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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Shelbourne set for Conference League playoff after late Europa defeat
Shelbourne (Mipo Odubeko 86 (pen) HNK Rijeka (Toni Fruk 33, Tiago Dantas 72, Ante Oreč 90) (Rijeka win 4-3 on aggregate). Four days out from Oasis visiting nearby Croke Park, Shelbourne will look back in anger at blowing a route into the Europa League playoff. Defeat over two legs doesn't end their chances of group stage participation and prize-money swelling to €3.8m but they'll have to beat either Linfield or Vikingur Gøta in the Conference League playoff for their mission to be accomplished. As expected, Rijeka upped the ante from last week's 2-1 home defeat, scoring in each half to turn the tie, but Shels thought they'd have extra-time to deliver the scalp once Mipo Odubeko's penalty was scored with four minutes later. That wasn't the case, for they've only themselves to blame for switching off as stoppage time loomed. It brought a flat end to a boisterous night and an epic tie. Shels can't afford to come out on the wrong side of another classic when they enter the last-chance saloon. Radomir Dalović had no choice but to be adventurous to not only save his club the ignominy of an upset but also his job. All bar two of his Rijeka team hailed from nations that emerged from the former Yugoslavia. The one he was most pleased about including was Toni Fruk. His red card in the Champions League exit to Ludogorets banned him for the first leg but the artillery of the visitors revolved around his repertoire. Shels needed everything to complete the shock, one of the reasons they applied the necessary upgrades within their rickety home venue to avoid moving across Dublin City to Tallaght Stadium. That would have facilitated a capacity of 9,000 but lacking the trademark hostility that guests are subjected to inside the compact Drumcondra home. Despite Uefa restrictions reducing the crowd to the 3,600 available seats, fans turned out early to build the atmosphere. A banner unfurled from the Riverside stand read 'Spirit of '04', in homage to the famous Champions League victory over HNK Hajduk Split. Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach then, and he was back at Tolka Park, forming an eclectic array of guests in the directors' box. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson was an interested observer and another figure of international renown, David Healy, was present, scouting for a potential rematch against his Linfield side. Stephen Cluxton was a guest of his former All-Ireland winning colleague Mossy Quinn, now chief executive of Shelbourne, while the infamous referee for the Thierry Henry handball incident in 2009, Martin Hansson, acted as Uefa's referee observer. It would be interesting to discover if he agreed with the decision of official Marian Barbu not to award Shels a penalty inside three minutes. Ali Coote should have lifted the ball over the advancing Martin Zlomislić before being shoved but the contact just inside the box was excessive. There would be redemption by the home crowd for the whistler later. Against such talented opponents, those moments are critical. Shels did conjure a couple more openings in the first half, primarily by counterattacking a Rijeka side fluid in possession. Brave blocks by Paddy Barrett and Kameron Ledwidge – coupled with the wall repelling Fruk's free-kick – kept them at bay as goalkeeper Wessel Speel was hardly called upon. Ante Majstorović volleying wide off a corner signalled danger but there was nothing the stopper could do for a rasping opener by Fruk on 33 minutes. He didn't require any back-lift to crack a volley off his left foot from 20 yards out that dipped beyond the Dutchman. Although that concession brought the tie level on aggregate and removed a degree of fervour, Shels should have equalised on the night straight away. Kerr McInroy popped in the box from a James Norris knockdown but couldn't steer his close-range volley past Martin Zlomislić. Coote was first to react without replicating his strike against Linfield, fizzing his rebound wide. Martin's introduction offered an injection upfront for the Reds and just seven minutes in, he dashed clear from McInroy's pass. His unselfish cutback met the toe of Odubeko without the striker applying the necessary accuracy to keep it on target. Apart from in-demand Niko Janković firing a deflected shot into the arms of Speel, Shels were untroubled until another screamer of a goal swayed the tie away from their grasp. Joey O'Brien is entitled to be livid at the absence of pressure on Tiago Dantas when receiving the ball unattended but must credit the Portuguese, one of the two non-Baltics in the line-up, for floating a peach of a shot into the top corner from 30 yards. Behind but unbowed, Shels persisted into the dying stages. Five days after Rijeka were unable to cope with Martin in the box, it was a similar story but this time Ante Oreč opted to foul him as he stretched for an 82nd-minute header. Four minutes elapsed for a VAR check to award the spot-kick, enabling Odubeko to squeeze his shot under the arm of the Bosnian goalkeeper into the right corner. Oreč went from zero to hero within three minutes, swivelling inside the box to fire his low effort into the far corner. More of a wonderball than wonderwall for the Croatians. They march on to meet the winner of PAOK and Wolfsberger for a Europa League berth. SHELBOURNE: W Speel; P Barrett, S Bone, K Ledwidge; M Mbeng, K McInroy (D Kelly 90), JJ Lunney (E Caffrey 78), J Norris (E Chapman 78); H Wood, A Coote (J Martin 46); M Odubeko. HNK RIJEKA: M Zlomislić; A Majstorović, S Radeljić, M Devetak; M Ndockyt, T Dantas, D Petrovič, N Janković; A Oreč, T Fruk; AM Jurić (J Lasickas 75). Referee: Marian Barbu (ROU).
