Euro heartbreak for Bohs

ON A rollercoaster of a night at Dalymount Park, the League of Ireland kingpins were just three minutes away from going through to the next round of the Champions’ League when, having kept Red Bull Salzburg comprehensively under wraps for the vast majority of this second leg game, a moment of human error undid all their good work both in Dublin and Salzburg.

Full-back Mark Rossiter was the unfortunate architect of his side’s downfall when, in the 87th minute – and with Bohs still ahead in the tie on the away goal – he failed to deal with a routine angled ball into the box, his tentative backward header allowing Salzburg substitute Patrik Jezek to steal in behind him and nod the dropping ball over the advancing Brian Murphy for the killer goal.

The sense of deflation all around Dalymount Park was acute as, along with Pat Fenlon and his players, the fans counted the cost of an undeserved European exit – one which robs Bohemians not only of a meeting with Dynamo Zagreb next week but also a guaranteed fall-back place in the Europa League. For a club whose future is uncertain, the blow of this defeat was both financial and emotional.

Afterwards, as Mark Rossiter candidly took full responsibility for the goal, Pat Fenlon paid tribute to his players. “They were magnificent, here and in Salzburg and the didn’t deserve to lose, especially in that manner,” said the Bohs boss. However, Fenlon was much less complimentary about his opposite number Huub Stevens, accusing the Red Bull manager of showing “disrespect” to the Irish side over the course of the two legs.

All in all, it made for an unhappy anti-climax to what, for so long, had promised to be one of those fabled nights for the domestic game in a setting which matched the big occasion. An attendance of around 5,900 was swelled by a goodly turnout of scouts from clubs across the water, including Hull City, Ipswich Town, Wolves, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Watford and Dundee United. Austrian international striker Marc Janko was one of those believed to be under scrutiny as was the home side’s Killian Brennan and, of course, highly rated goalkeeper Brian Murphy. Senior Ireland goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly was also on hand to watch the Bohemians’ number one, whose penalty save had capped a starring display in the first leg in Salzburg.

In the earliest moments, a combination of Red Bulls’ lightning pace, their high pressing game and some very suspect refereeing decisions, made the going tough for the Irish champions. However Bohemians, with Glen Crowe as their lone frontman and Jason Byrne playing wide on the right settled well and, 10 minutes in, when Killian Brennan drilled a free kick to the far post, it was Byrne, wheeling away into space, who sent a looping header just over the top.

But, as the Dubliners knew from the 1-1 draw in Austria, Salzburg posed a serious threat, and five minutes later, the speedy Cristoph Leitgeb, breaking at pace from midfield, left a posse of Bohs defenders trailing, before firing a low drive just outside Murphy’s left-hand post.

Admirably, Bohs did their best to slow the game down with spells of possession football but the dangers of playing a short passing game out from the back – especially in the face of Salzburg’s eager willingness to close down the man on the ball – was underlined when Paul Keegan got caught in possession and, from the resultant corner, Franz Schiemer could only head over from close range with, uncharacteristically, Murphy already committed in the Bohs goal.

For all that, it was a game of few clear-cut chances thus far and, when half-time arrived, the advantage in the tie was still with the Dublin club – and deservedly so. As was only to be expected, most of the second 45 was played in Bohs’ half but still Murphy remained untroubled between the posts, as Brian Shelley and Ken Oman were alert and commanding in the heart of the Gypsies defence.

And the class of Joey Ndo always offered possibilities on Bohs’ admittedly rare forays into enemy territory, such as when he exchanged a neat one-two with Jason Byrne before the striker shot straight at Red Bull ‘keeper Douglas Gustafsson from the edge of the box.

Still, that the penalty for one little mistake would be huge, was underlined in the 80th minute when substitute Anto Murphy gave away possession and, from Christian Schwegler’s cross, Janko – otherwise well contained by the Bohs rearguard – sent a glancing header whistling just by the foot of Murphy’s goal

By now, with the clock running down, every Bohs tackle, every clearing header made, and every cross taken by the unflappable Murphy was being cheered to the echo, as the Dubliners edged towards a famous result.

But then, just when the faithful were gearing up for more big European nights to come, came Rossiter’s error and Jezek’s crucial intervention – and that simple combination proved enough to turn Bohs’ dreams to ashes.

Bohemians: B Murphy, Rossiter (McGuinness 88), Shelley, Oman, Powell, Byrne (Cronin 84), Keegan, Deegan, Brennan (A Murphy 66), Ndo, Crowe

Red Bull Salzburg: Gustafsson, Schwelger, Schiemer, Dudic, Ulmer (Jezek 59), Tchoyl, Augustinussen, Leitgeb (Nelisse 72), Svento, Ilic (Vladavic 63), Janko

Referee: Alexandser Stavrev (Macedonia)