It’s the first of two big nights for Shelbourne as they travel to Azerbaijan for the return leg next week.
The winner of the tie will advance to the third qualifying round, where they will face either Shkëndija of North Macedonia or Romania’s FCSB in the first and the second week of August, with the former holding a 1-0 lead from their first-leg encounter yesterday.
Qarabag are favourites to progress — they last made the Champions League group stages in 2018, but they have competed in the Europa League group stages/league phase in six of the last seven seasons and thus have extensive European experience.
Shels, by contrast, last made the third qualifying round for the Champions League in 2004, following a memorable 4-3 aggregate win over Hajduk Split.
Nevertheless, the Dublin side are no strangers to upsetting the odds — few had tipped them to triumph in the Premier Division last year.
And Qarabag fared poorly in the Europa League last year, finishing bottom of the league phase and losing seven out of eight matches.
Defeat, meanwhile, would not end the Irish side’s interest in Europe, as it would see them transferred to the Europa League third qualifying round.
In the end, 3-0 is slightly harsh on Shels, but they were outclassed by a superior team.
The hosts were largely outplayed in the first half.
In the early parts of the second half, Joey O’Brien’s men started to get more possession and territory.
But they ultimately couldn’t create enough, with their attacking players all having a quiet night.
A couple of defensive errors in the dying minutes were then ruthlessly punished by Qarabag to seal a deserved win for the visitors.
Barring a minor miracle, it looks like Shels are heading out of the Champions League, with tonight’s result rendering next week’s trip to Baku a formality.
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As it happened: Shelbourne v Qarabag, Champions League
Shelbourne 0-3 Qarabag
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s the first of two big nights for Shelbourne as they travel to Azerbaijan for the return leg next week.
The winner of the tie will advance to the third qualifying round, where they will face either Shkëndija of North Macedonia or Romania’s FCSB in the first and the second week of August, with the former holding a 1-0 lead from their first-leg encounter yesterday.
Qarabag are favourites to progress — they last made the Champions League group stages in 2018, but they have competed in the Europa League group stages/league phase in six of the last seven seasons and thus have extensive European experience.
Shels, by contrast, last made the third qualifying round for the Champions League in 2004, following a memorable 4-3 aggregate win over Hajduk Split.
Nevertheless, the Dublin side are no strangers to upsetting the odds — few had tipped them to triumph in the Premier Division last year.
And Qarabag fared poorly in the Europa League last year, finishing bottom of the league phase and losing seven out of eight matches.
Defeat, meanwhile, would not end the Irish side’s interest in Europe, as it would see them transferred to the Europa League third qualifying round.
Confirmation of the Shels starting XI…
We’re underway…
3 mins: Gannon makes a good tackle to stop the danger man Zoubir in his tracks.
But the defender then passes it straight to Bicalho, who can’t hit the target with a low shot from the edge of the area.
6 mins: This time, Gannon can’t stop Zoubir.
The Qarabag captain turns the Shels defender inside out, but his low shot is a few inches wide.
7 mins: So close! Wilson’s diving header from Coote’s cross is blocked.
It then falls to Gannon, whose shot comes back off the post and threatens to creep over the line before the ball is cleared.
8 mins: Axundzadə beats Barrett for pace.
His subsequent low shot is saved, and Zoubir can’t convert the rebound.
It’s been an entertaining, action-packed start to the game.
SHELBOURNE 0-1 QARABAG (LEANDRO 12)
Zoubir slips through Bayramov down the left on the overlap.
The full-back’s low cross finds Leandro Andrade, who is in the right place to tap home.
Wilson has come off worst in a 50:50 challenge.
He’s down receiving treatment after what looked like a painful knock to the knee.
18 mins: Wilson can’t continue and has to be carried off on the Shels’ staff members’ shoulders.
It’s a like-for-like replacement, as Liverpool loanee James Norris comes on in his stead.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
24 mins: More nervy moments for Shelbourne.
Healy parries away Axundzadə’s low shot from a tight angle for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, the same player hits the upright after meeting a cross on the volley.
Shels are getting outplayed and need to be careful they don’t lose this tie in the first leg.
Zoubir plays through Axundzadə.
But the attacker’s powerful strike is straight at Healy, and the goalkeeper parries it away.
