Ferencvaros hold all the aces as they take an early lead in the tie to Dublin, as Shamrock Rovers have a mountain to climb in the second leg, after defeat in Budapest this evening.

Early on it showed how tough an ordeal it would be against a European regular, they controlled the tempo forcing Rovers back and having very little to contend with at the other end.

Rovers will be happy with what the score reads going into the second leg, it could have been way worse, Alan Mannus came to their rescue but some wayward attempts also saved their blushes.

Ferencvaros dominated early in the tie, possession and attacking threat they looked comfortable. Ryan Mmaee came the closest early on after he hit a shot off the post in the eight-minute before Tokmac Nguen had an effort blocked minutes later to keep the game tied.

They did manage to lead early when Aïssa Laïdouni played a cross which was not dealt with all the way, falling to Carlos Auzqui to finish beyond Alan Mannus into the net, the door was being knocked before hand and they deservedly led after 13 minutes.

Mmaee should have doubled the hosts lead after 34 minutes, the Rovers backline not able to deal with the immediate danger, but his effort hit the post and went wide. Huge let off for Rovers as they were very much up against it after the first goal went in.

It was 2-0 a minute later, Mmaee this time turned provider to cross across the face of goal, where Adama Traore managed to tap home. Rovers were unable to clear the lines as Mannus just failed to get a hand to the ball.

Just as it looked like they made it 3-0 immediately after the second had gone in, Mannus got a strong hand to deny Mmaee from close range, he was being thwarted in front of goal but his attacking threat was causing issues.

Having taken a 2-0 deficit to the break, it looked like Rovers could get back into the tie and take something from the game. It was a nightmare start to the half as Sean Gannon’s clearance ended up as a beautiful pass to Traore, who finished from close range to add yet more woe for the Hoops.

For the remainder of the half Rovers had the back to the walls, Mannus was busy keeping the tie at 3-0, while chances were few at the other end, the goals just not coming for the Tallaght side, from nowhere deep in injury time Eldar Ćivić struck home from range, his effort deflecting through a host of bodies to deceive Mannus into the net.