It’s a huge game for both sides, with at least around €2 million and a guaranteed place in the play-off round of the Uefa Conference League at a minimum.
Shels will be hoping to put a disappointing domestic season behind them — they are fifth in the Premier Division table, 14 points off leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Linfield ostensibly have a disadvantage in that they are only in pre-season — their most competitive match before tonight was in April.
Yet David Healy’s side will be hopeful of causing an upset against a Shels side who were dealt a considerable blow when Damien Duff stepped down as manager last month.
He seemingly tries to pick out Odubeko in the area, but miscues his cross, and it ends up looking more like a shot, going a few inches over the bar.
9 Jul
7:51PM
5 mins: The game has stopped for a few minutes.
A Wood shot from the edge of the area hits off the head of East.
The defender has to go off temporarily after receiving treatment.
9 Jul
7:54PM
7 mins: Shelbourne go close twice!
Caffrey gets the opportunity on both occasions.
Initially, his header from a Wood corner comes back off the post.
He then gets on the end of a lofted through ball, but Johns gets down really well to keep the Shels player’s header out.
9 Jul
7:57PM
12 mins: Fitzpatrick is one-on-one with Barrett.
But the Shels centre-back is up to the task and makes a well-timed challenge.
9 Jul
8:00PM
15 mins: Coote’s cross goes straight into the arms of the goalkeeper, Johns.
Shelbourne continue to apply most of the pressure in these early stages.
9 Jul
8:02PM
17 mins: Archer picks up the game’s first booking.
It’s deserved, for a late challenge on McInroy.
9 Jul
8:05PM
19 mins: Another Linfield central midfielder gets a booking.
This time, it’s their captain, Mulgrew, for a late challenge on Coote.
9 Jul
8:07PM
22 mins: McInroy takes a shot from distance and it deflects narrowly over.
Shelbourne look the sharper and more dangerous team.
9 Jul
8:07PM
22 mins: PENALTY TO SHELBOURNE!
9 Jul
8:08PM
Lunney’s volley deflects off the arm of Hall.
It looked like a harsh decision, and it appears that it will be ruled out by VAR.
9 Jul
8:10PM
25 mins: NO PENALTY!
After consulting the video replay, the referee decides to reverse the decision.
It’s the right call.
9 Jul
8:17PM
30 mins: With 15 minutes until half-time, Shels continue to dominate possession and territory.
Linfield are defending well, though, and the hosts haven’t created too many clear-cut chances, and are threatening less regularly now after a frantic opening.
9 Jul
8:20PM
32 mins: Another nervy moment for Linfield.
Johns comes for a long ball, but doesn’t claim it. The loose ball just doesn’t fall favourably for Caffrey to steer it into the empty net.
9 Jul
8:24PM
38 mins: Goalkeeper Johns dwells on the ball too long.
Odubeko closes him down, and the clearance is deflected out of play.
9 Jul
8:31PM
44 mins: Ledwidge receives the ball in plenty of space, but balloons the ball over the bar.
That sums up the lack of quality in the final third that has undermined Shels’ positive play in the first half.
As I type, Morrison gets on the end of a long ball, but his attempted lob fails to unduly trouble Kearns.
9 Jul
8:32PM
45 mins: Johns gets down to make a comfortable enough save, stopping Wood’s low shot from distance.
There will be four minutes of first-half injury time.
David Healy will probably be the happier of the two managers at the break.
Shels dominated for much of the half, with their opponents barely testing Kearns.
Linfield survived an early onslaught and looked increasingly comfortable as the half wore on.
Shels, for all their control of the game, have lacked killer instinct and were increasingly short of ideas as the match developed.
The NIFL Premiership side have defended impressively for much of the contest.
However, given the visitors’ lack of competitive game time in recent months, it will be interesting to see whether they can maintain this intensity after the break or whether the hosts’ superior match fitness will eventually tell.
Shelbourne have the advantage, heading into the second leg in Belfast.
