NO ONE who chose to watch Spain and France will regret their decision – but Shamrock Rovers achieved the result that gives them hope for more memorable nights in the future.
A 0-0 draw against Vikingur in Iceland means they return to Tallaght next Tuesday with a strong chance of promotion to the Champions League.
Shamrock Rovers held Vikingur Reykjavik to a 0-0 drawPhoto: Haflidi Breidfjord/Sportsfile
If they win, the Hoops will turn their €960,000 prize money into €1.75 million and book a second-round clash with Sparta Prague. More importantly, they will buy themselves UEFA lives and three chances to reach the group stage.
If you win one more of the three games, it means you will qualify for the group stage of the Conference League.
Anything above that would be a bonus and the Europa League or even the Champions League.
If you lose to Vikingur, you go straight to the second round of the Conference League.
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Vikingur’s record should give Hoops fans confidence. Although they are unbeaten at home this season and in Europe for the past two seasons, they have never won an away game in Europe.
Last night’s result was hard-earned. It was far from a classic, as the Hoops were mainly out to frustrate.
But they held out under immense pressure, holding out as Vikingur forced 18 corners, surviving two hits against the woodwork in ten seconds – and Darragh Nugent’s resignation letter.
His red card ten minutes from time was unacceptable, as he received a second yellow card for diving.
He went down easily when Karl Gunnarsson made contact with him, but it was the kind of incident that players are awarded free kicks or referees let the ball play through countless times a game.
That led to more pressure in the final minutes, when Daniel Djuric curled a free kick just wide.
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Yet they could have won when substitute Johnny Kenny came close to a smash and grab when he hit the keeper one-on-one
But with Rovers having 90 minutes plus five minutes of injury time, they played most of the game in their own half. Vikingur controlled the game and it was a fair draw.
The Hoops started the game strongly, winning an early corner and Roberto Lopes headed over a Dylans cross, but for most of the first half the ball was played in front of Leon Pohls’ goal.
Vikingur have been particularly successful in the domestic league this season, scoring 34 goals in 14 games, but in open play situations the door has been slammed shut repeatedly.
But from set pieces they were dangerous and twice they were stopped by the woodwork after ten minutes.
A hard cross from Salvadoran playmaker Pablo Punyed was headed into the air by Hoare, with Jon Gudni Fjoluson firing the ball towards goal, forcing Pohls to turn towards the post.
Icelandic winger Erlingur Agnarsson reacted quickest but could only tap the ball against the post with his toes before Cleary could clear his goal.
It was a setback, but they defended better after Vikingur’s next four corners before half-time.
The only other goal the Icelanders scored in the first half was a long-range shot from Danijel Djuric, which went wide.
At half-time it was the visitors who gave it their all and the second half started much like the first, with Nugent almost managing to slot home a pass from Watts.
However, Vikingur were once again the better side as after 48 minutes a shot from Agnarsson was deflected over Pohls’ goal by Hoare.
Fjoluson came close with a header off the far post from another set-piece – Vikingur’s ninth of the game and their first goal – on 55 minutes.
However, the home side seemed to have run out of inspiration in the match and Kenny fired the ball just wide after a great solo run on the counter-attack in the 73rd minute.
Nugent’s rejection put the Hoops under even more pressure, but Kenny came close to connecting when he passed a ball from Darragh Burns, but the ball went over.
Djuric then fired wide from a corner, while Agnarsson’s header narrowly missed in injury time, giving the Hoops increasing hope of progress.
Sunstar Man
Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers)
VIKINGOER: Jonsson 7; Gunnarsson 7, Vatnhamar 6, Ekroth 6, Fjolson 7; Agnarsson 7, Punyed 7 (Andreson 81, 6), Gudjonsson 6 (Sigurpalsson 66, 6), Ingimundarson 7; Hansen 6 (Vilhjalmsson), Djuric 7.
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SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls 7; Cleary 8, Lopes 9, Hoare 8; Honohan 7, Watts 7 (Towell 90, 5), O’Neill 7, Clarke 7 (Farrugia 73, 6); Byrne 6 (Burns 73, 6), Nugent 6; Greene 6 (Kenny 66 6).
REFEREE: S Kringstad (Norway) 6.
