UEFA Champions League: Shamrock Rovers fall to defeat in first qualifying round to Breidablik, TNS also out
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/07/2023 at 22:03 GMT
Shamrock Rovers have been knocked out of the first round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Goals from Jason Svanthorsson and Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson ensured the Icelandic club would be progressing to the second round. Welsh club TNS have also exited the competition after defeat to Hacken. Meanwhile, it was a comfortable night for Maccabi Haifa in front of 30,000 fans in Israel.
Gary O'Neill of Shamrock Rovers
Image credit: Getty Images
Shamrock Rovers are out of the UEFA Champions League in the first round of qualifying after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Icelandic club Breidablik.
Chasing a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, Breidablik made home advantage count and extended their lead in the tie through Jason Svanthorsson.
In the 16th minute, he made a great solo run before he converted from close range.
Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson extended Breidablik's advantage in the 58th minute with a fine finish from the edge of the box which flew into the net.
Shamrock were handed a lifeline in the 62nd minute when Oliver Sigurjonsson handled the ball inside the box and a penalty was awarded after a VAR review.
The spot-kick was converted by Graham Burke, but it proved to only be a consolation goal.
Welsh side The New Saints (TNS) are also out after a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Allsvenskan club Hacken.
The Swedish side won 2-0 in Wales with Ibrahim Sadiq (19') and Momodou Lamin Sonko (90+1') getting on the scoresheet.
"It played out how I thought it was going to play out," said manager Craig Harrison.
"They're a very good team. You look at it, and as good as they are, they score a deflection early on in the game and it's really tough.
"It's an uphill battle anyway. I thought we acquitted ourselves very, very well. The players stuck at it, and we had some opportunities in the second half, but they're a very good team and I can't be disappointed in the effort that all the players gave."
Zalgiris Vilnius progressed to the second round after a 2-1 win over North Macedonian club Struga.
A Besart Ibraimi penalty in the 74th was quickly cancelled out by Yuri Kendysh four minutes later.
A Sava Radic own goal in the 84th minute ensured the Lithuanian side would be in the second qualifying round.
Flora Talinn's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League came to an abrupt end after losing 3-0 to Polish club Rakow (4-0 on aggregate).
Lukasz Zwolinski struck in the 47th and 59th minute to put the visitors into a commanding lead before Giannis Papanikolaou wrapped up the victory with a third on the night in the 85th minute.
Hamrun Spartans lost 2-1 to Maccabi Haifa in front of 30,000 fans in Israel.
Maccabi had a 4-0 lead heading into the second leg, but Joseph Mbong put the Maltese club ahead in the match in the 32nd minute.
The Israeli Premier League side equalised through Eric Shuranov in the 69th minute before Frantzdy Pierrot tapped in from close range in the 84th minute to seal a comfortable win for the hosts.
Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol needed extra-time against Romanian outfit Farul Constanta to secure their place in the second round. Amine Talal scored in first half injury time to put the hosts ahead on the night but 1-1 on aggregate.
Goals from Jerome Ngom Mbekeli and Peter Oluwaseum Ademo sealed the win for the hosts.
BATE Borisov sealed a 2-0 victory on the night against Albania's Partizani to win 3-1 on aggregate. The goals came from Vladislav Malkevich and Aleksandr Shestyuk.
Zrinjski Mostar are through after a penalty shoot-out win against Urartu in Bosnia. Mostar lost 3-2 on the night but their 1-0 advantage from the first leg forced penalties against the Armenian club. Hrvoje Barisic converted the winning penalty for the home side after extra-time.
In UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying, Maltese club Balzan knocked out Slovenia's Domzale after a 5-4 aggregate win.
Balzan were 4-1 after the first leg, but went into extra-time after Domzale took a 3-0 lead in normal time.
Balzan then struck in the 94th minute through Andre. Andre was shown a second yellow card four minutes later, but the hosts held on for victory.
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