Bradley: Defeat in Bulgaria 'makes it an almost impossible challenge next week'
HEAVY DEFEAT: Andy Lyons of Shamrock Rovers in action against Cicinho of Ludogorets during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Second Qualifying Round First Leg at Huvepharma Arena in Razgrad, Bulgaria. Photo by Alex Nicodim/Sportsfile
Brazilians and the Champions League are a lethal concoction for the health of Shamrock Rovers in Europe.
Last year, it was Rafael Ratão who sparked the beginning to the end of their campaign for Slovan Bratislava and his compatriot Igor Thiago applied a similar fatal blow this time around in the colours of Ludogorets.
Had Rovers held out for a 2-0 defeat in Razgrad, they might have retained hopes of replicating the feat from 12 months ago of clawing back that deficit at home against the Slovakians – even if they ultimately bowed out to a killer late winner from Vladimir Weiss.
Conceding a third with the last kick of stoppage-time – particularly the self-inflicted nature of it – makes their long trip back from Bulgaria devoid of thoughts around a salvage job next Tuesday.
“It was naïve defending from us and makes it an almost impossible challenge next week,” admitted Hoops boss Stephen Bradley afterwards, mortally wounded by gift to Thiago.
“We play where we're not supposed to play, invite them on to press and get punished.
“We cannot do that against a team at home in the Leinster Senior League, never mind Ludogorets. It’s a completely different tie if we’d stayed at 2-0 but we’ve practically handed it to them now.” Rovers will give it their utmost before an expected full house at Tallaght but they are realistically looking at the consolation prize of a Europa League third round meeting against the eliminated side from the Champions League tie between Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) or Shkupi (North Macedonia) to consume them heading into August.
There’s even the trapdoor of a Conference League play-off in their pocket were that avenue to be also closed off.
Portents of the shutters coming down on this one were apparent from the early exchanges.
Once the dominant force of Bulgaria – 11 titles in a row entitles them to such status – grew into just their fifth game of the season, they hit Rovers with two goals from Pieros Sotiriou nine minutes apart.
The Cyprus international outmuscled Sean Hoare to plant home a 26th-minute header before scrambling in a second after Lee Grace had clearing off the line.
As much as the Hoops improved after the break, only substitute Graham Burke succeeded in testing Sergio Padt eight minutes from the finish. Hoare had another half-chance, skewing his volley wide when Burke’s corner unexpectedly fell at his feet.
Grace was culpable for third – as Bradley didn’t disguise. Deep into added time, with all the pressure coming from the hosts, he chose to slip a pass towards Andy Lyons with his back to goal.
Cicinho, Brazilian born but a naturalised Bulgarian international, intercepted the ball, Rovers were in retreat mode. Two passes later and Argentine Matías Tissera was in at the back post, firing a shot which Mannus batted away but first to react was his fellow substitute who lashed the loose ball home with the aid of a Pico Lopes deflection.
“We showed them too much respect in the first half and were really poor,” added Bradley, summarising the way they met the challenge up a level in class from their first-round opponents, Maltese outfit Hibernian.
“We were good in the second, with one or two good chances, and we were playing some good football. But small details at this level make all the difference and that third goal is very frustrating.” Bradley opted against starting Burke and Jack Byrne, with the latter remaining on the bench throughout. Perhaps the introduction of such an attack-minded player could have exposed the back-to-back champions to further damage on a first-half they ended battered and bruised.
Solidity was the watchword from the outset against a side seeking their seventh straight season in the group phase of either the Champions or Europa League but the game-plan was dissected once Hoare lost Sotiriou eight yards out.
Mannus was helpless for that concession and he was beaten again nine minutes later. Grace was on hand to save him but blocking Rick’s shot on the line but the Cypriot smashed home the rebound.
Rick and his fellow Brazilian Cauly were by now toying with a Rovers side unable to break from their own half and it took a superb one-handed save from Mannus to deny the latter a third on the stroke of half-time.
The dizziness for Rovers subsided after the break as the tie settled down. Having gone 66 minutes without forcing a corner, a succession of three from Burke in eight minutes straight after his entrance almost earned a reply through Hoare.
Burke went close too, nearly catching out the underworked Padt at his near post during the same period of respite from the one-way traffic. The late sickener means Ludogorets will be even more tempted to produce a Samba show in Dublin next week.
S Padt; Cicinho, O Verdon, I Plaston, A Nedyalkov; Cauly, A Santana, M Cafumana; Rick (Delev 78), Pieros Sotiriou (Thiago 89), B Tekpetey (K Despodov 72).
A Mannus; R Lopes, S Hoare, L Grace; R Finn (S Gannon 76), G O’Neill, C McCann, D Watts (S Kavanagh 77), A Lyons; R Towell (G Burke 60), R Gaffney.
João Pinheiro (POR).
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