Shamrock Rovers in need of comeback to keep Conference League hopes alive after narrow first leg loss to Ballkani
SHAMROCK ROVERS will have work to do to stay in the Europa Conference League after falling to a narrow defeat to FC Ballkani in Kosovo.
A Sunday Adetunji goal in the second-half was all that separated the two sides in Thursday night's second leg.
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Shamrock Rovers lost to FC Ballkani in the opening leg of their Conference League qualifier
Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile
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Almir Kryeziu of Ballkani in action against Danny Mandroiu of Shamrock Rovers
Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile
It could have been more, with Almir Kryeziu and Adetunji both passing up chances to put the game to bed, while Josh Honohan had a late chance brilliantly saved.
It leaves the League of Ireland leaders needing to turn things around in Tallaght next week to make the play-offs.
The tandem of Almir Kryeziu and Giovanni caused all sorts of problems all evening down the left and combined for the game's first big chance on 12 minutes.
Kryeziu dropped onto the touchline before finding former Ajax prospect Giovanni in behind.
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He crossed low in the direction of Sunday Adetunji but Ed McGinty did enough to put the striker off before he could knock it in.
The Rovers goalkeeper had to be on alert to parry a Geralb Smajli strike from range after another Giovanni pick-out.
Kryeziu and Albert Diene were next to have goes with long range strikes that ballooned over the bar.
Rovers began to create a couple of half openings once the first-half ticked towards the half hour mark.
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A brave Josh Honohan header set Dylan Watts free down the left, only for his cutback to be too far ahead of Danny Mandroiu and too far behind Rory Gaffney.
But as the half-time whistle approached, the hosts put their collective feet back on the pedal, with the two danger men combining for their next chance on 34 minutes.
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Giovanni played a corner short to Kryeziu. He reversed it back to the edge of the box for Ardit Deliu, who could only slice his shot harmlessly wide of Ed McGinty's left-hand post.
Rovers' best moments of the first-half came from set pieces, with Josh Honohan drawing a superb low save from Adnan Golubovic from a Dylan Watts corner after the Ballkani goalkeeper had flapped at one moments earlier.
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But their first big chance of the second-half came from their best piece of open play of the game.
After a spell of possession that earned whistles from the frustrating home crowd, Josh Honohan was picked out with a fine pass down the left side on 50 minutes.
He drove at his mind before sliding the ball across the face, where Danny Mandroiu could not direct the ball on target.
With that chance having passed them by, the deadlock was broken by the Kosovans five minutes later.
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A clever interchange of passes ended with Smajli finding Sunday Adetunji. The Ballkani front man turned inside a Rovers defender before rolling past McGinty.
They should have made it 2-0 four minutes later when a deflected shot was well saved by McGinty, only for Kryeziu to balloon the rebound high and over the bar.
Stephen Bradley responded to this latest scare by bringing on Michael Noonan and Connor Malley, but it was Ballkani who remained dangerous, with Adetunji forcing a corner after being found by Giovanni.
The hosts once again should have doubled their lead with ten minutes to go when Adetunji was picked out by a good cross from substitute Bleart Tolaj, only for his soft finish to be easily saved by McGinty.
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Rovers had one last chance to equalize when another Watts set piece found the head of Honohan, but for Golubovic to make another good save.
SUN STAR MAN
Giovanni (FC Ballkani)
BALLKANI: Golubovic 7; Smajli 7, Batarelo 6 (Jashanica 38, 6), Halili 6, Potoku 6 (Letaj 85, 5); Deliu 6, Giovanni 8, Diene 7; Hamidi 6 (Tolaj 65, 6), Adetunji 7, Kryeziu 7.
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SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty 6; Grant 6, Cleary 6, Lopes 6, Grace 6, Honohan 7; Nugent 6 (Noonan 60, 5), Healy 6, Watts 6; Mandroiu 6, Gaffney 5 (Malley 60, ).
REFEREE: D Panchyshyn (Ukraine) 4
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