THERE WAS heartbreak for Robbie Keane’s Ferencváros in the Champions League playoffs tonight, as they were beaten by Qarabag 5-4 on aggregate.
The Azerbaijan Premier League team, who knocked out Irish side Shelbourne in the second qualifying round, held a commanding 3-1 first-leg lead.
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But the Hungarians fell just short of a comeback, as they won 3-2 on the night at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
Lenny Joseph put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute, but first-half goals from Leandro Andrade and Abdellah Zoubir appeared to all but seal the hosts’ place in the competition’s league phase.
Hungary international Barnabás Varga’s strike from the penalty spot gave his side hope 10 minutes after the restart before teenager Alex Tóth’s 81st-minute effort set up a tense climax.
The result means there will almost certainly be no Irish player competing in the Champions League proper this season.
Ireland international Callum O’Dowda, who played the first 69 minutes of tonight’s game, was ostensibly the last hope barring any dramatic late transfer activity.
Liam Scales and Adam Idah, who both featured in the league phase last season, were part of the Celtic team upset by Kairat on Tuesday night.
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No Irish players in Champions League as Robbie Keane's Ferencváros crash out
THERE WAS heartbreak for Robbie Keane’s Ferencváros in the Champions League playoffs tonight, as they were beaten by Qarabag 5-4 on aggregate.
The Azerbaijan Premier League team, who knocked out Irish side Shelbourne in the second qualifying round, held a commanding 3-1 first-leg lead.
But the Hungarians fell just short of a comeback, as they won 3-2 on the night at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
Lenny Joseph put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute, but first-half goals from Leandro Andrade and Abdellah Zoubir appeared to all but seal the hosts’ place in the competition’s league phase.
Hungary international Barnabás Varga’s strike from the penalty spot gave his side hope 10 minutes after the restart before teenager Alex Tóth’s 81st-minute effort set up a tense climax.
The result means there will almost certainly be no Irish player competing in the Champions League proper this season.
Ireland international Callum O’Dowda, who played the first 69 minutes of tonight’s game, was ostensibly the last hope barring any dramatic late transfer activity.
Liam Scales and Adam Idah, who both featured in the league phase last season, were part of the Celtic team upset by Kairat on Tuesday night.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Callum O'Dowda UEFA Champions League Disappointment Robbie Keane Soccer Ferencváros