1 v 0 
Shamrock RoversVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 November 2022 | 5:45 pm | UEFA Conference League | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Shamrock Rovers defeated by Djurgardens in final UECL game
Magnus Eriksson's well-worked finish saw Group F winners Djurgardens end their UEFA Europa Conference League group unbeaten after a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers at Tele2 Arena.
The visitors almost conceded after 40 seconds, but for a goal-saving challenge by Roberto Lopes to deny Joel Asoro in the box.
Gustav Wikheim caused havoc throughout on the flank and on a better day Asoro could've had a six-minute brace - instead, Shamrock defenders scampered his shot to safety.
Jack Byrne produced a great inswinging delivery from a free-kick but had no teammates latching onto his cross. That lack of attacking aggression rather typified a frustrating display by the visitors.
Multiple stoppages in play for niggling injuries and knocks didn't stop the hosts from fashioning a beautiful passage of play leading to the opener after 19 minutes.
Rasmus Schüller and Wikheim both played a key role in the build-up - the ball found Karl Holmberg in the box, who unselfishly teed up Eriksson to slot underneath Leon Pohls.
It almost went from bad to worse for the Hoops, who cheaply relinquished possession in midfield as their defensive-minded 5-2-3 formation was again being exploited.
Without players in space to allow them a reprieve, retaining the ball nor relieving pressure, they could've been three or four goals down at half-time.
Wikheim's slick control proved too sharp for Daniel Cleary, who was hooked at half-time after struggling to deal with the Norwegian. He wasn't the only one.
Neil Farrugia was the Hoops' biggest threat in the final third, cutting inside and advancing past multiple players on a handful of occasions without reward.
Richie Towell forced Jacob Zetterström into a save but was offside, before Rory Gaffney somehow missed a great opportunity to equalise with the first-half's final kick in stoppage-time.
Though the angles weren't in his favour as the loose ball fell to his feet, he blazed wide at the near post. That proved this encounter was far from over, but they needed a better second-half response.
For a side who only scored once in five group games - the competition's lowest tally across all group stage teams - Stephen Bradley's men came out with intent after the interval.
Sean Hoare, Towell, and Farrugia all threatened with opportunities as they managed to establish a foothold in the game, a far cry from a timid first-half showing.
It was clear though that their hosts were in third or fourth gear and while uncomfortable, weathered the storm well to maintain their slender advantage.
Pohls made a big stop to deny substitute Emmanuel Banda in a one-on-one chance after watching his backline split open rather easily as the high line was dismantled by two probing passes.
Then, the Zambian international glanced a header inches over the crossbar with the second-choice goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Roberto Lopes - Shamrock's best performer on the night, stopped the hosts doubling their lead in stoppage time with a vital interception after Pohls rushed off his line to thwart a counter-attack from seemingly nothing.
Between him and Lee Grace, Rovers lost possession once more with their goalkeeper caught in no man's land. Lopes, tenacious in the tackle and everywhere defensively, made an important interception.
They had a corner up the other end in their final chance of the evening, but they couldn't send the travelling supporters home happy despite an improved showing as time wore on.
An eventful campaign ends away at UCD on Sunday evening but given their domestic dominance, it'll be interesting to see how Bradley and his coaching staff debrief this underwhelming group stage campaign with a view to 2023.
They collectively need to defend better against stronger sides who can apply creative pressure on them, and the 5-3-2 formation has its flaws in that regard.
Timeline
| 7. Magnus Eriksson | 19' | |
| 26' | 6. Daniel Cleary | |
| Marcus Danielson Jesper Löfgren | 46' | |
| 46' | Daniel Cleary Sean Gannon | |
| 65' | Richie Towell Simon Power | |
| Joel Asoro Haris Radetinac | 68' | |
| Magnus Eriksson Emmanuel Banda | 68' | |
| 70' | 29. Jack Byrne | |
| 75' | 2. Sean Gannon | |
| 77' | Rory Gaffney Aaron Greene | |
| Gustav Wikheim Albion Ademi | 80' | |
| Karl Holmberg Victor Edvardsen | 80' | |
| 86' | Sean Hoare Ronan Finn | |
| 86' | Gary O'Neill Viktor Serdeniuk | |
| 6. Rasmus Schüller | 87' | |
| 11. Albion Ademi | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Matchday 1)
0 - 0UEFA Conference League
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers v Djurgardens IF |
Ground
| Tele2 Arena |
|---|
| Tele2 Arena, Skeppartunneln, Johanneshov, Enskede-Årsta-Vantörs stadsdelsområde, Stockholms kommun, Stockholm County, 121 26, Sweden |
Mosope Ominiyi
Mosope Ominiyi is a freelance sports journalist and sub-editor with over a decade's worth of experience, having graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons degree at Staffordshire University. His work has appeared in The Times, MailOnline and Sportskeeda, among other platforms.
