A STOPPAGE-TIME penalty by Luka Jović earned AEK Athens a 1-1 draw at home to Shamrock Rovers in the Uefa Conference League this evening.
An understrength Hoops side had defended doggedly for much of the contest, after a 21st-minute Graham Burke spot kick gave them the lead.
Stephen Bradley’s men were without several first-team regulars, including Josh Honohan and Matt Healy, as the manager picked a team with one eye on Sunday’s FAI Cup final against Cork City.
It looked like a daunting trip against a side that had hammered Scottish Premiership outfit Aberdeen 6-0 in the last European matchday.
Ed McGinty had to be alert to keep out Switzerland international Dereck Kutesa’s shot from a tight angle in the early stages, but the hosts, for the most part, struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Unexpectedly, it was Rovers who then went ahead in the game following a rare counter-attack.
John McGovern showed pace to get away from Răzvan Marin, before the midfielder — capped 70 times by Romania — clumsily impeded the Newry native in the area.
The referee pointed to the spot and went with his original decision after a lengthy VAR check.
Burke fired home the penalty for his second goal in Europe this season to hand the Hoops the advantage, despite a green laser being shone from the crowd in the striker’s face as he stepped up.
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For the remainder of the half, the Irish side sat back and defended resolutely, with Roberto Lopes making a crucial last-ditch intervention on more than one occasion.
Towards the end of the opening 45, Serbia international Mijat Gaćinović had two chances in quick succession, snatching at the first after being played through on goal and firing inches wide from the edge of the area moments later.
The second half continued similarly, with Rovers defending deeply and the home crowd making their frustration known as the hosts — who finished fourth in the Greek top flight last season — were wasteful when finding themselves in promising attacking positions.
Jović tapped home the rebound after Cameroon international Harold Moukoudi’s header from an inswinging free kick had been saved, only for the striker to be penalised for being marginally offside.
Cory O’Sullivan (twice) and Lee Grace also had to make last-ditch blocks to keep AEK at bay.
Yet as the end of the match approached, the home side appeared to be running out of ideas.
Rovers were restricting them to wayward shots from long distance and hopeful crosses into the box that were generally dealt with comfortably by the visitors’ backline.
Jović did miss one genuine chance late on, but the former Real Madrid player steered a volley over from close range after being set up by Gaćinović.
The newly crowned Premier Division champions were offering virtually nothing in attack, though it mattered little, as the crowd’s groans grew louder.
But just as the game was entering stoppage time, AEK were handed a lifeline.
Danny Grant and experienced Greece international Petros Mantalos both contested a ball into the area, and it ricocheted off the Rovers’ star’s hand.
The visitors protested, claiming their player had been dragged back as he went for the ball.
But after lengthy deliberation by the officials and the referee being called to check the monitor, the original decision was confirmed.
Jović buried the ensuing spot kick, leaving McGinty with no chance.
The same player almost won it deep into time added on, but turned a header wide with the goal at his mercy, after an initial header by Filipe Relvas had been saved.
Despite the frustration of the late equaliser, there was some consolation for Rovers in knowing they had got off the mark in the league phase after losing their opening two matches against Sparta Prague and Celje.
While missing out on the €400,000 win bonus, they still netted €133,000 awarded to teams for draws in this competition.
After lining out at the Aviva this weekend, Rovers will be hoping to build on tonight’s creditable display when they host Shakhtar Donetsk at Tallaght Stadium in their next European fixture on 27 November.
AEK Athens: Thomas Strakosha, Lazaros Rota, Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas, Stavros Pilios (Roberto Pereyra 90), Mijat Gacinovic (Domagoj Vida 90), Orbelin Pineda, Razvan Marin (Frantzdy Pierrot 46), Dereck Kutesa (Aboubakary Koita 46), Petros Mantalos, Luka Jovic.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Adam Matthews (Danny Grant 46), Darragh Nugent, Dylan Watts (Cian Barrett 46), Connor Malley (Trevor Clarke 72), Corey O’Sullivan, Graham Burke (Aaron McEneff 46); John McGovern (Danny Mandroiu 68).
