Johnny Kenny spurns chance to give Shamrock Rovers advantage in Champions League qualifier

Rovers’ Johnny Kenny reacts to a missed chance. Pic Credit: Eyþór Árnason, Inpho.

Uefa Champions League qualifier

Víkingur 0 Shamrock Rovers 0

Johnny Kenny squandered a couple of gilt-edged chances for Shamrock Rovers to take a first-leg lead back from Iceland in their opening Champions League round.

Vikingur dominated large spells of possession in Reykjavik – forcing 18 corners - without penetrating and the substitute ought to have punished them.

With 18 minutes left, the Sligo man on loan from Celtic got himself into a great position on the left side of the box but could only stroke his angled shot past the far post.

Despite losing Darragh Nugent eight minute later to a harsh second yellow card, the Hoops flourished on the break.

A long ball out of defence allowed Kenny to show his pace by dashing across two opponents but he was unable to keep his shot he lifted over the advancing goalkeeper Ingvar Jónsson from sailing marginally over the crossbar.

“Johnny is gutted after missing the second one,” said Hoops boss Stephen Bradley afterwards.

“We knew spaces would be there and the gameplan worked but we can’t be too harsh on Johnny.” He was content with the night’s work, happy to be well in a tie they complete on home soil next Tuesday at Tallaght Stadium.

Should the Hoops progress, they have the mighty task of facing Sparta Prague in the second round on July 23 at home and before heading to the Czech Republic a week later. The draw for the third qualification round will take place on Tuesday July 22.

Were they to be knocked out next week, then their consolation prize is an Europa League clashing against the loser of the clash between FK Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and KF Egnatia (Albania).

Rovers have recent history of freezing against the Icelanders, losing last year’s first qualifying round to Breidablik 3-1 on aggregate.

They were alive to the threat here, flagging in advance their awareness of how dangerous the domestic champions were from crosses.

That was apparent after just seven minutes when Jon Fjoluson rose to connect with a corner. A first test for Rovers goalkeeper Leon Pohls was met with aplomb, for he pushed the effort onto the post.

It reflected the first-half pattern, the Rovers defence marshalled by Pico Lopes called upon to clear a barrage of deliveries from wide areas.

Danish striker Nikolaj Hansen was a handful but the hand that Lopes placed on him from a right-wing cross wasn’t deemed forceful enough by VAR to justify a penalty.

A tactical injury by Pohls approaching the break stemmed the flow as the visitors were unable to muster much in spite of Jack Byrne operating just off sole striker Aaron Greene. They would fashion some openings later but only next week will they be rued.

“We’re really happy because we could see how good a side they are in the final third,” said Bradley. “We were okay defending corners but didn’t give up any chances.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS: L Pohls; D Cleary, R Lopes, S Hoare; J Honohan, G O’Neill, D Watts (J Byrne 90), T Clarke (N Farrugia 73); J Byrne (D Burns 73), D Nugent; A Greene (J Kenny 66).

VIKINGUR: I Jonsson; K Gunnarsson, O Ekroth, G Vatnhamar, J Fjoluson; E Angarsson, P Punyed (V Andrasson 82), H Gudjonsson (A Sigurpalsson 64); V Ingimudarson, N Hansen (M Vilhjalmsson 66), D Djuric.

Referee: Sigurd Kringstad (NOR)