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Shels Euro run ends

Pat Fenlon consoles Owen Heary after Shels CL exit

Costly mistakes in defence flatter to deceive. – by Fintan Cassidy

Shelbourne bowed out of the Champions League, beaten 4-1 on the night (and on aggregate) in a match which hinged on some horrendous errors in defence by the Redsmen, as well as some over-zealous decisions by the referee early in the game.

Disaster struck after only 5 minutes when both Rogers and Dica were red-carded after the Steaua player threw a dig at the Scouser and he then retaliated. The referee didn’t see the incident and the linesman failed to flag indicating that he had seen anything amiss. However when they had both consulted, the referee then bizarrely sent both players off when a yellow card and a ticking-off might have been more appropriate. Shelbourne’s game plan was then thrown into disarray with Stuey Byrne having to move back into defence.

Shels might have taken a surprise lead on 12 minutes when Richie Baker’s header from a corner was scrambled off the line after a Steaua defender knocked it off the post, with his keeper already beaten and on the ground. However, six minutes later the home side took the lead when Nicolita stole in between Jamie Harris and David Crawley onto a long ball over the top, to rifle the ball into the net. Steaua made it two just 8 minutes later when Nesu sent a ball in across the face of goal from the left. Delaney should have called it but he hesitated, and Crawley was caught on his wrong foot and his sliced clearance went straight to Iacob for a giveaway goal.

Shelbourne looked to be out of it, but they brought the game back to life with a fabulous Jason Byrne headed goal from the right, from a deep Crawley cross which Baker had nodded on. Shels continued to press in the second half but couldn’t get that vital second goal. The sucker punch came just after the hour mark, with Delaney once again at fault when he came outside the box onto a long ball, but sliced his clearance into the path of Dinita for another soft goal.

Pat Fenlon then threw on substitutes Wes Hoolahan and Joey Ndo. Both players ran at the Steaua defence and made them look vulnerable, but it was too little too late and the home side added a facile fourth goal just before full time from the penalty spot, after Heary had handled in the area.

To rub salt into the wounds the game was marred by some serial racist abuse hurled at Ndo and Fleming, as well as some missile throwing at the Shels bench and players, from the home crowd. UEFA are set to investigate the unsavory incidents.