Europa League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 3 Mlada Boleslav

Shamrock Rovers went down 3-2 to FK Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic in what was a very entertaining Europa League second qualifying round first leg at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night.

Graham Burke scored twice for the Hoops but a brace from Australian striker Golgol Mebrahtu and another from Jan Chramosta earned the visitors a strong lead to take back to the Czech Republic next Thursday.

The first real bit of action came in the 12th minute as Australian player Golgol Tedros Mebrahtu hit a fantastic free-kick which had Tomer Chencinski beaten in the Hoops goal but Simon Madden came to his rescue and headed the ball off the line denying the Czech side an early away goal.

In the 19^th minute Brandon Miele picked the ball up on the half way line going past a Boleslav player trying to take on the opposing full-back but he rushed his shot and the ball sailed over the bar not troubling Jakub Divis in the Boleslav goal.

Minutes later Madden’s miss hit cross almost had the ‘keeper beaten but the ball just went over the bar onto the top of the net.

Just a few moments later a good pass from Burke sent Gary Shaw through on goal but he rushed his shot, not knowing he had more time to compose himself. His effort was straight at the ‘keeper, wasting a decent chance to put the Hoops ahead in what was a very tight affair coming up to the half hour mark.

As is typical in Europe, having missed those chances the Hoops found themselves a goal down soon after.

The Czech side got a vital away goal in the 34^th minute as a cross on the right hand side by Tomas Prikryl, after Luke Byrne was beaten for pace, was met by Mebrahtu who headed into the top corner leaving Chencinski stranded in the Rovers goal. Arguably the header came against the run of play as Rovers were starting to get some joy in the game at that point.

The visitors almost doubled their lead on the stroke of the half as a header flicked on at the front post was the hit towards goal by Jakub Rada; unluckily for him his effort just went over Chencinski’s crossbar leaving the score 1-0 to Boleslav at the break.

Happily for the Hoops, they got an equalizer just three minutes after the restart. It came from a throw-in from Madden on the right hand side. Burke’s ambitious effort from 25 yards out sailed into the top corner leaving Divis stranded and only able to look at the ball nestle into the back of the net.

Just after the hour mark the Czech side restored their lead though through good build up on the left hand side by Boleslav ended up with Jan Charmosta on the byline.

He fizzled a low cross into the Rovers six yard box and Mebrahtu got free once again, getting the better of Roberto Lopes, to tap home for his second of the match and more importantly two away goals giving themselves a massive advantage in the tie.

Ronan Finn had a real chance to equalise after a mistake by Lukas Pauschek let him through but Finn took too much time trying to pick his spot and his shot was straight at Divis.

At the opposite end Chenciniski was called into action again as Tomas Prikryl played through Rada who forced a save from the Canadian international who got down well at his near post keep the score at 2-1.

A few minutes later Gary Shaw had a rasping volley from 25 yards which called Divis into action but moments later Boleslav sealed their victory as a cross from Prikryl on the right hand side found Jan Charmosta who converted from inside the six yard box.

With a minute to go though Rovers pulled one back when the ball broke to Burke on the edge of the box. He smashed it home for the Hoops handing Rovers a lifeline going into the second leg next week but they will need to score twice at least if they are to progress.

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, David Webster, Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne; Ryan Connolly, Ronan Finn, Trevor Clarke, Brandon Miele (David McAllister 83), Graham Burke; Gary Shaw.

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan (gk), Sam Bone, James Doona, Aaron Bolger, Sean Boyd.

Booked: None.

Mladá Boleslav: Jakub Divis; Lukas Pauschek, Pavel Cmovs, Patrizio Stronati, Jiri Fleisman; Tomas Prikryl, Marek Matejovksy (Lukas Magera 90), Jakub Rada, Petr Mares (Tomas Fabian 73); Jan Chramosta, Golgol Mebrahtu (Adam Janos 90+1).

Subs not used: Ludek Vejmola (gk), Douglas, Ladislav Takacs, Jakub Necas.

Booked: Jakub Rada (4), Tomas Prikryl (9).

Referee: Bojan Panzic.

Attendance: 3,000 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers).