Like in the Blues Brothers, the cage was to protect the away fans from missiles etc.
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Unbelievable result, there have been alot of proud Shels performances I've seen over the years but that is definitely punching very near to the top
Tuesday night at Tolka is going to be a blockbuster, RTÉ better pull their finger out and show it live
Bohs may be thinking themselves great news that Shels will be distracted/fatigued on Saturday but I think the opposite, huge positive momentum with ourselves and I don't think we had to run ourselves into the ground tonight to beat Rijeka or on Saturday night in Sligo
Shels can make groups with a home draw next week.....long shot for rovers but we have a chance of two irish clubs in groups...
The FAI target on league ranking doesnt look just so difficult currently. My reservations on the Conference League with exclusions from EL, were unfounded and have given LoI a chance to build. Now Shels, serious hard work away done so finish the job! Two teams in groups and you will see growing interest and inward investment in the league spike again.
Afair, Shels were 12 or 14/1 to win this game and the Croats the shortest of odds on to win.
Didn't realize second leg is actually in Tolka. Have uefa relaxed stadium requirements slightly in last few seasons or what?
Maybe I'm missing an obvious example but when was there a more impressive away win than this by an LOI club? Rovers have been particularly bad away from home from what I remember in their recent Euro runs, we're most of Dundalks wins all at home too in their big ties?
Partizan Belgrade was pretty huge and more directly meaningful tbf but this by Shels is right up there
Dundalk beat Hadjuk Split away 2-1, having lost the 1st leg 2-0. Probably at that point, I knew that Kennys Dundalk was on the verge of something special.
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Fantastic job by Shels, but before getting carrying away, it really depends on the result on Tuesday to say if it is one of the best nights in LOI.
The Croatian league is ranked 21st in Europe - the last time an LoI side won away to a league ranked so highly was...last year, when Rovers beat Molde 1-0 away.
Sligo beat Motherwell in 2022, and then you're going back to Dundalk v Hajduk (as mentioned), Rovers v Bnei Yehuda in 2010 and so on
The Serbian league was ranked 27th when Rovers beat Partizan
Pats 3-2 loss away to Krylia Sovetov in 2009 (2-0 win on away goals having beaten them 1-0 in Inchicore) when the Russian league was ranked 6th in Europe is worth a mention. Although not an away win on the night, a result to send them through in what was probably the biggest giant killing the league has seen over two legs in qualifying based on league rankings anyways.
Bohs beating Kaiserslautern 1-0 away in 2000 (losing 3-2 on aggregate) was another great result
For Bohs there's also the win in 1-2 Aberdeen in 2000. More recently beating PAOK in the Aviva 2-1 only to lose the away leg 2-0 and get knocked out (Wardy missed a sitter for us over there as well). I'm hoping that the recent up tick in results like last night isn't a phase and is gradual growth from the league on the European stage.
Nights like last night becoming more commonplace will only help the league become more marketable to sponsors which should in turn lead to an increase in domestic prize money. I do hope any clubs that get a good euro run don't splurge it all on first team wages and do invest in their academics & facilities.
Great goal by Martin, heading the ball back in the direction where the ball was crossed from. Great cross too!
Results like that make you realise what a wonderful product we have with our LOI. The fans are turning up in great numbers, what we need now is the investment to bring the league up another level!
I think its a gradual up trend (champions pathway parachute a big help), there will be dips of course but in general there's a sense of not totally writing off a possible win. I know it was a preseason Linfield but Shels technical ability everywhere bar up top was made for Europe and especially in hot weather. They can keep ball and play one touch out of tight spaces. My worry was that that might have been becasue they had space with Linfield not able to close or cut off space. But they showed up agaisnt a better side, their game in the last round probably helped them get up to speed, they didnt fold when going behind and took chances when they came. It was a pretty complete performance and had all the elements that we moan about when we leave games behind. Its half done yeah but there is a good chance and Shels have shown that they can get it across the line imo.
Anyone have a link to the highlights?