Shamrock Rovers should take heart from their second-half display here and have lessons to learn if they're to be more competitive in Europe over the coming seasons. Stay tuned to the site for my full match report and reaction ahead of another busy football weekend. Thanks for joining me tonight, I've been Mosope Ominiyi, goodnight.
FT: Djurgardens 1-0 Shamrock Rovers. Yes, it was! Group F winners earn a hard-fought victory in the end, after a timid first-half and spirited second by their visitors - who had nothing to lose and improved as time wore on.
A dangerous Shamrock Rovers corner is well-defended, was that their final hurrah?
Lopes to the rescue! Pohls charges off his line and briefly stops a counter-attack, only for them to relinquish possession again with their goalkeeper in no man's land. Fortunately though, embarrassment avoided with a timely interception. Still 1-0, time in short supply.
The fourth official signals for five minutes' stoppage-time to be played. Can the Hoops snatch a late equaliser, or will their hosts hold out?
Schuller gives away a free-kick on the edge of the box and reacts angrily after being booked - his response is probably because he knows he'll now miss the first leg of their last-32 clash as a result of card accumulation. Byrne's ball into the box poses more questions of the Djurgardens' backline but a hopeful effort flashes well wide.
Double change for the Hoops: Ronan Finn and Viktor Serdeniuk on for Sean Hoare and Gary O'Neill.
CLOSE! Banda produces a glancing header from the subsequent corner which flashes inches over the crossbar and onto the side netting, an effort which left Pohls rooted to the spot.
Hoare makes an important block as Banda threatens on the edge of the area, predictably there are some tired legs out there now.
Double change for Djurgardens now: an elusive Wikheim and the man who assisted their opener receive a warm round of applause, being replaced by Ademi and Edvardsen for the final ten minutes plus any stoppages.
Gannon was booked moments before that change, for dissent after arguing the toss... having caught a Djugardens player with a high boot, while accidental, square in the face from a Shamrock Rovers corner.
Aaron Greene replaces Rory Gaffney next, who will be kicking himself after squandering that stoppage-time chance in the first-half.
BIG SAVE! Pohls keeps the visitors in the contest, staying strong and firm to deny sub Emmanuel Banda in a one-on-one chance as their backline is breached - as a direct consequence of playing a high line.
Gannon shows great anticipation and awareness to shut down Wikheim quickly as he edges towards the box, looked in two minds about what he was going to do there.
Wikheim gets another Shamrock Rovers player booked, this time Byrne near the touchline - who angrily remonstrates, as does his manager, both are carded.
Asoro, who moments ago just won a free-kick in a dangerous area, is one of two players coming off in a double change for Djurgardens. The experienced Haris Radetinac - their matchwinner on Monday - gets some more European minutes. Goalscorer and captain Eriksson is also being replaced now, with Emmanuel Banda on for him.
Richie Towell off, Simon Power on in his place - the midfielder gets a warm reception from the travelling Shamrock Rovers fans.
Zetterström punches clear from a dangerous ball, but the referee blows his whistle - presumably for offside - and Djurgardens can advance once more. Feels like they're just going through the gears right now though.
Farrugia wins a corner after darting into the box and forcing more defensive attention near the byline, but his one-footedness has really become apparent in situations like these.
Towell is next to test Zetterström, this time from distance after a driving run forward by Blackpool-bound Lyons. He initially fumbles the strike but holds it - this is better from Shamrock Rovers.
Hoare has a well-struck shot comfortably held by Zetterström, after another dizzying run into the box by Farrugia in the build-up again asks questions of the hosts' backline.
Kick-off! A defensive change at the half for both: Jesper Löfgren replaces the injured Marcus Danielson, while Sean Gannon is on for Dan Cleary - who got a silly booking for the tug on Wikheim earlier.
HT: Djurgardens 1-0 Shamrock Rovers. The hosts could be three or four up, such has been the Hoops' timid nature for sustained periods. They ended the half strongly though and while the angles weren't in his favour, Rory Gaffney somehow just missed a golden chance to equalise in stoppage-time at the near post. Still not over.
The fourth official signals there will be three minutes of stoppage-time to end this half, and that doesn't feel like enough in truth. Right as I say that, Danielson's back down on the turf and looks resigned to coming off.
Another brief stoppage in play, this time after a rare Shamrock Rovers passage of possession. Gaffney hangs a cross in the area, Zetterström comes out to collect and gets a whack for his troubles in mid-air.