34 mins: Shels have steadied the ship in recent minutes, with Qarabag less dominant.
But aside from that Gannon chance, Joey O’Brien’s side haven’t created too much in attack.
37 mins: Barrett does well to divert Zoubir’s low shot away for a corner.
The majority of the game is still being played in Shels’ half.
42 mins: Nervy moment for Qarabag.
Ledwidge’s header is flicked on by Barrett, and Buntić requires two attempts to gather the ball, with Odubeko nearby.
Moments later, Wood’s ambitious low shot about 30 yards out goes wide.
44 mins: Gannon gets booked for a late challenge.
Axundzadə seemed to exaggerate the contact to ensure a yellow was brandished.
Moments later, Bayramov curls a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
There will be three minutes of additional time.
HALF-TIME: SHELBOURNE 0-1 QARABAG
Joey O’Brien needs to change something, as Qarabag were comfortably the superior side in that first half.
Shelbourne occasionally threatened, notably Gannon’s great chance early on, but the visitors have controlled the match for the most part.
The main positive for the Dublin side is that they are not further behind.
They surely need a goal and at least a draw to take on their travels next week to have any hope of progression.
It would consequently be no surprise if Sean Boyd was introduced after the break.
The 27-year-old striker made an impact off the bench against Linfield and will be hoping to make the difference again tonight.
Here’s a look at that Shelbourne near miss…
Shels have made a change at the break.
Gannon is replaced by Mark Coyle.
The second half has begun…
46 mins: Qarabag go close!
Bolt crosses for Addai, but Healy gets down well to save the header that looked bound for the corner of the net.
54 mins: McInroy picks out Ledwidge with a great long pass.
But the Qarabag defender Silva is alert to the Shels star’s low cross and averts the danger with Wood lurking nearby.
57 mins: Coote and Wood link-up nicely on the edge of the area.
Wood’s subsequent effort goes narrowly over after taking a deflection.
Lunney puts McInroy under pressure with a pass, and Shels lose it in a dangerous area.
Qarabag counter through Addai, but Barrett does well to get a partial block and ensure the goalbound shot does not hit the target.
66 mins: Shels make a double change.
Coote and Caffrey are off.
O’Sullivan and Martin come on.
67 mins: Leandro Andrade gets the ball on the edge of the area, but his low shot is comfortably saved by Healy.
Moments later, Bolt gets booked for a late challenge on Norris.
71 mins: So close!
What looks like an attempted cross by Barrett comes back off the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Wood is the latest player to go into the book for an ill-timed challenge.
74 mins: Qarabag look happy to sit back and hold onto their 1-0 lead now.
Shels are seeing plenty of the ball, but can they find the quality needed for an equaliser?
77 mins: Shels make another change, as Boyd comes on for Odubeko.
Two Qarabag subs see Bolt and Andrade replaced by Hüseynov and Kashchuk.
SHELBOURNE 0-2 QARABAG (KASHCHUK 81)
That’s game and probably tie over.
Shels’ defence is split open as Hüseynov is sent through on goal.
The substitute chips it over Healy, and it hits the post, but Kashchuk is in the right place to tap home the rebound.
SHELBOURNE 0-3 QARABAG (Axundzadə 85)
That’s very harsh on Shels, who have been better in the second half, but it’s a poor goal to concede.
Ledwidge tries to head the ball back to Healy, but it goes over the goalkeeper, and Axundzadə runs through for an easy finish.
Here’s a look at the second goal…
There will be three minutes of additional time…
FULL-TIME: SHELBOURNE 0-3 QARABAG
So that’s that.
In the end, 3-0 is slightly harsh on Shels, but they were outclassed by a superior team.
The hosts were largely outplayed in the first half.
In the early parts of the second half, Joey O’Brien’s men started to get more possession and territory.
But they ultimately couldn’t create enough, with their attacking players all having a quiet night.
A couple of defensive errors in the dying minutes were then ruthlessly punished by Qarabag to seal a deserved win for the visitors.
Barring a minor miracle, it looks like Shels are heading out of the Champions League, with tonight’s result rendering next week’s trip to Baku a formality.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Stay tuned on the site as we’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
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UEFA Champions League League of Ireland Liveblog LOI Minute-by-Minute Soccer Qarabağ Shelbourne