2 v 1 
LudogoretsVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 July 2022 | 8:00 pm | UEFA Champions League | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Shamrock Rovers eliminated from UCL despite strong performance against Ludogorets
Despite defeating Ludogorets 2-1 at the Tallaght Stadium, Shamrock Rovers were eliminated from the Champions League tonight on aggregate.
On another night, if their chances had been converted, they might have gone and won this match. The Hoops had a chance to dare to dream after Aaron Greene's goal in the first half, but despite numerous chances, it wasn’t until a late goal from Aidomo Emakhu that really give the home side some belief. Ludogorets let their poor behaviour get the better of them, going down to ten men after Manuel Cafumana was sent out that Rovers could not capitalise as Cauly Souza late goal for the away side sealed the tie.
When Graham Burke was chasing Richie Towell's brilliant long ball deep into the Ludogorets defence, Rovers showed they were taking the game to the opposition. However, Padt came off his line to snuff out the opportunity. Richie Towell attempted to toe poke the ball home at the back post after a fantastic direct play from Gary O'Neill to Ronan Finn, but his attempt hit the side netting.
Rovers got their opening goal as Andy Lyons crossed the ball for Graham Burke, whose header was well saved, but it fell to Aaron Greene at the near post, who blasted it into the roof of the net.
The pressure on the Bulgarian defence intensified as Towell's well-placed shot narrowly missed the target due to a shaky defensive clearance following an original Andy Lyons cross. It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Bernard Tekpetey strung the gloves of Shamrock Rovers keeper Alan Mannus with a well-taken strike on the edge of the area.
It got better for the home side as Manuel Cafumana was given a red card in the second half after a clumsy challenge earned him a second yellow and reduced Ludogorets to ten men. This gave Rovers the drive to push on with a well-placed free kick, Graham Burke continued to put Padt to the test, and Lee Grace tried to put his name on the scoresheet but his curling attempt went over the crossbar.
When Burke fed Towell, who then fell under contact from a Karninik just outside the area, Shamrock Rovers appeared to have squandered an opportunity to score once again. The referee gave the Rovers midfielder a yellow card for the incident which left Towell unimpressed. As the game progressed and opened up, Alex Santana was given more opportunities to punish Rovers, but Alan Mannus matched him every time. Emakhu, a second-half replacement, pounced onto a Rory Gaffney pass and scored Shamrock Rovers' second, but the joy and hope for the game side were brief.
In the following attack, Cauly Souza scored to seal the tie. The Bulgarians had to be clinical with a deft one-two as Souza slipped it past Mannus to guarantee progression.
Timeline
| 9. Aaron Greene | 20' | |
| 24' | 23. Manuel Cafumana | |
| 39' | 37. Bernard Tekpetey | |
| 46' | Kiril Despodov Rick | |
| 46' | Bernard Tekpetey Spas Delev | |
| 51' | 23. Manuel Cafumana | |
| 54' | 73. Rick | |
| 8. Ronan Finn | 63' | |
| 17. Richie Towell | 66' | |
| Gary O'Neill Dylan Watts | 70' | |
| Gary O'Neill Rory Gaffney | 70' | |
| Ronan Finn Neil Farrugia | 70' | |
| Richie Towell Aidomo Emakhu | 77' | |
| Chris McCann Justin Ferizaj | 83' | |
| 9. Aaron Greene | 85' | |
| 22. Aidomo Emakhu | 87' | |
| 91' | Cauly Souza Georgi Terziev |
Past Meetings
|
(Second Qualifying Round)
3 - 0UEFA Champions League
Huvepharma Arena Ludogorets v Shamrock Rovers |
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Ciaran Callan
Ciaran Callan is a part-time sports journalist based in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He has more than 10 year’s experience working with media companies including both extensive radio broadcasting experience along with print and digital media reporting for the SSE Airtricity League as well digital media work with the national sports company eirSport. He joined FinalWhistle in February 2021 as is their main correspondent for Dundalk Football Club.
FULL TIME: Despite defeating Ludogorets 2-1 at the Tallaght Stadium, Shamrock Rovers was eliminated from the Champions League tonight. On another night, if their chances had been converted, they might have gone and won this match. The Hoops had a chance to dare to dream after Aaron Greene's goal in the first half, but despite numerous chances, it wasn’t until a late goal from Aidomo Emakhu that really give the home side some belief. Ludogorets let their poor behaviour get the better of them, going down to ten men after Manuel Cafumana was sent out that Rovers could not capitalise as Cauly Souza late goal for the away side sealed the tie.
GOAL! Cauly Souza has scored and it's game, set and match with a goal with a last-minute goal. the first time they have been clinical in the tie with a clever one-two and Souza slotted it past Mannus.
GOAL! Well then...well then! Emakhu has added a second! The second-half sub latches onto a Rory Gaffney cross and this could be on!
For a foul on Santana - Greene gets a yellow card.
Justin Ferizaj comes on for Chris McCann
CHANCE: Alex Santana lets one fly but Mannus gets down excellent to save.
