Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea seized the initiative in their Europa League quarter-final tie with Rubin Kazan last night.

NELSON VALDEZ had the quality to clinically punish bad defending as Shamrock Rovers were frozen out in Kazan last night.

MICHAEL O’NEILL fears Shamrock Rovers will face their biggest trial yet against classy Rubin Kazan here in the depths of freezing Tatarstan tonight.

SADLY, no heroics from Shamrock Rovers on Irish football’s long-awaited debut in the group stages of European competition.

Former Tottenham midfielder Rohan Ricketts was handed a start in Shamrock Rovers’ opening Europa League Group A clash with Rubin Kazan.