Shamrock Rovers bowed out of UEFA Champions League qualification as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Breiðablik this evening in Iceland.

An initial bright start was dashed away quickly as Jason Svanthorsson weaved past Pico Lopes and finished cooly to give the hosts the lead in the 15^th minute.

Breiðablik went two ahead as Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson lofted in a cross in the 60^th minute that initially went unanswered before finding the top-left corner as the game looked to be put out of sight. Graham Burke’s cool finish from the penalty spot minutes later wasn’t enough to pull his side back into the game. 

Shamrock Rovers bowed out of Uefa Champions League qualification as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Breiðablik in Iceland.

In contrast to the first leg, Rovers got off to a far brighter start and utilized a far more intense press, the likes of Burke, Poom and Towell all pouring pressure on Breiðablik’s back line, crashing into the box alongside Rory Gaffney.

Despite the promising signs in the first 10 minutes, warning bells should have been ringing when Damir Muminovic was afforded a free header at the back post. Muminoic headed down into the ground, the ball bouncing almost comically high due to the artificial pitch, as the centre-back could only watch his effort rise just inches above Leon Pohls’ crossbar.

Breiðablik continued to grow into the game and got their goal five minutes later, as Jason Svanthorsson picked up the ball on the halfway live and drove towards goal with such a direct, intense, manner that Rovers sorely lacked for the majority of the game. As Svanthrorsson dawned on the Rovers box he deftly weaved past the on-rushing Pico Lopes, before dropping his right shoulder and finishing across goal into Pohls’ bottom right corner.   

Rovers were left with a mountain to climb following Svanthrorsson’s goal and looked to be left reeling, still unable to muster any palpable chances. Gaffney looked to have given his side a life-line as he latched onto a through ball and finished cooly in the 20^th minute before the linesman swiftly waived his effort, replays showing Gaffney straying roughly a yard offside the Breiðablik back line.

Another encouraging start in the second for Rovers was again dashed away, a short Breiðablik corner routine seeing Svanthrorsson tee the ball off to Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson on the corner of the box. The Icelandic international lofted in a menacing cross that initially went unanswered, before eventually finding itself in the top corner, the game having looked to be put beyond doubt.

There was a glimmer of hope when a lengthy VAR investigation involving an Oliver Sigurjonsson handball resulted in a spot-kick for The Hoops, Graham Burke who slotted the ball straight down the middle to reduce the deficit to two goals.

Half-chances fell to Gaffney and Johnny Kenny in the dying embers of the game yet there still wasn’t enough to pull Rovers out of the ditch and salvage their Champions League campaign.

Rovers will now face either Ferencváros or KÍ in the next round of UEFA Conference League qualifiers.