Shelbourne close in on Europa League history as John Martin header seals stunning comeback win over Rijeka in qualifier

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

There was a dramatic last second VAR check
RIJEKA 1-2 SHELBOURNE Shelbourne close in on Europa League history as John Martin header seals stunning comeback win over Rijeka in qualifier
JOHN MARTIN kept his head to keep Shelbourne's dreams of the Europa League group stages alive with a stunning comeback win over Rijeka.
After finding themselves behind to a Niko Jankovic penalty early in the second-half, the League of Ireland champions equalized through a Sam Bone header just minutes later.
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John Martin scored the winner as Shelbourne beat Rijeka
Credit: Igor Kupjlenik/Sportsfile
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Sam Bone had equalised after Shelbourne fell behind to a penalty
Credit: Igor Kupjlenik/Sportsfile
And Martin completed the first leg comeback with a thumping header from a pinpoint Harry Wood cross to put Shels within 90 minutes of the play-offs.
While the Croatian champions dominated possession, they rarely looked like creating that clear cut chance to make it show on the scoreboard on Wednesday night.
That was as a result of Shelbourne's rearguard action that seemed to know exactly where every cross and every cutback was going to land.
By the time the first-half ended goalless, Rijeka had had six shots – three on target – while Shels had yet to take a crack at goal.
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Their task was not made any easier when, just 17 minutes into the game, Sean Boyd pulled up and was eventually replaced by John Martin.
The first shot on target came after 22 minutes when another slick Rijeka move ended with a clever cutback in the direction of Amer Gojak on the edge of the box.
Under pressure from Harry Wood, he could only drill his shot harmlessly at Wessel Speel. For his efforts, Wood required treatment on a knock but was okay to continue.
Having soaked up the Croatian pressure with nary an incident, Shelbourne were able to retain enough confidence to enjoy a spell of possession themselves as the game ticked past the 35-minute mark.
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James Norris and Kerr McInroy combined well down the left for the latter to send a low cross that was cut out while, later, Harry Wood's delivery from the same side was intercepted before it could reach Odubeko.
Amer Gojak had another go from range with a fierce drive that was put behind for a corner by Speel at the end of the first-half but that was as good as Rijeka could muster.
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Both managers turned to the bench at half-time but the pattern of the game remained much the same, with Rijeka trying to unlock the door and Shelbourne happy to let them try.
And it took just ten minutes for the Dubliners to hand the correct key to them.
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Sam Bone played a backpass to Speel. The goalkeeper's touch was poor, allowing Merveil Ndockyt to steal in.
Insult was added to injury as Speel, seeking to make up for his error, brought the forward down for the penalty which Niko Jankovic converted.
Rather than wallow, however, Shels hit back straight away.
Kerr McInroy's strike on 58 minutes, their first of the game, was blocked away for a corner, also their first of the day.
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It was worked short and back to the Scot, whose cross found substitute Dan Kelly – on for Odubeko at the break - at the back stick.
He headed it back across the face, where Sam Bone arrived to knock it home on the line.
Speel went some way towards redeeming himself by tipping a rasping Justas Lasickas effort over the bar as play opened up.
Shels looked more confident and deliberate after the goal, however, and with less than 20 minutes to go, they took the lead.
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Milan Mbeng found Harry Wood wide on the right. His cross was whipped with pace into the area where John Martin headed emphatically into the top corner.
It was backs against the wall in the final ten minutes and Rijeka felt they should have had a penalty for a Sam Bone handball in the final seconds.
After a VAR check, the appeals were waved away and Shels sealed the historic win.
SUN STAR MAN
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Harry Wood (Shelbourne)
RIJEKA: Ziomislic 6; Orec 6, Majstorovic 6 (Hustic h/t, 5), Radeljic 6, Devetak 6 (Lasickas h/t, 5); Jankovic 6, Gojak 6 (Menalo 69, 5), Dantas 6; Ndockyt 5, Juric 6 (Cop 69, 5), Butic 5 (Yankov 75, 5).
SHELBOURNE: Speel 6; Mbeng 8 (Gannon 87, 6), Barrett 8, Bone 8, Ledwidge 7, Norris 8; Wood 8 (Chapman 77, 6), Lunney 7, McInroy 8 (Coyle 87, 6); Boyd 5 (Martin 18, 7), Odubeko 6 (Kelly h/t, 6).