Shamrock Rovers facing uphill Champions League battle after defeat in Armenia

Rovers manager Stephen Bradley said his side were "frustrated with the nature of the goals and the timing of them" 

Ararat-Armenia took advantage of defensive sloppiness by Shamrock Rovers for their opening goal. Pic: Asatur Yesayants/Sportsfile

Champions League second qualifying round first leg: Ararat-Armenia (Sandro Lima 51, Zidane Banjaqui 81) Shamrock Rovers 0 

Another comeback for the ages will be required by Shamrock Rovers to extend their Champions League campaign after slipping to a second two-goal first leg defeat in two weeks.

Stephen Bradley’s Hoops became the first-ever League of Ireland team to overcome that deficit in Europe when they blitzed Maltese champions Floriana 5-1 last week but Ararat-Armenia will be a different proposition next Tuesday.

They bring a cushion to Tallaght that is harsh on Rovers based on the overall context of play.

The visitors had their chances in both halves but again suffered from defensive sloppiness to concede the opener on 51 minutes before a screamer of a second whizzed past goalkeeper Ed McGinty with nine minutes left.

New signing Jonathan Afolabi, on as a substitute, will rue missing a sitter of an opportunity to cut the arrears in stoppage time when he couldn’t keep his lob over the advancing goalkeeper João Bravim on target.

Oppressive humid conditions at a sparsely populated national stadium didn’t impact the visitors but they couldn’t legislate for a mistake by Lee Grace that gifted Brazilian journeyman Sandro Lima the opener.

Panic seemed to engulf the centre-back when receiving a routine pass from Pico Lopes and his attempted return along the edge of his box was easily cut out by Sandro Lima.

He may be a 35-year-old and in the twilight of his career but Lima kept his composure to slip past McGinty and roll the ball into the empty net.

McGinty, nor his defenders, could do little about the second, which came against the run of play as they chased an equaliser.

Zidane Banjaqui, born in 1998 when a player of his surname led France to the World Cup, unleashed a screamer of a shot from 20 yards that flew inside the stopper’s near post.

“We were controlling the game, doing okay with some half chances but got sloppy at the start of the second half,” reflected Bradley afterwards.

“The game was where we thought it would be, nullifying their threats, and we spoke at half-time about starting the second half in the right way.

“We did something you can never do in a game, especially in Europe, and got punished.” 

Afolabi’s miss could be crucial but Bradley remains confident his team won’t be slipping into the Europa League to face the loser or another Champions League tie between Egnatia (Albania) and Celje (Slovenia).

He added: “Jonathan is disappointed he hasn’t scored but we’ll get chances in the second leg.

“We know it’s half-time and are aware of what we can do in Tallaght but we’re frustrated with the nature of the goals and the timing of them here.” 

ARARAT: J Bravim; K Hovhannisyan (L Felipe 7), B Wilson, B Pereira (M Carlier 60), J Bueno; A Tera (Z Banjaqui, 65), K Muradyan, H Oliveira; A Serobyan (P Ayongo, 75), S Lima, Z Shaghoyan (França 64).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: E McGinty; L Grace (L O’Regan 67), P Lopes, C O’Sullivan; T Sobowale, D Watts, M Healy, A Brennan (J Mulraney 66); J Byrne (N Razi 89), G Burke; A Greene (J Afolabi 66).

Ref: David Dickinson (Scotland).