Details

Date Time League Season
26 August 2021 7:45 pm UEFA Conference League 2021/22

Match Report

Rovers out as Flora make Estonian Euro history

Shamrock Rovers couldn’t overcome their two goal first leg deficit, as they lost 1-0 against Flora Tallinn, in the Europa Conference League play-off second leg this evening.

The Hoops struggled to break down a compact visitors’ midfield and defence, who restricted them to long-range efforts.

After the break, Stephen Bradley pushed his team on, but a Flora counter attack made it 2-5 on aggregate, as Rauno Sappinen’s strike crept under Alan Mannus.

The Estonian side started the better, with direct passing proving an issue for the Rovers centre-halves.

However, with time came confidence for Bradley’s men. Aaron Greene had the first chance of the game as he peeled off the centre-half onto the left side of the box. Dylan Watts picked him out expertly with a long-range pass, but Greene could only fizz a shot wide.

Ronan Finn stung the palms of Flora ‘keeper Matvei Igonen, and Greene later missed a chance to meet a Graham Burke pull-back in the box. In spite of the Hoops efforts, the scores were level at the break.

With goals desperately needed, Rovers tried pushing up to put the Tallinn side under pressure. Unfortunately, the sucker punch came. A loose pass from Danny Mandroiu allowed Konstantin Vasiljev to break into space down the right. The 37-year-old picked out the run of Sappinen, who’s shot lacked power, but a mistake from Mannus meant the back of the net bulged.

Shortly after, the kitchen sink was thrown at the game, with Richie Towell and Rory Gaffney entering the fray. They would combine a Towell had the best chance of the game for the hosts. Gaffney whipped in a cross, it was knocked down by Greene, but Towell could only fire his volley straight at the ‘keeper from in close.

It was European heartbreak for the Hoops, defeated just one step before the group stage. For Flora though, this is the first time an Estonian team has ever reached a European group stage.

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus Goalkeeper
3Sean Hoare 2 Defender
4Roberto Lopes Defender
7Dylan Watts 20 Midfielder
8Ronan Finn Midfielder
9Aaron Greene Forward
10Graham Burke Forward
14Daniel Mandriou 17 Midfielder
15Liam Scales Defender
16Gary O’Neill Midfielder
28Joey O’Brien Defender
25Leon Pohls Goalkeeper
2Sean Gannon 3 Defender 52'
17Richie Towell 14 Midfielder
20Rory Gaffney 7 Forward
24Max Murphy Midfielder
26Chris McCann Midfielder
29Dylan Duffy Midfielder
  • Full Time: Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Flora Tallinn. 2-5 Agg.

  • 90'

    Three added minutes.

  • 87'

    Liam Scales nearly scores on his final Hoops appearance. The 'keeper is equal to his header, and it seems the game is well and truly over.

  • 85'

    After the Towell chance, Rovers are still struggling to create anything meaningful. The passing is pedestrian and attacks are being easily rebuffed.

  • 80'

    Richie Towell has the best chance of the game, as Gaffney whips in a cross, it's knocked down by Greene, and Towell fires a volley straight at the goalkeeper from close in.

  • 79'

    Bradley's changes have created a doughnut shape of players for Rovers, everyone is out on the fringes of the pitch, but no one is in the middle. This is making it hard for them to play out from the back, or get any meaningful progression up the pitch.

  • 75'

    O'Brien causes a problem for Mannus with a poor back pass. Zenjov is rushing in on goal, but the Hoops 'keeper gets a foot in to clear the ball.

  • 72'

    Flora break and Lilander lets one rip from the right side of the box. It sails well over the bar.

  • 70'

    The Hoops are trying to get the ball forward quickly, but they look ragged and rushed when they do. Rory Gaffney has threatened with a couple of runs into the left channel, but he hasn't found the final ball.

  • 66'

    Stephen Bradley is throwing everything at this, understandably. However, the midfield is looking very light now, with players pushed forward into attacking areas.

  • 62'

    Mandroiu and Watts are off for Rovers.

  • 62'

    Gaffney and Towell are on for Rovers.

  • 61'

    The Hoops now have half an hour to get three goals, and even taller order. Flora sat in and broke when the time came, and Rovers weren't prepared.

  • 58'

    Goal Flora. Mandroiu gives the ball away poorly. Vasiljev breaks away and plays in Sappinen, who's tame effort somehow sneaks under Mannus and in.

