The Malta Independent 26 April 2024, Friday
View E-Paper

Champions League: Scoreless draw not enough for Hibernians against Shamrock

Wednesday, 13 July 2022, 08:24 Last update: about 3 years ago

At the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday, Shamrock Rovers of Ireland held Hibernians to a scoreless draw in the second leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, advancing to the next round of the competition with an easy 3-0 aggregate score.

The winner of the match between PFC Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria and FK Sutjeska Niksic of Montenegro will face the Hoops in the coming round.

Levadia Tallinn of Estonia, who had been knocked from the Preliminary Round semi-finals after losing 6-1 to Vikingur of Iceland, would be Hibernians' opponent in the champions path of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

The first leg should be played at Paolites, but UEFA must approve this.

Andrea Pisanu, who replaced Stefano Sanderra, who joined the SS Lazio primavera squad, made his Hibernians debut.

Ferdinando Apap, Andrei Agius, and Bjorn Kristensen were still ruled out due to injury, but Pisanu started Jake Grech, who had served a onematch suspension, in the lineup.

Ayrton Attard, Terence Groothusen, and Grech were also given starts in place of Joseph Zerafa, Thaylor, and Gabriel Mensah.

The first half was very calm, but Hibs came near with a close-range Groothusen shot that was deflected into a corner after Dunstan Vella's assist in the 14th minute.

While in extra time, Jake Grech hit wide after a cross by Zachary Grech and a short clearing by a defender, Jurgen Degabriele hit just wide after an enticing cross by Izquier, and

Ali Diakite's cross shot was parried by goalkeeper Alan Mannus.

After receiving a cross from the right, substitute Richie Towell scored, but the goal was

ruled offside in the 66th minute. The Paolites, on the other hand, barely put goalkeeper Alan Mannus to the test as they were unable to break through their opponents' defense.

In actuality, Jurgen Degabriele's attempt from outside the box, which Thaylor had served from the right, was saved by the Shamrock goalie only in stoppage time.

  • don't miss