League Report: UCD 2 - 3 Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers continued their unbeaten start to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after a thrilling comeback victory over UCD at the UCD Bowl this evening.

Striker Max Mata was undoubtedly the hero for the visitors, with his three-goal haul, including two late penalties, breaking UCD hearts and securing Sligo’s first three points of the season in the process.

Frank Livaak tested Lorcan Healy in the UCD goal with an early snapshot, however it was the home side who took the lead in the fourth minute after a mistake in the Rovers defence.

A loose touch from right-back Eanna Clancy was compounded by a poor back pass, with the lively Danu Kinsella Bishop showing great composure to pull the ball across the face of goal for strike partner Alex Nolan to ram home the opener.

Sligo responded well to the early setback and deservedly got back on level terms fifteen minutes later. A nice through ball from Livaak found Mata in the box and the striker, who had already been denied a goal by the offside flag, showed good feet to cut inside the defender and finish past Healy at his near post.

Rovers were on top for the rest of the half, however UCD were always dangerous on the break through livewires Nolan and Kinsella Bishop and it was this combination that almost put UCD back in front before the break, with the latter only denied by a fine save from Sligo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas following a Nolan through ball.

Sligo started the second half the better and were unlucky not to take the lead when left-back Reece Hutchinson latched onto a loose clearance and powered a shot just over from outside the box.

However, the Bit O’ Red were hit with a sucker punch almost immediately, with Kinsella Bishop finding space behind their defence to stab past McNicholas after a cross from Ciaran Behan from the left following a counter attack.

As in the first half, Sligo responded well to the concession of the goal, ramping up the pressure on the UCD defence. Kailin Barlow, substitute Stefan Radosavljevic and Mata all had efforts at goal, before Will Fitzgerald missed a great opportunity when he blazed over from a great position after sustained pressure.

Sligo finally got the equalizer they deserved with just over twenty minutes remaining from the penalty spot.

Second half substitute Fabrice Hartmann drove at the UCD goal from the left-hand side before unleashing a shot which struck the hand of UCD defender Brendan Barr from close range.

It certainly was in the ‘seen them given’ category, however such was the close proximity of the defender, it did seem a tough call. Nevertheless, Mata confidently converted the spot-kick, low to the keeper’s left to bring the westerners level once again.

The game was end-to-end at this stage and both teams had excellent chances to take the lead in quick succession, but neither Fitzgerald nor Kinsella Bishop could keep their efforts, from great positions, on target.

The big talking point however came with just under ten minutes to go. Another driving run from the Sligo left, this time from Hutchinson, was ended by an innocuous looking Nolan challenge that seemed to take place just outside the box.

However, referee Ray Matthews had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Mata was delighted to accept the gift, slotting the penalty straight down the middle to complete his hat trick.

Sligo Rovers held on comfortably after that, amid a raft of substitutions, and now move on to four points after their opening two games.

The visitors will be delighted to take all three points back down the road, especially after conceding such a sloppy opening goal so early on. UCD, on the other hand, will feel aggrieved with the manner of the defeat, however, they can take much from their performance, with the displays of strikers Nolan and Kinsella Bishop particularly encouraging.

UCD: Sam Healy; Brendan Barr (Sami Clarke 89), Ciaran Behan, Ryan Bowden, Michael Gallagher; Donal Higgins (Harry O'Connor 89), Dara Keane, Jack Keaney, Daniel Norris (Mark Dignam 53); Danu Kinsella Bishop, Alex Nolan (Divine Izekor 83).

Subs not used: Lorcan Healy, Daniel Babb, Harvey O'Brien, Jesse Dempsey, Jake Doyle.

Booked: None.

Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk, Éanna Clancy, Reece Hutchinson (Daniel Lafferty 90), Nando Pijnaker; Kailin Barlow (Niall Morahan 82), Greg Bolger (Stefan Radosavljevic 59), Lukas Browning, William Fitzgerald, Frank Liivak (Fabrice Hartmann 59); Max Mata.

Subs not used: Richard Brush, James Finnerty, John Mahon, David Cawley, Karl O'Sullivan.

Booked: None.

Referee: Ray Matthews.

Attendance: 716

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) February 24, 2023