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Shelbourne v Rijeka
Update: Date: 46' Title: Substitution Content: Substitution, Shelbourne. John Martin replaces Ali Coote. Update: Date: 46' Title: Second Half Content: Second Half begins Shelbourne 0, Rijeka 1. Update: Date: 45'+4 Title: Half Time Content: First Half ends, Shelbourne 0, Rijeka 1. Update: Date: 45' Title: Post Content: Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time. Update: Date: 34' Title: Goal! Content: Goal! Shelbourne 0, Rijeka 1. Toni Fruk (Rijeka) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tiago Dantas. Update: Date: 1' Title: Kick Off Content: First Half begins. Update: Date: 1' Title: Post Content: Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shelbourne undone in final minute as Europa League journey ends
Shelbourne 1-3 HNK Rijeka (Rijeka win 4-3 on aggregate) Shelbourne's Europa League dream died on a sultry night in Drumcondra, but the Conference League group stages remain very much achievable after a second leg in Tolka Park that will reign long in the memory. Goals fit to grace any occasion – on 33 minutes from Toni Fruk and 73 from Tiago Dantas – had Shels seemingly down and out, only for Mipo Odubeko's scuffed penalty to restore parity after what seemed a never-ending VAR call by the officials. Yet, just as Tolka threatened to crumble with the noise, Ante Orec blasted into the bottom corner in the 90th minute, Shels scarcely able to believe that they had conceded a third. It was hard to keep a handle on it all, with Rijeka clearly the superior team on the night but Shels understandably feeling they deserved extra-time at least. What will at least encourage Reds boss Joey O'Brien is that there is only so much you can do against such quality as the first couple of goals. Now Shels will meet Linfield, who they overcame in a Champions League qualifier last month, or Faroese outfit Vikingur for a far more winnable game and Conference League group combat after 10 matches to get there. Extra-time would have been intriguing, even allowing for the Croats' superior class, but Shels and O'Brien have enough about them to get Conference League football once they – and all of us – digest what happened here in Tolka. On a gorgeous evening heaving with expectation, Shels missed arguably the best chance of the game from open play in the early minutes, but thereafter were finding any meaningful possession extremely difficult. Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and Dublin GAA legend Stephen Cluxton were among those in the dilapidated Richmond Road Stand, the state of same testament to the incentive for Shels getting over this tie and ensuring a windfall. The Reds would be guaranteed league phase football in the Conference League and a €3.8m cheque from Uefa if they could finish the job in their Europa League third-round qualifier. Key attacking midfielder Fruk returned from suspension with Dantas, ex-Bayern Munich, part of a double pivot with Dejan Petrovic. They would, predictably, cause the Reds many problems. There was controversy three minutes in – but not enough for VAR to intervene just yet. Clever control from Harry Wood bought him time and he whipped a long ball in the direction of Ali Coote, who bothered big Mladen Devetak such that the defender failed miserably to clear. Coote, one on the other one of keeper Martin Zlomislic, should have done better but ended up colliding with the Bosnian. The crowd roared for a penalty but Romanian whistler Marian Barbu could not blame his view of the clash and waved appeals away. Shels' pressing was impressive and, with no visiting fans allowed due to a Uefa ban, this was not an easy atmosphere for Devetak and his colleagues, the defender slicing over the sideline to big cheers 13 minutes in. That said, Shels barely had any possession in the opening quarter, and it was a warm evening for constant chasing of the ball. The first scent of a strike Fruk enjoyed saw a defiant block from Kerr McInroy in front of the Riverside Stand. Paddy Barrett fashioned a truly superb block of his own on 25 minutes, with the strapping Ante Juric finding space and firing at Speel. Then James 'Chuck' Norris nipped in to prevent Merveil Ndockyt from scoring, but the corner saw another scare, defender Ante Majstrovic hooking wide; the hush in the old place reflected growing unease. The opening goal had given the hosts ample warning, yet was of such quality as rarely seen in this ground. Orec flicked a cross back to Juric, who teed it up for Fruk, whose volley was as much instinctive as perfection – one of those goals that stuns the crowd even before it hit the net. Shels' response was defiant, with Milan Mbeng finding Norris at the opposite post and the Englishman teed up Scot McInroy, whose shot was met by Zlomislic. But it was anomalous in a half dominated by a classy Rijeka and Petrovic's excellent delivery from a corner then saw Nico Jankovic connect but miss narrowly. Shels were prisoners to the gods, the ball a whisker wide with the interval approaching. And the threat carried by the Croats was constant, with the diminutive Tiago Dantas – a rare thing in a very tall and physical Rijeka side – heading wide, Shels a little exposed. John Martin, fresh from two excellent headed goals in the past week, including in Croatia, was brought on for the somewhat unlucky Coote at the interval. Martin and Odubeko combined seven minutes in but the pacy striker was under pressure and directed his shot wide – a sign that he was a threat if he got any service. Still, it was Rijeka who seemed most likely, and Petrovic might have done better on the volley from a corner on the hour mark. McInroy was struggling in open play and could not prevent a really dangerous Rijeka break on 64 minutes, with Jankovic threatening but ultimately lacking power in his strike. Wood, arguably Shels' best player, looked to be fouled as the final quarter commenced and Shels would have been raging had Fruk's strike matched his goal for accuracy; instead it was well wide. If the first was a "worldie", it is a case of beauty being in the beholder's eyes as to whether or not it bettered the second. With seemingly no instant danger to worry about, Shels nevertheless pressed Dantas, but he was so far from goal it was barely credible that he could leave Speel with no chance – a goal that will linger long with all those who bore witness. VAR has been really kind to League of Ireland teams and Martin was glad of it as he claimed Orec had a hold of him after a cross into the box, with what seemed like several minutes before the referee was sent to have a look at his monitor between the two dugouts. Usually this is merely going through the motions, but Barbu was in no rush to make a call, belatedly pointing to the spot. Mipo, who barely had a sniff all evening, will hit much better penalties but it trickled under Zlomislic – and Tolka utterly erupted. Not content with that, Mbeng's back-post effort was saved by Zlomislic, but the drama was not yet done. As the fourth official readied his board, Merveil Ndockyt's free-kick fell to Niko Jankovic. He knocked it back to Orec, whose effort just about evaded Speel in the bottom corner. Speel even came up for a set-piece at the Ballybough end to cause some mayhem but Rijeka held out, and Shels had no more to give. Earlier in the evening, what now seemed like a lifetime ago, a 'Spirit of 04' banner greeted the players, recalling an incredible victory here over Hadjuk Split 21 years ago. Tolka Park has changed little in those two decades and change, but this Shels European story, already full of drama, is far from over. Shelbourne: Wessel Speel; Sam Bone, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge; Milan Mbeng, Harry Wood, JJ Lunney (Ellis Chapman 78), Kerr McInroy, James Norris (Evan Caffrey 78); Ali Coote (John Martin 46), Mipo Odubeko. HNK Rijeka: Martin Zlomislic, Ante Orec, Ante Majstorovic, Stjepan Radeljić, Mladen Devetak; Tiago Dantas (Damir Kreilach 90), Dejan Petrovic; Niko Jankovic, Toni Fruk, Merveil Ndockyt (Luka Menalo 90); Ante Matej Juric (Justas Lasickas 75).
