'There’s no excuses': Mammoth task awaits as 10-man Shamrock Rovers fall to Floriana

A promising first half by the Hoops was punctured by Robert Muric’s strike in stoppage time which flew past goalkeeper Ed McGinty to give the hosts an interval advantage.

Shamrock Rovers' Matt Healy fouls Floriana’s Federico Varela. Pic: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Uefa Champions League first round, first-leg: Floriana (Malta) 2 (Robert Muric 45+1, Mustapha Jan 79) Shamrock Rovers 0 

Stephen Bradley admits his Shamrock Rovers side require a vast improvement in next Tuesday’s second leg after the League of Ireland champions slipped two goals behind in Malta.

A promising first half by the Hoops was punctured by a stoppage-time strike from new Croatian capture Robert Muric which flew past goalkeeper Ed McGinty.

Losing Corkman Matt Healy approaching the hour, to a couple of yellow cards a minute apart, the second from a needless lunge, weakened their cause and the second goal followed with 11 minutes remaining.

Ghanaian Mustapha Jan was first to react from McGinty’s parry of Federico Varela’s effort to scoop the loose ball home from six yards.

“We controlled the game but were just sloppy in that control,” admitted the Hoops boss, whose 10-year anniversary occasion didn’t go to plan.

“And we’re not good enough to get away with being sloppy.

“Up against a team like theirs that like to play in transition, we left ourselves open to get punished.

“We’re just frustrated because the game was there to be dictated. Our sloppiness allowed them to breathe and grow. It was one we could have grabbed but we were off it."

On Healy's petulant dismissal, he said: "It’s a really poor one from an experienced player and a top player. He’s booked literally two minutes beforehand and it’s very unlike Matt. 

"He’s made two poor decisions very quickly and got sent off but there was a lot more than that that was off.

“There’s no excuses. Maybe we got a bit complacent. You can get lulled into a false sense of security from having so much control.

“We created a lot of chances and know that we can play a lot better next week – because we’ll have to.” 

Maleace Asamoah went close to halving the arrears late on by seeing his angled shot cleared off the line.

It would have been a precious goal to take back as the deficit underlines the mission facing Bradley’s side before what’s expected to be a 10,000-capacity crowd at Tallaght.

At least they’ll have their World Cup hero Pico Lopes back, the captain spearheading their revival from defence.

Should Rovers overturn the tie, they’d set up a second-round tie against FC Ararat-Armenia or Riga FC – but, more importantly, secure the parachute of a Conference League playoff shot.

Conversely, the defeated side in the tie between FK Kauno Žalgiris v Drita await the loser in the Conference League second round.

Rovers have inhabited those group stages in three of the last four years but this was their return to the Champions League, having been pipped to a fifth straight title in 2024 by Damien Duff’s Shelbourne.

Floriana: Cioletti; Lonardelli, Spiteri, Kauan, Beerman; Kurtalic, Vella (Romano 72); Muric (Gudelj 81), Varela, Dervisagic (N'Dri 66); Jan (Scerri 81).

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Grace, Stevens, C O'Sullivan; Mulraney (O'Regan 64), Brennan; Byrne, Healy, Watts (J O'Sullivan 64); Noonan (McGovern 72), Burke (Asamoah 72).

Referee: Benjamin Brand (Germany).