Flora Tallinn 0 - 0 Shamrock Rovers
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
A draw away to Flora Tallinn was enough to see Shamrock Rovers progress to the third qualifying round of the Champions League, where they will meet Danish champions FC Copenhagen.
Rovers went in to the match with a 1-0 lead on aggregate from the first leg in Tallaght and had to be careful not to concede in Flora's Le Coq Arena. In truth though, the Hoops were vastly superior and never looked like giving a goal away. They were somewhat unlucky not to score in a match they dominated.
The champions of Ireland came close to scoring twice within the opening ten minutes. After just three minutes Billy Dennehy shot wide in space after the ball was worked in to the Flora box from a free-kick. Five minutes later, Flora failed to clear the ball away after it was lofted in towards Dean Kelly. An awkward header allowed Kelly to have a shot, which was put out for a corner- from which Chris Turner's free header fell just wide.
The Hoops dictated the game for large parts of the first half. Their high defensive line caused Flora to panic when it pushed up, with the Estonian league leaders forced to clear the ball aimlessly away on several occasions. The hosts were reduced to taking long-range shots, with both Nikolai Masitev and Estonian international Henri Anier shooting miles over on separate occasions.
But they did worry Alan Mannus on a few occasions, with Sergei Mosnikov shooting just wide from 30 yards out on 14 minutes. Flora's approach play often looked threatening but their shooting was generally poor. Ronan Finn had a great chance for Rovers on 21 minutes, scuffing his shot wide inside the Flora box. Enda Stevens had put a good cross in from the left for Gary Twigg, who headed it down for Finn.
Dean Kelly worked hard on the attack and went close himself on a few occasions. The pick of them, on 25 minutes, saw the former Oldham player cut inside from the wing and evade two markers before shooting just over. Flora looked most threatening from set-pieces, with Alan Mannus punching an in-swinging free-kick clear on 42 minutes. Two minutes in to added time, Flora appealed for a handball after a corner was drafted in, but the Macedonian referee didn't award it, allowing Gary Twigg to race forward and shoot harmlessly wide.
Rovers always looked comfortable and were happy to keep the match at a relatively slow pace in the second half. Neither side really upped the tempo, with Flora having very few clear chances. Dean Kelly turned on the ball just on the edge of the Flora box on 54 minutes but shot just over. Defender Pat Sullivan dominated in the air for Rovers, with Gary Twigg doing a similar job offensively.
Ken Oman had to head a dangerous-looking cross out of the Hoops box after 66 minutes, but the vast majority of the attacking was done on the Flora Tallinn goal. Dean Kelly went close again on 70 minutes, making space for himself well before shooting wide from about 30 yards. Chris Turner had another chance five minutes later- shooting high and wide after running on to the ball inside the Flora box.
It seemed like a matter of time before Rovers would score, with chance after chance falling for Michael O'Neill's side in the final ten minutes. Another pinpoint cross from Enda Stevens found the head of Dean Kelly on 83 minutes, but Flora 'keeper Pedok pushed it wide. Flora had a free-kick yards from the Rovers penalty area on 90 minutes, but Anier put the shot well over. Rovers saw out the last few minutes without too much worry, sealing their meeting with FC Copenhagen in a few weeks time.
Flora Tallinn: Stanislav Pedok; Nikita Baranov, Markus Jorgenson, Gert Kams, Karl Palatu; Rauno Alliku [Alo Dupikov '10], Siim Luts, Nikolai Mashitsev [Meelis Peetre '84], Valeri Minkenen, Sergei Mosnikov [Zakaria Beglashvili '72]; Henri Anier.
Subs not used:x Hannes Anier, Andre Frolov, Alexei Jahhimovits, Aiko Orgla.
Yellow Cards:Henri Anier, Markus Jorgenson.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Pat Sullivan, Enda Stevens, Craig Sives, Ken Oman; Chris Turner [Stephen O'Donnell '82], Conor McCormack, Ronan Finn, Billy Dennehy; Dean Kelly, Gary Twigg.
Subs not used: Ryan Thompson, Stephen Rice, Dan Murray, Gary McCabe, Gary O'Neill, Ciaran Kilduff.
Yellow Cards: Enda Stevens, Chris Turner.
Referee: Dimitar Meckarovski (FYROM).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dean Kelly.