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Shelbourne v Rijeka – Croatian side draw level as Reds seeking huge payday in Europa League qualifier
Live | Shelbourne take on Croatian side HNK Rijeka in their Europa League third qualifying round second leg tie at Tolka Park this evening. Leading 2-1 from last week's first leg, the League of Ireland Premier Division champions are just a draw away from an estimated €3.4million in Uefa prizemoney and further riches with a guaranteed place in the league phase of the Conference League. Catch all the action as it happens here. Toni Fruk 33' 44' Corner Rijeka A couple of corners for the Croatian champions presents a couple of half-chances, but Milan Mbeng does well to hook the ball clear. 41' Corner Rijeka Toni Fruk is orchestrating everything at the minute for Rijeka. After winning the corner, Niko Jankovic delivers the corner to Dejan Petrovic whose header sailed marginally wide. Shels not touch tight on the corners so far! 36' Scoring Chance Shelbourne Player Kerr McInroy CHANCE! Brilliant response from Shels as Milan Mbeng crosses deep to Jamie Norris. The midfielder directed his header back to Kerr McInroy who stung the palms of Zlomislic with a rasping strike. Ali Coote can't convert from the rebound. 33' Goal Rijeka Scorer Toni Fruk Assist Ante Juric GOAL! We are level in the tie and it's a simply wonderful goal from Rijeka! Ante Orec flicked the cross back to Ante Juric who teed it up for Toni Fruk. Labelled the talisman of the Croatian champions, he cuts across the ball with a wonderful volley that nestles in the lower-left corner. Wessel Speel never got near it despite his best attempts. 31' Scoring Chance Shelbourne Player Milan Mbeng The best chance of the game since Coote's opportunity earlier in the half! Mipo Odubeko digs out a wonderful cross to the back post. Milan Mbeng makes a late run, but can't quite make contact with the ball. Positive signs for Joey O'Brien's men. 29' Corner Rijeka Toni Fruk threads a wonderful pass through to Merveil Ndockyt. Paddy Barrett does well to stay with the Congolese attacker and flick it out for a corner. Rijeka get a decent chance from the set-piece as Ante Majstorovic fires past the near post. Shels' marking a bit loose there! 25' Free Kick Shelbourne The twinkling feet of Kerr McInroy enables the Shels midfielder to skip out of Merveil Ndockyt's way before getting his ankles clipped. That relieves some pressure on the hosts' defence as both teams take a water break in the 22-degree heat. 19' Corner Rijeka Tiago Dantas works a short corner with Niko Jankovic, but Kameron Ledwidge is alert and gets the block in to prevent the cross. Jankovic has just won a free for a foul by Sam Bone to keep Rijeka on the front foot. 16' Rijeka have enjoyed the lion's share of possession thus far, however every misplaced pass is met by a chorus of whistles from the Shels faithful. Toni Fruk is drifting around looking for half spaces to create from. A lot of the Croatian champions' play has been forced down the flanks where Milan Mbeng and Kameron Ledwidge have stood firm. 11' Scoring Chance Rijeka Player Ante Orec Toni Fruk's initial free-kick effort smashes into the Shels' wall. The rebound falls kindly for full-back Ante Orec who swings a right boot at it - well wide of Wessel Speel's goal. Danger averted! 9' Free Kick Rijeka Shooter Toni Fruk Great opportunity for the Croatian champions as Paddy Barrett clips the heels of Toni Fruk on the edge of the box. Free kick to Rijeka with Fruk standing over it. 7' Dan McDonnell highlights the threat possessed by Rijeka's Fruk: The Croatian TV director spent most of last week throwing to images of Toni Fruk in the stands and he's already very involved here with a few tricks and flicks that highlight why he is Rijeka's creative hub. 5' Scoring Chance Shelbourne Player Ali Coote BIG appeals for a penalty as Ali Coote chases a long ball from Harry Wood. The Scottish attacker gets the first touch, but Rijeka shot-stopper Zlomislic got a vital glove in to prevent Coote from taking it past him. VAR is in operation tonight, but it has not been called upon yet by the Romanian arbiter! 4' The atmosphere has been rocking so far in these opening exchanges. It's particularly intimidating for Rijeka who have no travelling fans thanks to a Uefa ban imposed on their supporters. 1. Half The ball is rolling in this first-half! The referee for this evening's match is Marian Barbu who forms a Romanian trio with his assistant referees George Florin Neacsu and Imre Laszlo Bucsi. It's an ideal evening for football in Drumcondra with sunny skies overhead, a mild easterly breeze and temperatures lingering around a sweltering 21 degrees. 