Joey O’Brien’s men would have liked a second goal to give them a greater cushion before next week’s tie.
But 1-0 is probably a fair result. Shels were the better team throughout and wasted a couple of decent chances.
Linfield hung in there and defended well for the most part, without offering much down the other end.
Ultimately, it was a substitution that changed the course of the game.
Sean Boyd’s introduction gave the hosts more of a presence up top.
The striker was integral to setting up Odubeko’s deflected winner, showing great strength to win the ball and hold off the defender before setting up his teammate.
On tonight’s evidence, the Premier Division side should have too much for their rivals in the second leg, but with only one goal in it, Linfield certainly won’t feel too downhearted going into the second game.
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As it happened: Shelbourne v Linfield, Champions League
Shelbourne 1-0 Linfield
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s a huge game for both sides, with at least around €2 million and a guaranteed place in the play-off round of the Uefa Conference League at a minimum.
Shels will be hoping to put a disappointing domestic season behind them — they are fifth in the Premier Division table, 14 points off leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Linfield ostensibly have a disadvantage in that they are only in pre-season — their most competitive match before tonight was in April.
Yet David Healy’s side will be hopeful of causing an upset against a Shels side who were dealt a considerable blow when Damien Duff stepped down as manager last month.
Confirmation of the two team lineups below…
We’re underway…
2 mins: Caffrey bursts forward down the right.
He seemingly tries to pick out Odubeko in the area, but miscues his cross, and it ends up looking more like a shot, going a few inches over the bar.
5 mins: The game has stopped for a few minutes.
A Wood shot from the edge of the area hits off the head of East.
The defender has to go off temporarily after receiving treatment.
7 mins: Shelbourne go close twice!
Caffrey gets the opportunity on both occasions.
Initially, his header from a Wood corner comes back off the post.
He then gets on the end of a lofted through ball, but Johns gets down really well to keep the Shels player’s header out.
12 mins: Fitzpatrick is one-on-one with Barrett.
But the Shels centre-back is up to the task and makes a well-timed challenge.
15 mins: Coote’s cross goes straight into the arms of the goalkeeper, Johns.
Shelbourne continue to apply most of the pressure in these early stages.
17 mins: Archer picks up the game’s first booking.
It’s deserved, for a late challenge on McInroy.
19 mins: Another Linfield central midfielder gets a booking.
This time, it’s their captain, Mulgrew, for a late challenge on Coote.
22 mins: McInroy takes a shot from distance and it deflects narrowly over.
Shelbourne look the sharper and more dangerous team.
22 mins: PENALTY TO SHELBOURNE!
Lunney’s volley deflects off the arm of Hall.
It looked like a harsh decision, and it appears that it will be ruled out by VAR.
25 mins: NO PENALTY!
After consulting the video replay, the referee decides to reverse the decision.
It’s the right call.
30 mins: With 15 minutes until half-time, Shels continue to dominate possession and territory.
Linfield are defending well, though, and the hosts haven’t created too many clear-cut chances, and are threatening less regularly now after a frantic opening.
32 mins: Another nervy moment for Linfield.
Johns comes for a long ball, but doesn’t claim it. The loose ball just doesn’t fall favourably for Caffrey to steer it into the empty net.
38 mins: Goalkeeper Johns dwells on the ball too long.
Odubeko closes him down, and the clearance is deflected out of play.
44 mins: Ledwidge receives the ball in plenty of space, but balloons the ball over the bar.
That sums up the lack of quality in the final third that has undermined Shels’ positive play in the first half.
As I type, Morrison gets on the end of a long ball, but his attempted lob fails to unduly trouble Kearns.
45 mins: Johns gets down to make a comfortable enough save, stopping Wood’s low shot from distance.
There will be four minutes of first-half injury time.
Here’s a look at the penalty that wasn’t…
HALF-TIME: SHELBOURNE 0-0 LINFIELD
David Healy will probably be the happier of the two managers at the break.