Lopes has been Shamrock Rovers' best player so far tonight and again, he covers ground quickly to slide and clear the danger out for a throw-in as Wikheim ghosts past his man, darting down the flank once more.
Farrugia cuts inside and dances past multiple players, but Towell's offside as the ball falls to him - goalkeeper Zetterström wasn't to know - and the midfielder forces a save into the sky before the linesman's flag goes up for offside. They need more of that creative impetus, it's been too ponderous!
Play resumes and now I'm hearing a genuine conversation about Rovers' lack of preparation for playing this match on a 4G pitch surface. Given how timid they've been in possession, would it really have mattered much?
Richie Towell's now down in agony and receiving treatment after an accidental collision with Gary O'Neill as both looked to chase a loose ball in midfield.
A tweet from the official Shamrock Rovers account reads: "The Hoops are soaking up pressure but when in possession, are looking for pockets of space to spark an attack." They're being outworked and swarmed here.
Wikheim too quick, too sharp for Daniel Cleary down the far side - the defender doesn't mask his cynical tug back on the midfielder and leaves the referee no choice but to book him. Due to card accumulation, I'm told he'll be suspended for Shamrock Rovers' first European game next season as a result.
It's almost two goals in three minutes for Djurgardens after Shamrock Rovers relinquish possession rather cheaply in midfield, but a let-off. Sounds obvious with their 5-2-3 formation but they're too defensive-minded and haven't got ample targets to allow them a reprieve, retaining the ball nor relieving pressure.
The hosts are ahead and a super well-worked move breaks the deadlock, with Schuller and Wikheim among those playing a key role during the build-up. The ball finds its way to Holmberg in the area, he unselfishly tees up Magnus Eriksson alongside him - who calmly slots it through Leon Pohls' legs. 1-0 to Djurgardens!
GOAL! DJURGARDENS OPEN THE SCORING, A BEAUTIFUL FINISH!
Andy Lyons wins a cheap free-kick after Asoro is baited into challenging him, Byrne's subsequent cross goalwards floats past his teammates though and goalkeeper Jacob Zetterström has an easy catch.
Another stoppage now as Djurgardens centre-back Marcus Danielson appears to have got his foot stuck in the turf, lands awkwardly and his knee took the brunt of that pain. He's okay to continue, for now.
Play resumes with a Shamrock Rovers inswinging free-kick, Jack Byrne produces a great delivery! However, the danger is averted for a corner and the hosts clear their lines.
The referee calls for a stoppage in play now and signals for the physios to enter the fray, as a Djurgardens player is down on the turf writhing in pain - Holmberg landed awkwardly after an off-the-ball clash with Lopes.
Gustav Wikheim causes havoc with a marauding run down the flank, creates space to fizz a ball into the box and after an initial mishap in defensive communication Shamrock - unconvincingly - clear their lines.
Kick-off! Shamrock Rovers almost concede! Fortunately, Roberto Lopes makes a goal-saving challenge 40 seconds into action as Joel Asoro - once of Sunderland and Swansea - bares down on goal intently.
Four changes for the hosts from the side who recovered to topple Molde on MD5 - with Hjalmar Ekdal, Elias Andersson, Magnus Eriksson and Karl Holmberg being brought into the fold.
The two sets of players are walking out of the tunnel and kick-off is fast approaching. With that last comment in mind, it'll be interesting to see how Shamrock Rovers start this away encounter - timid or tenacious?
A reminder of what head coach Stephen Bradley said, pre-Djurgarden tonight: "We felt that we could have won it [the reverse fixture], but Djurgarden will be a different proposition in this stadium on their home pitch. We know it's a difficult game, but don't have to save ourselves for anything - we can have a right go."
Shamrock Rovers appear to be deploying a 5-2-3 formation, with Farrugia and Lyons operating as wingbacks. Rory Gaffney - who was their matchwinner against Derry on Sunday - leads the line again, flanked by Towell and Byrne.
The players are warming up inside the Tele2 Arena, less than 20 minutes until kick-off now.
Some fan reactions to the Djurgardens team news include buzz words like ranking points and a monetary win bonus for finishing as group winners. They'll receive €650,000 for winning their group, while an extra €500k is up for grabs should they prevail tonight.
For some pre-match reading, check out my match preview in the article tab before it's replaced by the live commentary prompt. Team line-ups for both are filtering through too, check the line-ups tab for that!
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to tonight's live minute-by-minute commentary, as Shamrock Rovers look to end their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign with victory in Sweden this evening. They play Group F winners Djurgardens, with prize money the biggest motivator for both in a dead rubber - kick-off at 5.45pm.