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Late penalty denies Shamrock Rovers a famous win in Greece
Updated at 22.00
AEK Athens 1
Shamrock Rovers 1
A STOPPAGE-TIME penalty by Luka Jović earned AEK Athens a 1-1 draw at home to Shamrock Rovers in the Uefa Conference League this evening.
An understrength Hoops side had defended doggedly for much of the contest, after a 21st-minute Graham Burke spot kick gave them the lead.
Stephen Bradley’s men were without several first-team regulars, including Josh Honohan and Matt Healy, as the manager picked a team with one eye on Sunday’s FAI Cup final against Cork City.
It looked like a daunting trip against a side that had hammered Scottish Premiership outfit Aberdeen 6-0 in the last European matchday.
Ed McGinty had to be alert to keep out Switzerland international Dereck Kutesa’s shot from a tight angle in the early stages, but the hosts, for the most part, struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Unexpectedly, it was Rovers who then went ahead in the game following a rare counter-attack.
John McGovern showed pace to get away from Răzvan Marin, before the midfielder — capped 70 times by Romania — clumsily impeded the Newry native in the area.
The referee pointed to the spot and went with his original decision after a lengthy VAR check.
Burke fired home the penalty for his second goal in Europe this season to hand the Hoops the advantage, despite a green laser being shone from the crowd in the striker’s face as he stepped up.
For the remainder of the half, the Irish side sat back and defended resolutely, with Roberto Lopes making a crucial last-ditch intervention on more than one occasion.
Towards the end of the opening 45, Serbia international Mijat Gaćinović had two chances in quick succession, snatching at the first after being played through on goal and firing inches wide from the edge of the area moments later.
The second half continued similarly, with Rovers defending deeply and the home crowd making their frustration known as the hosts — who finished fourth in the Greek top flight last season — were wasteful when finding themselves in promising attacking positions.
The Hoop did survive a couple of nervy moments.
Jović tapped home the rebound after Cameroon international Harold Moukoudi’s header from an inswinging free kick had been saved, only for the striker to be penalised for being marginally offside.
Cory O’Sullivan (twice) and Lee Grace also had to make last-ditch blocks to keep AEK at bay.
Yet as the end of the match approached, the home side appeared to be running out of ideas.
Rovers were restricting them to wayward shots from long distance and hopeful crosses into the box that were generally dealt with comfortably by the visitors’ backline.
Jović did miss one genuine chance late on, but the former Real Madrid player steered a volley over from close range after being set up by Gaćinović.
The newly crowned Premier Division champions were offering virtually nothing in attack, though it mattered little, as the crowd’s groans grew louder.
But just as the game was entering stoppage time, AEK were handed a lifeline.
Danny Grant and experienced Greece international Petros Mantalos both contested a ball into the area, and it ricocheted off the Rovers’ star’s hand.
The visitors protested, claiming their player had been dragged back as he went for the ball.
But after lengthy deliberation by the officials and the referee being called to check the monitor, the original decision was confirmed.
Jović buried the ensuing spot kick, leaving McGinty with no chance.
The same player almost won it deep into time added on, but turned a header wide with the goal at his mercy, after an initial header by Filipe Relvas had been saved.
Despite the frustration of the late equaliser, there was some consolation for Rovers in knowing they had got off the mark in the league phase after losing their opening two matches against Sparta Prague and Celje.
While missing out on the €400,000 win bonus, they still netted €133,000 awarded to teams for draws in this competition.
After lining out at the Aviva this weekend, Rovers will be hoping to build on tonight’s creditable display when they host Shakhtar Donetsk at Tallaght Stadium in their next European fixture on 27 November.
AEK Athens: Thomas Strakosha, Lazaros Rota, Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas, Stavros Pilios (Roberto Pereyra 90), Mijat Gacinovic (Domagoj Vida 90), Orbelin Pineda, Razvan Marin (Frantzdy Pierrot 46), Dereck Kutesa (Aboubakary Koita 46), Petros Mantalos, Luka Jovic.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Adam Matthews (Danny Grant 46), Darragh Nugent, Dylan Watts (Cian Barrett 46), Connor Malley (Trevor Clarke 72), Corey O’Sullivan, Graham Burke (Aaron McEneff 46); John McGovern (Danny Mandroiu 68).
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