😮💨
— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 15, 2024
🟢 2-0 🟡 (2-1 agg.)#RoversInEurope 🟢 || @sharp_security pic.twitter.com/WXUsmKZ7OH
With the hosts remaining in the ascendancy, on the stroke of half-time, Trevor Clarke missed a golden chance to score a third.
After good work by Farrugia and Darragh Nugent in the build-up, the ball was squared across the area to the unmarked wing-back, but Štubljar got down well to save a powerful low strike with his feet.
Celje boss and ex-Liverpool player Albert Riera was not a happy man and made a triple change at the break to try to swing the tie in his side’s favour.
However, it was the Irish team who re-started the brighter, with Honohan firing a few inches over from a low Clarke cross.
Yet the visitors were starting to threaten. Karnicnik’s effort from the edge of the area was deflected just over via the head of Roberto Lopes.
Celje subsequently introduced a fourth substitute, Nino Kouter, early in the second half, and minutes later, the attacker thumped the ground in frustration after firing inches over.
It was starting to become an onslaught, as Armandas Kučys’ shot deflected just wide.
Yet the Hoops rode the storm and as the game entered its final 20 minutes, they were in the driving seat.
Bradley’s men were still looking dangerous down the other end too — Gary O’Neill curled a free kick inches over the bar.
But much to the hosts’ despair, after a raft of substitutions, the visitors levelled the tie on aggregate with seven minutes of normal time remaining.
A deep Armandas Kučys cross found Karnicnik, who volleyed home clinically at the far post.
The substitute who rescued his side is an experienced Slovenia international who scored against Serbia at the Euros and reportedly wants a move away from the club.
That pivotal goal brought the game to extra time, which Rovers began with four substitutes on the pitch — Burke, Richie Towell, Darragh Burns and Cleary.
And one of the changes made a swift impact.
After good work in the build-up from Honohan, Burke burst purposefully forward and produced a low shot that eluded the dive of Štubljar and found the net.
The 30-year-old Ireland international’s moment of individual brilliance caused the stadium to erupt with joy.
Substitutes Rolando Aarons and Luka Menalo both went close on the brink of half-time of extra time, with the latter blasting over a low cross wastefully with the goal at his mercy.
Then, early in the second half, Celje lost possession in their area. Darragh Burns put the ball in the net with a clinical finish, but much to the crowd’s frustration, it was ruled offside after a VAR check.
However, despite that setback, this time, Rovers held on, defending doggedly to secure a memorable win.
The Irish side next face PAOK, who endured a 6-5 aggregate loss against Malmo on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the tie’s losers, Celje, drop down to the Uefa Conference League and play Pyunik of Armenia, who overcame Kazakhstan’s FC Ordabasy 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate this evening.
Shamrock Rovers: 1. Leon Pohls 3. Sean Hoare 4. Roberto Lopes 5. Lee Grace 2. Josh Honohan (O’Sullivan 110) 18. Trevor Clarke (Cleary 80) 16. Gary O’Neill 7. Dylan Watts 15. Darragh Nugent (Towell 80) 23. Neil Farrugia (Burke 88) 9. Aaron Greene (Burns 91)
Subs: 25. Lee Steacy 41. Alex Noonan 6. Daniel Cleary 10. Graham Burke 11. Sean Kavanagh 17. Richie Towell 19. Markus Poom 21. Darragh Burns 27. Cory O’Sullivan 29. Jack Byrne 32. Cian Dillon 34. Conan Noonan
Celje: 98. Lovro Štubljar 3. Damjan Vuklišević 25. Matija Kavčič 6. David Zec 81. Klemen Nemanič (Dulca 46) 8. Luka Bobičanec (Karnicnik 46) 16. Mario Kvesić (Aarons 104) 77. Ivan Brnić (Menalo 46) 31. Jošt Pišek (Kouter 53) 47. Armandas Kučys 7. Aljoša Matko (Edmilson 78)
Subs: 4. Marco Dulca 10. Nino Kouter 17. Rolando Aarons 22. Matjaž Rozman 23. Zan Karnicnik 30. Edmilson 70. Luka Menalo
Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (Rou)
Attendance: 6,153
United are absolutely muck!!!
I agree, Daithi, and I’m a ManU fan. All that’s been holding them together was Ferguson. It’ll take a while to pick themselves up. Hope Van Gaal is given enough time!
Yeah, I think it’s a while off till they get themselves together!! Rooney was savagely bad!! Mata was poor. Evans, young, all were garbage!!
That’ll be two points dropped for Burnley come the end of season relegation battle. Bad result. Should be beating the likes of muck like United!
Poor result for Burnley. Need to be beating their relegation rivals at home to have a chance of staying up!
Burnley started very well against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago but were well beaten eventually – could well be something similar today. Anything less will be disastrous for Utd.
Noticed that Burnley’s starting 11 is entirely British – something very rare nowadays
I wouldn’t have Evans in my local pub team.
What’s worse is we let Pique go because we thought he was the next big thing!
