Rijeka v Shelbourne: Joey O'Brien's men back level after falling behind to penalty in Europa League

Irish Independent

21 hours ago

Live |
League of Ireland champions Shelbourne face a stern test as they go up against Croatia's Rijeka in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Ultan Corcoran brings you all the action with kick-off at 7.45pm.
Sam Bone
58'
Niko Jankovic
56'
66'
Scoring Chance
Shelbourne
Player
John Martin
CLOSE! What an effort from John Martin. The Kilkenny native picked the ball up in the half space and turned for goal. He has a pop from a good 30-yards and it whistles just past the left upright. Martin Zlomislic was at full stretch!
62'
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Justas Lasickas
SAVE! Having taken over from Devetak on the left flank, the Lithuanian full-back cuts inside on his right foot and thumps an effort goalwards - Wessel Speel gets a strong fist behind it to push it behind for a corner.
62'
The game has really increased in pace in the last few minutes, evidenced by the goals. Rijeka go in search of a reply but Harry Wood manages to hook the ball away from Jankovic.
58'
Goal
Shelbourne
Scorer
Sam Bone
Assist
James Norris
GOAL! Shels have responded in a flash here. Unbelievable reply from the League of Ireland side.
Kerr McInroy works a short corner before whipping it to the back post. Jamie Norris arrives to keep the ball alive with a wonderful header and Sam Bone bravely bundles it in on the goal-line. Beautiful training ground move!
56'
Goal
Rijeka
Scorer
Niko Jankovic
GOAL! In front of the hardcore Rijeka support, Niko Jankovic steps up and drills his penalty down the middle of the goal. Wessel Speel dives to his right and can't get near it. Rijeka take the lead.
56'
Penalty
Rijeka
Shooter
Niko Jankovic
PENALTY! Oh this is cruel for Shels. Sam Bone's pass back to Wessel Speel is fine, but the Netherlands goalkeeper takes too much time to make up his mind and Ndockyt races in to get a touch and milk the penalty in the process.
54'
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Tiago Dantas
Once a highly rated prospect at Bayern Munich, Tiago Dantas picks out Niko Jankovic. The 23-year-old has a go from range but this time it lacks the accuracy to test Speel.
53'
Another superb bit of defending from Paddy Barrett who wins the duel with Ante Juric and gets the pressure-relieving free. Similar to the first-half start, it's been a cagey exchange after the break.
2. Half
Second-half underway in Rijeka!
A couple of alterations to start this second-half as Mipo Odubeko is replaced by Daniel Kelly.
Meanwhile, Rijeka who are no strangers to big changes at the break, have made a double substitution. Ante Majstorovic and Mladen Devetak have made way for Anel Husic and Justas Lasickas.
Half-time
We have reached half-time in Rijeka!
The Spanish arbiter's whistle signals the end of what has been an interesting first-half in Croatia. Nothing to separate the teams at the interval!
All in all, Joey O'Brien and Shels will probably be happy with their work so far. They constricted Rijeka's attack until the 23rd-minute when Wessel Speel smothered Amir Gojak's effort.
Two further long-range chances fell to Ante Butic and Niko Jankovic, but Shels' 23-year-old shot-stopper was more than equal to both. Shels yet to really trouble the host's goal. The loss of Sean Boyd to injury is the only negative.
45'+3
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Niko Jankovic
SAVE! Arguably Wessel Speel's best of the evening thus far - Niko Jankovic, the Rijeka midfielder who scored 8 goals last season, tries his luck from range. The shot bounces just before Speel who pushes it around the post expertly.
45'+1
A decent chance almost materialises for Shels as John Martin puts the Rijeka rearguard under pressure. He wins the ball back but Odubeko is caught offside.
We will have 5 minutes of additional time to play before the break. Largely due to the stoppages for Majstorovic and Boyd.
43'
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Simun Butic
Butic pops up on the right flank for the first time since switching with his fellow winger Ndockyt. The 19-year-old tears past Ledwidge but blazes his shot high into the night sky. The travelling Shels fans enjoyed that one!
41'
Free Kick
Shelbourne
Shooter
Harry Wood
Jamie Norris is pulled back by the jersey on the left sideline. Harry Wood crosses deep to JJ Lunney who keeps the attack alive. Wood picks up the ball again and whips it in the direction of Odubeko - Majstorovic shows his experience by clearing the danger.
38'
Milan Mbeng wins an important free to relieve some pressure. Interestingly, Rijeka's right winger Merveil Ndockyt has switched wings with Simun Butic in the hope of getting more joy. Mbeng wins the first one-vs-one battle.
33'
Behind the goal Shels are shooting into in this first-half, a tifo has been unveiled by the Rijeka fans. Artwork displaying the city's medieval walls are erected with Croatian flags aplenty. Incredible atmosphere.
30'
Corner
Rijeka
Milan Mbeng concedes the first corner of the game and John Martin is back sticking to his defensive duties to clear Shels' lines. Rijeka back in possession around the middle third.
28'
Another fine save from Wessel! A cross from the right bounces through to the extreme left of the box. Simun Butic finds space to take a touch, cut in on his right foot and pull the trigger. It had venom - not enough to beat the Shels shot-stopper.
26'
A real shame for Shels as John Martin, JJ Lunney and Kerr McInroy link up well around the middle of the park. Play goes wide to the advancing Kameron Ledwidge, but the 24-year-old's touch is loose and the move breaks down.
Live Blog Software