Shels dominated for much of the half, with their opponents barely testing Kearns.
Linfield survived an early onslaught and looked increasingly comfortable as the half wore on.
Shels, for all their control of the game, have lacked killer instinct and were increasingly short of ideas as the match developed.
The NIFL Premiership side have defended impressively for much of the contest.
However, given the visitors’ lack of competitive game time in recent months, it will be interesting to see whether they can maintain this intensity after the break or whether the hosts’ superior match fitness will eventually tell.
The second half has begun…
So far, the second half has continued in a similar pattern to the first.
Shelbourne are seeing plenty of the ball, but are quite conservative with it and struggling to hurt their opponents.
53 mins: Caffrey tries a cross, but it goes straight into Johns’ arms.
Odubeko, who was waiting in the area, puts his arms out in exasperation.
55 mins: Shels continue to apply pressure.
The latest attack ends with Wood snatching at a shot that goes off target.
56 mins: Triple sub for Shels
Caffrey, Norris and Coote are off
Wilson, Boyd and Kelly come on.
SHELBOURNE 1-0 LINFIELD (ODUBEKO 58)
Boyd makes an immediate impact.
He holds off a player and lays it off to Odubeko.
The former West Ham youngster’s shot from the edge of the area finds the corner of the net via a slight deflection.
62 mins: Linfield are starting to show more attacking ambition now.
Morrison’s goal-bound shot from the edge of the area is headed away by Barrett.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
68 mins: Ledwidge makes a good run down the left.
But then his delivery goes straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
As I type, Wood puts in a pinpoint cross, but Boyd heads it a few inches wide.
70 mins: Odubeko is down following a strong challenge from McGee.
It looks like he’ll be alright to continue.
73 mins: Linfield make a double change.
Morrison and Mulgrew are off.
Offord and McKee go on.
76 mins: Wood puts through Boyd.
The striker then unselfishly squares it to Wilson, but Johns is equal to the Shels star’s powerful low effort.
78 mins: Another change for Shelbourne.
Wood is replaced by Ellis Chapman.
McInroy gives it to Odubeko on the counter.
The striker curls his effort well over the bar, much to Kelly’s frustration, as the winger was to the right in plenty of space.
82 mins: Shels are finishing the strong and look more likely to add to their advantage than concede.
The hosts’ superior fitness is really apparent now.
Here’s a look at that Wilson chance…
88 mins: Another Shels sub.
The goalscorer Odubeko, who looked like he was tiring, is replaced by John Martin.
89 mins: Nervy moment for Shels.
Kelly, puts his goalkeeper under pressure, playing a short backpass to Kearns.
Offord is nearby and blocks the goalkeeper’s attempted clearance.
Much to the hosts’ relief, the ball deflects into the side netting.
That would have been a disastrous end to the game for the Premier Division outfit.
90 mins: There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
RTÉ’s Kenny Cunningham has named Shelbourne’s Harry Wood as the official Player of the Match.
FULL-TIME: SHELBOURNE 1-0 LINFIELD
So that’s that.
Shelbourne have the advantage, heading into the second leg in Belfast.
Joey O’Brien’s men would have liked a second goal to give them a greater cushion before next week’s tie.
But 1-0 is probably a fair result. Shels were the better team throughout and wasted a couple of decent chances.
Linfield hung in there and defended well for the most part, without offering much down the other end.
Ultimately, it was a substitution that changed the course of the game.
Sean Boyd’s introduction gave the hosts more of a presence up top.
The striker was integral to setting up Odubeko’s deflected winner, showing great strength to win the ball and hold off the defender before setting up his teammate.
On tonight’s evidence, the Premier Division side should have too much for their rivals in the second leg, but with only one goal in it, Linfield certainly won’t feel too downhearted going into the second game.
Right, that’s it from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
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Champions League League of Ireland Liveblog LOI Minute-by-Minute Soccer Linfield Shelbourne