Although you never know a prolonged run in the first team may see him come good.
Ah now, with all the money he has he’d surely pay for a few rounds
Pique was always going to end up back at barca
Pique was always going to end up back at barca
There’s an echo in here.
And United fans with the usual ‘welcome to the biggest club in the world’ deluded
Good chance for united to pick up 3 points against the team backed for relegation…but I still worry about the back 3 (jones, Evans and blackett) I think this game is a perfect chance for jutciewicz (sorry, I can’t spell it) and ings to prove themselves against a fairly lacklustre defense
Relegation 6 pointer !!!
Utd done very well to get the draw that’s 2 points in the bag WOW!!!!
Could be the point that saves United from relegation come next May.
A dreadful performance by Utd – as bad as anything that they produced last season. 2 pts from 3 games against the giants of Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley. Hard to see them finish in the Top 6, could be much lower than last season if they don’t cop on soon.
It’s early days yet but they’d want to get their shit in gear sharpish!
It would be plain stupid to play Evans again – after his dire performance against MK Dons.
Time for him to move on….
Great squad player!
Poor mans john o Shea he is. O Shea could play in goal
Yoda are you?
I have a wee theory about to United’s poor start to the season so far, which I have yet to see written anywhere (I’m open to correction).
Players who have been at United for years appear to be lacking in confidence, particularly central midfielders and defenders.
I reckon that boasting about having so much to spend on new players was bad enough, but the worst idea was identifying areas we need to strengthen and then not having them strengthened by the start of the season!
Everybody knows we need a proper central defensive midfielder like Keane was. Hence all the hype about Vidal. Everybody also knows the likes of Evans and Jones are prone to being rubbish so we need to strengthen there too, hence the hype about Blind, Rojo, and Shaw. Our wingers have been singled out as blunt instruments, hence the long running saga over DiMaria.
Such speculation must have an impact on the egos of the existing players. Imagine playing in any of these positions over these past few weeks, knowing that the club are actively trying to find a better player in your position! Your confidence would be shot, especially when you’re (by association) being partly blamed for the worst season United have had in ages!! Most of us agree that there is a lot of dead wood still at United, but I’m sure they know who they are too.
I reckon these kinds of big transfers should ideally be completed before the season starts and leave the time between gameweek 1 and Deadline Day to strengthen the squad!
True Man Utd players would relish the competition.
Does Ronaldo ever accept that anybody is better than him?
In any professional job the bottom 10percent of performers should always be moved on!
True class always finds another level, and manages to raise their game.
Time to get rid of the passengers at United and keep the winners!
I agree. But shouldn’t they be moved on before the season starts? I suppose the World Cup has had a big impact on Uniteds ability to do that this year…
Most definitely, a period if transition should be just that!
Vidic should have never been allowed to go before a high class centre back was found.
Your talking about a club that still hasn’t replaced Keane or Scholes!
Spot on. And they hail Carrick as the Messiah when all he can do is pass backwards!!
He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
“They all”? Who? His kids,never heard anyone say that about carrick.
Mainly the English media in fairness. Christ lads, this is feckin desperate stuff.
Good result for united.
Sean Dyche has to go. Poor result for Burnley :):):)
Di Maria looking great so far. Utterly ridiculous decision by Real to offload him.
For 60 odd million, great business by Madrid. Good player in fairness but Madrid tend to make few mistakes when selling players. Remember the furore when they sold Ozil for 50 million. Probably worth 20 now
Pure muck how is Anderson still getting a game
Bring back Moyes.
Just not creating enough chances. A team like burnley shouldn’t be coping as easy as they are at the moment.
Come on. No offemcr but its burnley and we kept a clean sheet but when we cant find a goal with 4 world class attackers it has to be the tactics #352is532
Should’ve won that,more injuries too. So much for 6 easy games to start.
Did not see game, too early here in Canada for me…. No such thing as easy games I would guess these days. Watching Man City game though, when is a blatant penalty not a penalty for smaller clubs though? Right in front of Ref and assistant too…. Stoke robbed……
We had a peno claim too with a few to go,handball in the box,I’m not even sure what’s a ball to hand/hand ball is anymore.
3-1 Utd for me.
Burnley 3-1 Utd?
2 – 0 to Burnley.
ManU’s glory days will not recommence for some years.
It takes a while to completely rebuild a team.
The foundations of the last ones were home grown.
Buying random players on the market is a lot more difficult as – who knows if they’ll gel.
You forgot your “mid table team” gem.
So easy to cancel United out.
No leader(s) or class….
The most scary statistic from this morning is that diMaria cost more than every player that has ever played for Burnley in its 100+ year history added together. And by some margin.
Can’t believe West Ham signed Song from Barca…..he’d be perfect for Utd
If MU now have a lengthy injury list I feel a bit sorry for van Gaal, it’s been hard enough anyway. Now for red thumbs, come on the blues.
Looks like a Oreo for each player in the Sky Sports pic!