0 v 1 
BreidablikVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 July 2023 | 7:45 pm | UEFA Champions League | 2023/24 |
Match Report
Rovers fall to Breidablik in Tallaght, work to do in Iceland
Breiðablik pulled off the upset in Tallaght as they defeated Shamrock Rovers 0-1 in their first leg of UEFA Champions League qualifiers, the Icelandic side’s high-octane style leaving The Hoops comfortably beat.
Rovers struggled for air in the first half as the visitors pinned them in their own half, centre-back Damir Muminovic breaking the deadlock in the 40th minute with an incredible strike from thirty yards out. From that point on Breiðablik saw the game out in assured fashion, as Stephen Bradley is left with a serious tactical headache in trying to figure out a strategy to turn the tie around next week.
The crowd in Tallaght were treated to an all-action first half, Breiðablik disregarding their status as outsiders and pushing the tempo of the game from the opening whistle.
The Kópavogur side routinely channelled their attacking output through Icelandic international Hoskur Gunnlaugsson who found plenty of joy against Sean Kavanagh on the right-hand flank.
The visitors poured the pressure on from set pieces in particular-winning a total of five corners in the opening 20 minutes, one nearly yielding a goal. It was Klaemint Olsen who was left virtually unmarked in the Rovers box and produced a powerful header that drew an acrobatic save from Leon Pohls, Pohls certainly putting doubts over his ability pre-game to bed with a hugely impressive first-half display.
Rovers opted for route one football when they got on the ball, understandable given how high the Breiðablik line was positioned and how many men they had committed forward. Yet the quality of passing from the likes of Dylan Watts and Markus Poom often left a lot to be desired, Rory Gaffney berating his midfield on multiple occasions over his lacklustre service.
Rovers’ best chance came as Jack Byrne took the ball on the half-turn and lifted a ball over the top for Gaffney to latch onto. Gaffney darted into the box and attempted to drill into a ball into the bottom left corner, Anton Einarsson getting down well to save.
As the minutes dwindled on the hosts never succeeded in getting the game under control and were punished when Breiðablik broke the deadlock in the 40th minute. A short free-kick saw centre-half Damir Muminovic catch the ball from 30 yards out-producing a fiery shot that blazed into the back of the net leaving Pohls no chance.
Bradley attempted to reinvigorate his misfiring attack in the second half, replacing Watts with Graham Burke but to avail. It was Breiðablik that looked the team with the higher European pedigree, expertly deflating the pace of the second half just as easily as they had ramped it up in the first.
Oskar Thorvaldsson’s side retained the ball with ease and held their shape with great discipline, his players also happily indulging in the dark arts as they spent a healthy amount of time on the floor whenever they went to ground.
Sean Kavanagh had a golden opportunity to draw his side level in the dying embers of the game as the full-back caught the ball on the left side of the box and found himself one on one with Einarsson. Kavanagh just got under the ball too much as his shot blasted over the bar and squandered the chance to bring the tie level.
As the game drew out to his conclusion Stephen Bradley is left with just seven days to figure out a way to break down an opponent that clearly got the better of his side this evening.
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Alex Cunningham
Alex is a second-year Journalism student at DCU. As well as being a soccer enthusiast, he's also an avid athletics fan, competing in the sport for over ten years.
Full-time: Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Breiðablik.
Five minutes of added time to be played in Tallaght.
Sean Kavanagh misses a golden opportunity to draw level! He catches the ball on the left side of the box and finds himself one on one with the keeper, the full back getting under the ball far too much as he blasts his shot over the bar.
Breidablik now enjoying a lot more joy going forward having looked to survive everything Rovers have been able to muster up.
Goal-scorer Muminovic is replaced by Amor Adalsteinsson, Sigurjonsson off for Sigudarson.
Ronan Finn comes off for Richie Towell.
Svanthorsson goes off for Agust Hlynsson.
Breiðablik have done a very good job so far of sucking any pace out of this game-in direct contradiction to the the first half. Plenty of time spent on the ground by their players when they go down but they've also retained possession extremely well.
First change for Bradley as he looks to fix this misfiring Rovers' attack-Graham Burke comes on for Watts.