45 minutes ago HOW DID THE FIRST-LEG PLAY OUT? Last Wednesday's first-leg was pretty successful from an Shels point of view. Despite falling a goal behind in the 56th-minute courtesy of a Niko Jankovic penalty, Shels responded inside two minutes with a wonderfully worked set-piece goal from Sam Bone. John Martin, who replaced the injured Sean Boyd in the first-half, became the hero on 70 minutes as he directed his header into the opposite corner for a famous victory on Croatian soil. 46 minutes ago RIJEKA'S TEAM TONIGHT: Last season's Croatian champions will hope to extract some revenge on their Irish counterparts after last week's first-leg loss. Tonight, head coach Radomir Dalovic lines his team out as follows in a 4-2-3-1 formation with skipper Martin Zlomislic between the posts while speedy full-backs Ante Orec and Mladen Devetak keep their places. Talismanic attacking midfielder Toni Fruk returns from suspension with ex-Bayern talent Tiago Dantas part of a double pivot with Dejan Petrovic. Meanwhile, last week's goal-scorer Niko Jankovic shifts onto the left wing behind striker Ante Juric: 47 minutes ago SHELBOURNE LINE-UP: Head coach Joey O'Brien sets his team up as follows with a solitary alteration from his team that defeated Rijeka 2-1 last Wednesday. Wessel Speel starts in goals, with Paddy Barrett captain on the evening alongside Milan Mbeng, Sam Bone and Kameron Ledwidge. An unchanged midfield sees Harry Wood and Jamie Norris start alongside JJ Lunney, meanwhile Mipo Odubeko spearheads the forward line with Ali Coote and Kerr McInroy on the wings. UEFA graphics suggest an unlikely 4-3-3 formation for the hosts:
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shels wary of return of the 'new' Luca Modric for 2nd leg at Tolka Park
Joey O'Brien has warned his players - and Shels supporters - to expect Rijeka to be fired up by talisman Toni Fruk's return for tomorrow night's European qualifier at Tolka Park (7.45pm).An attacking midfielder, capped at every international age-group from u14 to u21 (eight age-groups!), he was called into the world-ranked 10th Croatia squad for their two World Cup qualifiers in June. Fruk wears no10 and has already been written in as the successor to current no10 Luca Modric, 39, who is expected to retire either in or just after this World Cup cycle. READ MORE: Heimir Hallgrimsson will be thrilled with Troy Parrott's comments as Ireland striker's sensational scoring run continues READ MORE: Ciara Mageean receives support on Camogie's big day at Croke Park 'As you might expect, playing at the level they play at, Rijeka are serious opposition and have serious quality players," warns shels boss Joey O'Brien.'Their main man Toni Fruk was suspended in the first leg but from watching the videos of previous games, and he played against Ludogorets in both games, he was probably one of the best players on the pitch."He started their league game at the weekend and he'll come straight back in and add a different dimension to them because he's a top, top player so we'll be on guard."Shels, 2-1 to the good from the first leg of their Uefa Europa League, 3rd qualifying round, will be specifically looking to close down the space on the flanks."I suppose people probably haven't seen how good a team they were, I don't know how many people seen the match but we are going to be up against it. "In possession, they are really good, they use wingers on the side of the pitch, one-v-ones, we had our hands full there and we know that."It's going to be a tough, tough night but as I've always said, we're playing here at Tolka, they've no fans so it's going to be a full house all for us, so we are going out to win."It's going to be a great challenge for us and one we can't wait for, it is very exciting."There was a capacity 5,474 at Tolka on Saturday evening for the Bohs derby and the Rijeka match is also sold out with the Shels boss adding:"I thought the atmosphere here today from both sets of fans was brilliant and, as a game of football showcased our league, a full house."I just said to someone over there that I don't think ten years ago with a game like Leeds and AC Milan across the road, I don't think this place would have been full."So I think it shows where our league is at, overall, I'm sure both sets of fans, they got their money's worth Seán Boyd is not expected to return from the calf injury that has been dragging on longer than hoped although there was some consolation in a lively display from new signing Sean Moore. 'Seán looks to be struggling and I don't think he'll turn it around that quick."And I don't think there were too many injuries tonight (against Bohs), we were able to get more minutes into the lads who haven't been starting, they've got a start, I'm sure they're raring to go for Tuesday. "Seán Moore coming in as a new player starting after a couple of pre-season games, he needs to get going, I wanted to see him, coming off that side of the pitch onto his left foot. thought in the first half he opened up a couple of moments. He'll only get better." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
