Dave
05-08-2004, 08:27 AM
This has made my day :)
Shelbourne 2 Hajduk Split 0 (Agg: 4-3)
Shelbourne booked a place in the Champions League third qualifying round on Wednesday evening by seeing off Croatian giants Hajduk Split 2-0.
Goals inside the last 12 minutes from Dave Rogers and Alan Moore booked a double header against Deportivo La Coruna - last season's semi-finalists.
It was the first time the Dublin side have won at their Tolka Park home in European competition since 1993.
Shelbourne dominated the early exchanges with a number of opportunities being created and wasted.
The onslaught started in the fourth minute when an Ollie Cahill through-ball put Glen Fitzpatrick through on goal - only for a timely tackle by defender Mato Neretvlak thwarting the striker.
On 12 minutes, Moore fired inches over from six yards after Jason Byrne's right wing cross found him arriving late at the near post while Fitzpatrick saw a close-range header saved by goalkeeper Tvrtko Kale with his feet in the 20th minute after Moore's free-kick evaded the entire Hajduk defence.
Moore again went close for Shelbourne two minutes later with a brilliant shot from 25 yards which was spectacularly saved by Kale, while Stuart Byrne headed straight at the goalkeeper from another free kick.
Hajduk were not being completely overrun however and had a number of opportunities themselves.
The two-goal hero from the first leg, Dragan Blatnak, had a wonderful opportunity to give the visitors the lead in the 17th minute when he was put through by Nenad Pralija only for Steve Williams to make a fine smothering save.
Striker Natko Racki fired a good effort over the bar and as the half wore on, Hajduk came to grips with Shelbourne's attack and began to control large amounts of the possession.
However, they rarely threatened the home side's goal with a header from Racki which was easily saved by Williams the closest they came.
The second-half was remarkably cagey with neither side threatening until the final 25 minutes when Shelbourne switched for their cautious 4-5-1 formation to 4-4-2.
Almost immediately, Moore headed narrowly wide with Kale beaten - but they did not have to wait much longer for the vital breakthrough.
There seemed little on when Moore whipped a high hopeful cross into the penalty area - but Rogers blasted a left-foot volley past Kale from the edge of the area.
And in the final minute of injury-time, Moore made the game certain when he slotted home a Joseph Ndo cross.
It booked a two-legged clash with Deportivo - and meant Shelbourne become only the third Irish side in history to win two European ties in the same season.
Sporting Life
Shelbourne 2 Hajduk Split 0 (Agg: 4-3)
Shelbourne booked a place in the Champions League third qualifying round on Wednesday evening by seeing off Croatian giants Hajduk Split 2-0.
Goals inside the last 12 minutes from Dave Rogers and Alan Moore booked a double header against Deportivo La Coruna - last season's semi-finalists.
It was the first time the Dublin side have won at their Tolka Park home in European competition since 1993.
Shelbourne dominated the early exchanges with a number of opportunities being created and wasted.
The onslaught started in the fourth minute when an Ollie Cahill through-ball put Glen Fitzpatrick through on goal - only for a timely tackle by defender Mato Neretvlak thwarting the striker.
On 12 minutes, Moore fired inches over from six yards after Jason Byrne's right wing cross found him arriving late at the near post while Fitzpatrick saw a close-range header saved by goalkeeper Tvrtko Kale with his feet in the 20th minute after Moore's free-kick evaded the entire Hajduk defence.
Moore again went close for Shelbourne two minutes later with a brilliant shot from 25 yards which was spectacularly saved by Kale, while Stuart Byrne headed straight at the goalkeeper from another free kick.
Hajduk were not being completely overrun however and had a number of opportunities themselves.
The two-goal hero from the first leg, Dragan Blatnak, had a wonderful opportunity to give the visitors the lead in the 17th minute when he was put through by Nenad Pralija only for Steve Williams to make a fine smothering save.
Striker Natko Racki fired a good effort over the bar and as the half wore on, Hajduk came to grips with Shelbourne's attack and began to control large amounts of the possession.
However, they rarely threatened the home side's goal with a header from Racki which was easily saved by Williams the closest they came.
The second-half was remarkably cagey with neither side threatening until the final 25 minutes when Shelbourne switched for their cautious 4-5-1 formation to 4-4-2.
Almost immediately, Moore headed narrowly wide with Kale beaten - but they did not have to wait much longer for the vital breakthrough.
There seemed little on when Moore whipped a high hopeful cross into the penalty area - but Rogers blasted a left-foot volley past Kale from the edge of the area.
And in the final minute of injury-time, Moore made the game certain when he slotted home a Joseph Ndo cross.
It booked a two-legged clash with Deportivo - and meant Shelbourne become only the third Irish side in history to win two European ties in the same season.
Sporting Life