  • 56'

    Rovers are pushing higher and higher in an attempt to put the visitors under pressure. Liam Scales whips a cross across the face of goal, but Watts can't get a touch on it.

  • 53'

    Graham Burke is scythed down by Ojamaa, and the Estonian winger gets a yellow card.

  • 52'

    A committed tackle from Gannon results in the defender picking up a yellow card.

  • 49'

    A scramble in the box ensues as Greene pulls away down the right and tries a pull-back. Neither Burke or Mandroiu can get a shot away though.

  • 47'

    Mannus has some early work to do as Zenjov has a crack after cutting inside from the right. It's an easy save for the Hoops 'keeper.

  • 46'

    The second-half gets underway! Two goals needed for Rovers to force extra time.

  • Half-time Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Flora Tallinn. 2-4 Agg.

  • 45'

    One added minute.

  • 44'

    Vassiljev offers some threat late on in the first half with a one-two, followed up by a drilled shot. Lopes gets a foot out to block the powerful attempt.

  • 42'

    Rovers have been threatening, without having a gilt-edged chance. They'll need to get greater numbers forward in the second half, and improve their delivery.

  • 37'

    Fantastic defending from Gannon to cover for Lopes as he gets pulled across by a Flora passing move. Ojamaa was rushing in, but Gannon zipped in to nick the ball away.

  • 35'

    Watts whips a peach of a ball into the box from a wide free-kick. The issue, there's no one there to get on the end of it.

  • 33'

    Sean Gannon is on for Rovers.

  • 33'

    Sean Hoare is off for Rovers after picking up an injury.

  • 29'

    Danny Mandroiu is having trouble with his hip, but was able to take a shot from distance. However, it was too high, and didn't threaten the Flora goal.

  • 28'

    Sappinen turned Lopes very easily before having a shot from a tight angle. The finish is poor, but that didn't look good from Lopes.

  • 27'

    Burke has a pop from distance, it takes a deflection and loops into the 'keeper's arms.

  • 22'

    Greene can't quite get onto the end of a Burke pull back, so close. If he'd got a good touch then it surely would have been a certain goal.

  • 21'

    Aaron Greene got in behind after Lilander misjudged a long ball. Greene couldn't quite pull away to get a shot or pass off, and the centre-back came in with a strong challenge.

  • 17'

    After a shaky start from the hosts, they appear to have got their mojo back. If a goal comes soon, anything could happen.

  • 14'

    Fantastic improvement for Rovers. Finn stings the palms of the 'keeper, and then moments later Burke has his shot parried away for a corner.

  • 12'

    First proper chance for either team, Aaron Greene peels off the centre-half onto the left side of the box, Watts picks him out and he fizzes a shot wide.

  • 10'

    A better spell of possession, with quicker passing, ends with Watts playing a cross into no one. A disappointing end to the move, but an improvement.

  • 8'

    The Hoops look a bit lethargic and slow on the ball in the opening stages. On the other hand, Flora look dangerous, direct and powerful.

  • 5'

    The Rovers fans are creating quite the atmosphere, despite the limited capacity. Fantastic to hear for fans watching from home, and also for the players.

  • 4'

    Zenjov causes Scales some problems with a run in behind. The defender does well to recover and block the cross. The visitors are looking dangerous so far though.

  • 1'

    Ronan Finn has the first sighter, as the ball drops to him on the volley. The strike is well over the bar though.

  • 1'

    And we're off! Rovers have the fans cheering them on and creating an atmosphere.

  • 30-year-old winger Henrik Ojamaa certainly has an interesting career behind him, and a lot of experience at varying levels. He played for 13 different teams, including Swindon and Motherwell, before returning to his boyhood club (Flora) at the start of the 2021/22 season.

  • It's fair to say that Flora manager Jürgen Henn has more to look to from the bench. The visitors have 11 subs to choose from, where as Rovers only have seven.

  • It's going to take quite the effort for Bradley's men to overturn the two goal deficit from the first leg. Number 10 Martin Miller will once again be starting in midfield for the visitors, he scored twice in the last game.

  • Stephen Bradley makes two changes to the side that lost 4-2 away in the first leg. Towell and Gaffney are out. Mandroiu and Greene are in.

  • Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Shamrock Rovers vs Flora Tallinn, in the Europa Conference League Play-off second leg. I'm Jon Parkin, and I will be covering this evening's game.

Past Meetings

(Play Off)
4 - 2
UEFA Conference League
A. Le Coq Arena

Flora Tallinn v Shamrock Rovers

Ground

Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W

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