Rovers went in to the match with a 1-0 lead on aggregate from the first leg in Tallaght and had to be careful not to concede in Flora's Le Coq Arena. In truth though, the Hoops were vastly superior and never looked like giving a goal away. They were somewhat unlucky not to score in a match they dominated.
The champions of Ireland came close to scoring twice within the opening ten minutes. After just three minutes Billy Dennehy shot wide in space after the ball was worked in to the Flora box from a free-kick. Five minutes later, Flora failed to clear the ball away after it was lofted in towards Dean Kelly. An awkward header allowed Kelly to have a shot, which was put out for a corner- from which Chris Turner's free header fell just wide.
The Hoops dictated the game for large parts of the first half. Their high defensive line caused Flora to panic when it pushed up, with the Estonian league leaders forced to clear the ball aimlessly away on several occasions. The hosts were reduced to taking long-range shots, with both Nikolai Masitev and Estonian international Henri Anier shooting miles over on separate occasions.
But they did worry Alan Mannus on a few occasions, with Sergei Mosnikov shooting just wide from 30 yards out on 14 minutes. Flora's approach play often looked threatening but their shooting was generally poor. Ronan Finn had a great chance for Rovers on 21 minutes, scuffing his shot wide inside the Flora box. Enda Stevens had put a good cross in from the left for Gary Twigg, who headed it down for Finn.
Dean Kelly worked hard on the attack and went close himself on a few occasions. The pick of them, on 25 minutes, saw the former Oldham player cut inside from the wing and evade two markers before shooting just over. Flora looked most threatening from set-pieces, with Alan Mannus punching an in-swinging free-kick clear on 42 minutes. Two minutes in to added time, Flora appealed for a handball after a corner was drafted in, but the Macedonian referee didn't award it, allowing Gary Twigg to race forward and shoot harmlessly wide.
Rovers always looked comfortable and were happy to keep the match at a relatively slow pace in the second half. Neither side really upped the tempo, with Flora having very few clear chances. Dean Kelly turned on the ball just on the edge of the Flora box on 54 minutes but shot just over. Defender Pat Sullivan dominated in the air for Rovers, with Gary Twigg doing a similar job offensively.
Ken Oman had to head a dangerous-looking cross out of the Hoops box after 66 minutes, but the vast majority of the attacking was done on the Flora Tallinn goal. Dean Kelly went close again on 70 minutes, making space for himself well before shooting wide from about 30 yards. Chris Turner had another chance five minutes later- shooting high and wide after running on to the ball inside the Flora box.
It seemed like a matter of time before Rovers would score, with chance after chance falling for Michael O'Neill's side in the final ten minutes. Another pinpoint cross from Enda Stevens found the head of Dean Kelly on 83 minutes, but Flora 'keeper Pedok pushed it wide. Flora had a free-kick yards from the Rovers penalty area on 90 minutes, but Anier put the shot well over. Rovers saw out the last few minutes without too much worry, sealing their meeting with FC Copenhagen in a few weeks time.
Flora Tallinn: Stanislav Pedok; Nikita Baranov, Markus Jorgenson, Gert Kams, Karl Palatu; Rauno Alliku [Alo Dupikov '10], Siim Luts, Nikolai Mashitsev [Meelis Peetre '84], Valeri Minkenen, Sergei Mosnikov [Zakaria Beglashvili '72]; Henri Anier.
Subs not used:x Hannes Anier, Andre Frolov, Alexei Jahhimovits, Aiko Orgla.
Yellow Cards:Henri Anier, Markus Jorgenson.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Pat Sullivan, Enda Stevens, Craig Sives, Ken Oman; Chris Turner [Stephen O'Donnell '82], Conor McCormack, Ronan Finn, Billy Dennehy; Dean Kelly, Gary Twigg.
Subs not used: Ryan Thompson, Stephen Rice, Dan Murray, Gary McCabe, Gary O'Neill, Ciaran Kilduff.
Yellow Cards: Enda Stevens, Chris Turner.
Referee: Dimitar Meckarovski (FYROM).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dean Kelly.
About Niall Farrell
Niall Farrell is our correspondent at Tolka Park, covering the goings-on at Shelbourne. You can visit Niall's website for further information and contact details- niallf.net. View Full Profile