Overcoming Bnei Yehuda in their Europa League qualification second round tie was always going to be a tough task for Shamrock Rovers but it was one that got immeasurably tougher when the Israeli side scored on the break after 26 minutes.
It was a setback that Rovers scarcely deserved as what attacking play had taken place up to that point had all been played by them. Both James Chambers and Paddy Kavanagh had been lively on the flanks and Chris Turner and Stephen Rice in central midfield had presented a formidable barrier to Yehuda while still finding time and space to contribute to some sweeping attacking moves.
Thomas Stewart was the first man to threaten when he picked up a
sublime ball from Chambers in the eighth minute, but his curling
cross, aimed at the arriving Twigg, was too close to Aiyenugba in the
Israeli goal.
Aiyenugba almost presented Stewart with a tap in two minutes later
when he mis-controlled a back pass but the Nigerian recovered himself
in the nick of time. Nice build up play from Twigg, Chambers and
Stewart set up Kavanagh on 19 minutes but the wingers shot was off
target and Rovers forged another chance three minutes later when Craig
Sives cross found Stewart at the near post. But his shot also flew
wide of the Yehuda goal.
Then came the Yehuda breakthrough. A pass from Assi Baldout split the
Rovers defence and put Eghia Yavruyan through on goal. Alan Manus
seemed to hesitate and by the time he met the Israeli striker at the
edge of his box, he could do little but deflect the shot into the path
of substitute, Omri Afek who had a simple task to tap the ball into
the net.
Having taken the lead, Yehuda began to pass the ball with more freedom
and Rovers had to work considerably harder as the half wore on. Craig
Sives did manage to get a header on target from a Chambers corner and
then, just seconds before half time, Twigg blasted a close range shot
against Aiyenugba having been put through by Turner.
Rovers continued to battle for everything in the second half against a
hard and well organised Yehuda side. In the 49th minute Gary Twigg had
the hearts of the Tallaght faithful firmly in their mouths when his
overhead kick was deflected narrowly wide and a strong run from Paddy
Kavanagh saw him hauled to the ground just outside the Yehuda box,
though Chambers subsequent free came to nothing.
With half an hour to play the Israeli side replaced striker, Yavruyan
with Oz Raly and pulled back into a 4-5-1 formation that signified the
strength of the Rovers threat. Michael O’Neill brought on Billy
Dennehy for Price in an effort to freshen up the home sides attack and
within moments the Cork winger was in the thick of things.
Chasing a ball into the box he ran a ball against an Israeli arm and
although all of West Dublin screamed for a penalty it was never more
than a desperate call. Then, moments later, a Dennehy cross found the
head of Twigg but the Scot’s effort sailed wide.
In the final fifteen minutes, as Rovers legs tired, the half chances
became less clear cut and their hopes of salvaging a draw slipped
slowly into the realm of the unlikely. Robert Bayly came on for Turner
and fought the good fight, but there seemed little chance of the goal
that they needed until, in the 91st minute a cross from Rover’s left
wing found Bayly beyond the back post. His first effort bounced back
to him off Twigg but his second, driven across goal from practically
on the end-line, somehow tucked itself in at the back post.
Tallaght erupted. It was a fitting end to a magnificent performance
and, fitting too, in an historical context, that Rovers first ever
European tie at their new home was rescued from the flames. There
remains an immense task in Tel Aviv next week, but for now this feels
like some kind of victory.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Manus; Craig Sives, Dan Murray, Aidan
Price (Billy Dennehy, 64), Enda Stevens; James Chambers, Stephen Rice,
Chris Turner (Robert Bayly, 71), Paddy Kavanagh; Gary Twigg, Thomas
Stewart.
Subs not used: Robert Duggan, Danny Murphy, Pat
Flynn, Stephen Bradley, Graham Barrett.
Bookings: Dennehy (93).
Bnei Yehuda: Dele Aiyenugba; Yitzhak Azuz, Ivan Garrido, Aviv
Haddad, Kfir Edri; Liroy Zhairi, Linic Sinisa, Assi Baldout, Shalev
Menashe (Hasan Abu Zaid, 73); Yeghia Yavruyan (Oz Raly, 58), Moshe
Biton (Omri Afek, 19).
Subs not used: Ran Kadoch, Tal
Mishan, Dean Mori, Shlomi Levi.
Bookings: Azuz (51).
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Rice.
Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Italy)
Attendance: 4,850.
Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and reports on Shamrock Rovers among others. Simon can be contacted at sighmo@gmail.com
