KF Teuta DurrësDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 August 2021 | 8:00 pm | UEFA Conference League | 2021/22 |
Match Report
17-year old Emakhu delivers Rovers win on Euro debut
17-year old Aidomo Emakhu, scored on his European debut, as Shamrock Rovers were 1-0 winners over KF Teuta Durreës, in tonight’s third round qualifier for the Europa Conference League at Tallaght Stadium.
Neither side managed to find the breakthrough for most of the tie, half chances coming in as Rovers looked the better of the two sides. Deep in stoppage time we had the winner, as Emakhu showed a strikers knowledge to get in space and fire home.
The Hoops found it difficult to break down the visitors, the Albanian side playing a very defensive orientated setup, not allowing Rovers much time on the ball and constantly having players back to cover.
Daniel Mandroiu had the opening chance of the game, the forward receiving the ball in the area, and firing a low shot at goal, but his shot was easily saved by Stivi Frasheri, in the Teuta Net.
The first half was uneventful when the referee blew his whistle, as Mandroiu was the only player on the pitch who had threatened with a goal bound effort.
Lee Grace looked to have scored the opener in the 51st minute, the defender getting his head on an inswinging corner, but the effort was straight at the goalkeeper. Minutes later Dylan Watts went down in the penalty area, but the referee waved away all protests.
The home side had the better of possession and chances in the second half, Richie Towell hitting two efforts toward goal, neither found the target however, with one flying just over the crossbar from a volley outside the box.
Stephen Bradley looked to his bench for a change in proceedings, the Hoops manager making five second half changes. It would be his last and youngest substitute, that would be the difference for the side.
With just over a minute of added time elapsed at the end of the half, Mandroiu played a ball into the box from the ride hand side, the young 17 year old Aidomo Emakhu, playing in his European debut at Tallaght Stadium, reacting quickest and hitting a shot at goal, to beat Frasheri.
Timeline
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.
The young forward getting his name on the score sheet in his European debut, he shows great strikers instinct to be on hand to tap home from close range
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL EMAKHUUUUUUUUU
Double sub for Rovers, Finn and Gaffney come off for Sean Gannon and Aidomo Emakhu
Aaron Greene comes in for Richie Towell
Double Sub for Rovers, Kavanagh and Burke come in for Gary O'Neill and Joey O'Brien
The visitors make their first changes of the night, opting for a double change
Dylan Watts goes down in the area but the referee does not look at it and waves play on
Great chance for Rovers, Lee Grace meets a corner kick, but his header goes straight at the keeper, a couple inches either side and we could have seen the opener
First yellow of the game goes to the visitors, as their number 14 goes into the book for a rough tackle
First shot on target for Rovers, Daniel Mandroiu gets the ball in the area and fires at goal but his shot is easily saved
A pretty uneventful opening 10 minutes in Tallaght, both sides appearing to see what the other is made of before creating any chances
Ten years on from their historic qualification in the Europa League, Rovers are 270 potential minutes away from reaching the group stages of Europa Conference league, a big 90 minutes could set them up nicely for the return leg in Albania next week
While Rovers field a strong starting side, their bench has some phenomenal talent to call upon, with Aaron Greene, Graham Burke and Brandon Kavanagh providing attacking intent, while Sean Gannon and Sean Hoare can come on to lock up the defence, veteran Chris McCann is also on the bench, with youngsters Max Murphy and Aidomo Emakhu both aiming to impress if given the chance
Looking at the Rovers team tonight, Rory Gaffney will lead the line up top, Gary O'Neill partners Dylan Watts in central midfield, Ronan Finn & Liam Scales provide width as the wing backs, while Richie Towell plays a more advanced role in the attack. No place for Graham Burke who is named amongst the substitutes.
You are very welcome to a sunny Tallaght Stadium, for tonights third qualifying round in the Europa Conference League, as Shamrock Rovers take on KF Teuta Durrës with a 8pm kick off. My name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will bring you live updates for tonights game.