Rovers look to have got a more pep in their step coming out into the second half, but are struggling to produce that killer pass for a clear cut chance.
The action's back underway in Tallaght!
Half-time in Tallaght: Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Breiðablik.
One minute of added time to be played in Tallaght.
Goal! A free kick for Breiðablik sees a short ball played to Damir Muminovic who produces a fiery effort from 25 yars out, leaving Leon Pohls with no chance as his shot blazes into the back of the net!
Breiðablik spending more and more time in Rovers' third, the hosts really struggling to get the game under control as Breiðablik continue to probe at Pohls' goal.
Rovers look to be struggling to break quickly, attempting to play route one football-understandable given Breiðablik\'s high line. Yet the passes have rarely been successful, as Rory Gaffney berates Sean Hoare over a wayward pass that went straight to the hands of Anton Einarsson.
Breiðablik still putting Rovers under pressure however, winning their fifth corner of the game so far.
It's been a frantic opening 20 minutes, Shamrock Rovers having eventually steeled after a rocky start. Watts attempts to curl a shot into the top corner from 30 yards out but sees his shot fizzle over the crossbar.
Gaffney nearly pulls Rovers ahead! Byrne lifts a ball over an extremely high Breiðablik backline as Gaffney breaks on through. Gaffney darts into the box and tries to drill the ball into the bottom corner, Anton Einarsson getting down well to save.
Dylan Watts shifts on to his left foot inside the Breiðablik box and flashes his shot over the bar.
A big chance for Breiðablik! Klaemint Olsen rises from the corner and produces a powerful header that forces an excellent save from Leon Pohls in net! Uncomfortable scenes for Rovers early on...
Jason Svanthorsson picks up the ball in the midfield and weaves past Kavanagh and Markus Poom. The midfielder drills a cross into the box and is blocked by Pico Lopes who sends the ball out for a corner.
Five minutes in and the game's shaping up to be an end-to-end affair-Breiðablik enjoying plenty of the ball so far channelling plenty of their attack through captain Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson, who's so far getting the better of Sean Kavanagh on the right flank.
Rovers get the action underway here in Tallaght!
Bookies place Shamrock Rovers as favourites for the tie-Bet365 and William Hill placing each side at 11/8 and 7/2 respectively.
A big boost for Rovers as both Jack Byrne and Gary O'Neill come back into the starting XI after stints on the rehab table. Byrne drops in the pocket behind Rory Gaffney up top, while O'Neill anchors a midfield three with Dylan Watts and Markus Poom. Ronan Finn replaces Darragh Nugent at right wing-back. Breiðablik are without top scorer Stefan Ingi Sigurdarson, but still remain capable team going forward-Iceland's starting right back Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson is on the team sheet and has notched eight assists so far this season.
Rory Gaffney will be expected to lead the line for The Hoops this evening, boasting five goals to his name in a total of 18 European games played, the Tuam striker relishing the opportunity to bolster that tally further. “Yeah I’m really looking forward to it I suppose it’s why we worked so hard last week so we can enjoy nights like tomorrow,” Gaffney said. “We’ve watched videos of them over the weekend but you never really know what they’re like until you get out there and the game kicks off an you figure out what you’re up against."
Rovers come into the game in lukewarm form, their last two games ending in a 0-2 defeat to Dundalk and a goalless draw against Drogheda. Speaking ahead of the game, manager Stephen Bradley acknowledged beating Breiðablik won't be easy. “We’ve watched them quite a lot obviously and got to see them live last week and we know they’re a very good side with real dangers all over the pitch, so we know it’s going to be a difficult game but one we feel we can win over two legs," he said. “Hopefully it’s a sold-out Tallaght and we can make it as hard as possible for them, and like I said they’re a good side but if we’re at our levels it’s a difficult place for anyone to come and play and hopefully we can sell it out tomorrow night and make it a very difficult place to come and play.”
Evening folks and welcome along to tonight's match coverage of Shamrock Rovers vs Breiðablik. It's the first leg of the Uefa Champions League Qualifiers, The Hoops squaring off against the Icelandic champions in a bid to progress through and face FC Copenhagen in the next round.