The last roll of the dice as Emakhu is on for Towell as they now have three forward players in the last ten minutes.
SAVE: The first real sight on goal for the away side as Alex Santana latches onto the ball on the edge of the area and Mannus pulls off an excellent save.
Triple sub for Shamrock Rovers. Farrigua for Finn, Gaffney for O'Neill and Watts for Burke.
WOW! Graham Burke feeds Towell and he is tumbled in contact with Žan Karničnik just outside the area and the referee gives the Rovers midfielder a yellow for going down in the area.
Finn gets a yellow card and Ludogorets have a free kick in a good position.
Grace collects the ball on the edge of the area but his curling effort goes wide and wide.
Burke hits a well-placed free-kick but his effort is punched clear by Sergio Padt.
For a foul on Graham Burke, Rick becomes the latest player to go into the book for Ludogorets
Manuel Cafumana is off! A clumsy challenge and the referee gives him a second yellow card and Ludogorets are now down to ten men!
The defensive midfielder is given a yellow card.
SUB: For Ludogorets - Kiril Despodov is replaced by Rick (full name: Rick Jhonatan Lima Morais) and Bernard Tekpetey who was a little annoyed and tetchy in the first half is replaced by Spas Delev
We are back underway for the second half - there have been two changes for the away side we will confirm them.
HALF TIME: Shamrock Rovers have been excellent tonight putting massive pressure on the away side, they will feel there is another goal in it for him and are full value for their 1-0 lead. Andy Lyons has been the high-profile player in this half. The Hoops have given themselves a chance, can they build on it?
STRIKE: Sean Hoare picked the ball up and let one fly from distance and his effort was well saved by the keeper. Any sort of height on it and it could have caused him issues.
That was Aaron Greene’s first Champions League goal after already scoring three goals in the Europa League for Sligo Rovers (2014), St. Pats (2015) and Shamrock Rovers (2019).
Bernard Tekpetey gets a yellow card for a foul on both Grace and Gannon in the Rovers area.
CHANCE: A defensive clearance that was weak from an initial Andy Lyons cross falls to Richie Towell who hits a fantastic strike that just whistles wide. Rovers still knocking on the door here.
Bernard Tekpetey with a well-taken strike on the edge of the area that is well saved by Alan Mannus.
Ronan Finn looked as if he could be on his way in to add a second but he clashes with Anton Nedyalkov before the ball gets to him and its a free kick to the away side.
Burke has a shot from a free kick which surprised everyone but the keeper was well able for the shot.
Manuel Cafumana gets a yellow card for a foul on Andy Lyons.
GOAL! The start the needed, a cross from Andy Lyons to Graham Burke whose header is well saved by there is Aaron Greene at the near post to slam it home at the back post! Game on?
This has been very positive from Rovers - Graham Burke breaks into the area and his cross across the face of goal couldn't see a player get the vital touch.
SAVE: Alan Mannus called into action to deny Verdon with a header from a corner, the ball fell to Verdon again but his second attempt was not as potent.
MISSED: A fantastic direct ball from O'Neill to Finn and Richie Towell at the back post tried to toe poke it home and it strikes the side netting, what a start that would have been!
A bit casual from the away side with Rovers pressing high. The Bulgarians will have a game on their hands tonight if they are not careful
CHANCE: Richie Towell with a fantastic long ball deep into the Ludogorets back line and Graham Burke was chasing it and nearly got there only for Padt to come off his line to snuff out the chance.
KICK OFF: Seventeen teams have been 3-0 down in Champions League qualifying and have come back to qualify, will Rovers be team number 18? We will wait and see.
Ludogorets have made three changes ahead of tonight's contest.
And here come the teams, a packed Shamrock Rovers attendance that has come to the Tallaght Stadium at Dublin 24. A massive night for Stephen Bradley's men.
No Jack Byrne or Roberto Lopes this evening for Rovers - Byrne is edging back to full fitness while there are doubts over how long Lopes will be out as he is set to have a scan on his knee injury.
It's not over for Shamrock Rovers in Europe if they lose tonight. Defeat tonight will see the drop the 3rd round of the Europa League and if they are defeated in that round they will go to the playoff round of the UEFA Conference League and the prize money that goes with it. Either way, Shamrock Rovers have a chance of playing European football until December at the earliest.
No Irish side has overcome a 3-0 deficit in a European tie to date: The closest to compare would be Bohemians vs BATE Borisov in 2003 when Bohs came from 1-0 down in the first leg in Belarus to defeat them at home 3-0. The men from Barysaw would suffer this exactly same tie result against an Irish side when Dundalk defeated them in Tallaght in August 2016. Shamrock Rovers have to and must create history tonight.
For Shamrock Rovers: Gary O'Neill makes his 100th Appearance for the Club this evening.
Team news from Shamrock Rovers: Lee Grace goes into defence with Graham Burke in attack as Aaron Greene leads the line .
Good Evening from FinalWhistle HQ - Ciaran Callan is here to take you through tonight's action in the Champions League 3rd Qualification Round between Shamrock Rovers and Ludogorets. We will have team news shorty.