Bohemians 0-1 Red Bull Salzburg (agg. 1-2)
Credit:
Bohemians suffered the ultimate heartbreak at Dalymount Park on Wednesday night when their Champions League hopes were cruelly ended by Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg.
The Gypsies looked to be heading into the third round of Champions League qualifying before substitute Patrik Jezek struck the only goal of the game on 87 minutes, ensuring that the Austrians progressed 2-1 on aggregate.
Bohemians went into the game full of hope after coming away with an impressive 1-1 draw in Austria last week and they coped admirably with everything that Salzburg threw at them. However, a defensive mixup three minutes before the end allowed Jezek to head home and secure a secure a place in the third round of qualifying where they will face Dinamo Zagreb.
Bohemians started with the same eleven that took to the field in Austria, with Jason Byrne again deployed on the right of midfield and Glen Crowe up front on his own.
The game began in frantic fashion and Salzburg almost took the lead within the opening 60 seconds when Franz Heimer flashed a header narrowly wide. However, Bohemians settled into the game after that early scare, forcing a number of free kicks and corners inside the Salzburg half.
The Gyspies first real chance of the game came in the tenth minute. Killian Brennan took the salzburg defence by surprise with a driven free-kick deep into the area, but the alert Jason Byrne peeled off and somehow got his head to the ball only to see his effort dip narrowly over the bar.
A careless Killian Brennan pass inside the Salzburg half allowed Christoph Leitgeb to maraud forward on 15 minutes, but he dragged his shot wide of Murphy's left-hand post.
Conor Powell then went close for Bohs at the other end his dipping cross-come-shot from the left flank forced Salzburg 'keeper Douglas Gustafsson to tip the ball over.
Bohs, playing the same 4-5-1 formation that served them so well in the first leg, continued to frustrate Salzburg with some resolute defending and tireless running in the centre of the park from the midfield duo of Paul Keegan and Gary Deegan. However, the Austrians continued to look a threat down the flanks and from set pieces. Bohs 'keeper Brian Murphy was let off the hook on the half hour mark when he rushed out to collect a corner, but got caught beneath the ball. Thankfully for him, Augustinussen's header flew harmlessly over the bar.
The excellent Powell then came to Bohs' rescue moments later when he expertly intercepted a defence splitting pass from Cristoph Leitgeb who was looking to play in the lively Somen Tchoyi. Bohs had mild claims for a penalty turned away on 33 minutes when Jason Byrne took a tumble in the box as the Gyspies struggled to create any chances of note.
At the other end, Tchoyi broke down the right and floated in a superb cross, but it somehow evaded everyone, much to the relief of the 5,000 or so Bohs fans inside the ground. The sides went in level at the break, meaning that Bohs were still on course for progression to the third round.
High quality football remained at a premium in the second period with Bohs continually inviting Salzburg on to them with some deep defending.
However, the host carved out their best chance of the game on 67 minutes when Byrne played a neat one-two with Joseph Ndo on the edge of the salzburg area, but he snatched at his shot and Gustafsson gathered easily.
Salzburg continued to push for a winner and Marc Janko should perhaps have done better with two headers from point blank range midway through the second half, however, neither effort troubled Brian Murphy in the Bohs goal.
Bohs began to tire as the game entered the closing stages and it was a lapse of concentration which allowed Salzburg to grab a winner in the 87th minute. The Austrians swung the ball in from the left and Mark Rossiter - who had enjoyed a fine game at right back in place of the injured Owen Heary - attempted to head the ball back to Murphy, but his header was weak and the ball fell into the path of the Croatian Jezek, who headed past Murphy and into the open net.
Bohs pushed for an equaliser, with Jason McGuinness introduced as an emergency striker, but the were unable to break down the Salzburg back-line. As the final whistle sounded, Bohs manager Pat Fenlon stood shellshocked on the touchline, while his players, who had given their all from start to finish, slumped to the turf. In the stands, however, the Bohs faithful rose one by one to applaud their heroes from the field.
Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Conor Powell, Ken Oman, Brian Shelley, Mark Rossiter (Jason McGuinness, 87); Killian Brennan (Anto Murphy, 66), Gary Deegan, Paul Keegan, Joseph Ndo, Jason Byrne (Glenn Cronin, 84); Glen Crowe.
Subs not used: Matt Gregg, Neale Fenn, Patrick Madden, Ryan McEvoy.
Booked: A Murphy (68).
Red Bull Salzburg: Eddie Gustafsson; Milan Dudic, Christian Schwegler, Thomas Augustinussen, Somen Tchoyi, Franz Schiemer, Anderas Ulmer (Patrik Jezek, 59), Dusan Svento, Marc Janko, Sasa Ilic (Admir Vladavic, 63), Christoph Leitgeb (Robin Nelisse, 73).
Subs not used: Heinz Arzberger, Mejdi Traoui, Barry Opdam, Rene Aufhauser.
Booked: Janko (54), Schwegler (90+1), Gustafsson (90+3)
Referee: Alexsander Stavrev (Macedonia)
Attendance: 5,944
extratime.ie man of the match: Gary Deegan (Bohemians) - Incredible energy throughout, constantly harrassing the Salzburg midfielders to try and break up play.
