Mick O’Neill’s Army Strike Late To Draw But Have A Mountain To Climb in Tel Aviv

Shamrock Rovers 1

Bnei Yehuda 1

It was seven years since Shamrock Rovers played European  football and it was the first time that the people of Tallaght got a glimpse of what could be on the cards in years to come. On a blustery wind swept night in West Dublin, Rovers welcomed Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv FC to Ireland for the Europa League, 2^nd qualifying round , First leg.

A near to capacity crowd of just under 4900, witness a late late show from super sub Robbie Bayly, as the hoops grabbed a valuable equaliser in time added on, to send the Tallaght faithful wild.

Shamrock Rovers looked the better in the early exchanges and were testing Beni Yehuda number one, Dele Aiyenugba, with some crosses and long throws, in which the keeper looked very suspect with his handling. Rovers best move came after 12 minuets when Gary Twigg released James Chambers on the right and a neat touch had him past Garridco and in space with time to pick out his cross. The ball slide across the greasy surface and into the path of Thomas Stewart who’s shot popped up into the keepers hands.

Rovers kept the pressure on their Israeli counterparts but had nothing to show for it after 25 mins with the rain increasing and the surface getting quicker under foot.

Disaster struck for the Airtricty league leaders on 26 mins when a through ball was met by front man Yavruyan. He seemed to push the ball slightly wide but with the help of some indecision from the hoops keeper Alan Mannus, who did manage to get a foot to the shot, and the delayed reactions from the rovers defence, the ball fell to Afek Haftke who was only on the pitch a few mins, and he had an empty goal to slot it into.

Rovers heads didn’t go down and they played out the rest of the first half with the same gusto they started with.

Twigg had a great chance but seen his shot saved at nearly point blank, and the rebound fell to Stewart who’s cross looked to hit the hand of a Beni Yehunda defender, but Rovers shouts for a peno were in vain.

Rovers went in at the half one down but were most definitely on top with position and chances.

The second period continued in much the same way as the first, with Rovers on top and pushing for the equaliser. Thomas Stewart fired  a powerful cross into the box with the ball hitting a Bnei Yehuda defender and going out for a corner but it could have ended up anywhere. James Chamber had a free kick slide wide as Rovers continued to knock on the door. It looked as if it was going to be one of those nights for the hoops as Twigg (twice), Chambers and Thomas Stewart all went close again.

The Israeli outfit looked to be tiring and you could tell that they were not in the middle of the season, when they brought on a midfielder Ezra Raly for a forward to try and hold onto what they had.

But Rovers percervance finally paid off  when super sub Robbie Bayle grad a goal late into injury time. He had picked the ball up close on the by line and looked to have an impossible angle, but turned and his shot went into the bottom corner to send the hoops fans ecstatic.

It finished one a piece in Tallaght but the hoops will take a lot from this game heading over to Tel Aviv for next Thursdays second leg. Bnei Yehuda got a vital away goal, but this match is still definitely in the balance and promises to be a cracker when the sides meet again.

Shamrock Rovers

1. Alan Mannus 4.Craig Sives 24.Dan Murray (cap) 5. Aiden Price (for 20.Billy Dennehy) 65mins, 3.Enda Chambers 6. Stephen Rice 18. Chris Turner (for Robbie Bayle on 73 mins) 15. Paddy Kavanagh 9.Gary Twigg 23. Thomas Stewart.

Bnei Yehuda

1.Dele Aiyenugba 17.Yitzhak Azuz 6.Ivan Garrido 21.Aviv Viktor Hadad 23.Kfir Ederi 5. Linic Sinisa Hrvatsko 10.Liroy Zhairi 8.Assi Baldut (cap) 26.Shalev Menashe 14.Moshe Biton (for 15.Hasan Abu Zaid) 19. Egiya Yavruyan( for7. Oz Ezra Raly)