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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Shamrock Rovers v Djurgardens, Europa Conference League group phase

Catch up on all the action as Stephen Bradley’s side got their Group F campaign off the mark.

Hello and welcome along to what is a big night for Shamrock Rovers and indeed the league of Ireland.

Tonight is the first of their Group F ties in the Europa Conference group stage, as they host Djurgardens of Sweden in Tallaght.

This is the second staging of the third-tier competition and the first time an Irish side will feature, with Rovers (2011) and Dundalk (2016 and 2020) playing in the groups of the Europa League. None of the three qualified for the knockout stages of that competition, with Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk going closest in 2016. 

We’ll have team line-ups for your shortly as we edge towards the 8pm kick-off so do stay with us, and let us know your thoughts on tonight’s game in the comments section below.

For those wishing to watch tonight’s game, you can catch it on Virgin Media Three with coverage commencing at 7.30pm.

Here is how Shamrock Rovers are lining out 

The teams are making their way out now at Tallaght Stadium.

Kick-Off! Shamrock Rovers v Djurgardens

2 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Tallaght Stadium is rocking as the visitors get an early half-chance. Joel Asoro comes sniffing to get on the end of a long ball in but the Rovers can breathe a sigh of relief as they sweep the ball away.

7 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Shamrock Rovers survive another danger moment. It’s a super free-kick from Eriksson as he swerves the ball in towards the back post. There’s appeals for a handball against Rovers following a header from Gustave Wikheim as the ball goes out for a corner.

They make nothing of it but they come advancing again to send the ball across the Rovers box, but again Stephen Bradley’s side are spared from conceding an early goal.

8 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

That’s a bit better from Rovers. They’re carrying possession into Djurgardens’ half of the field. Andy Lyons earns a corner at the end of it.

10 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Early substitution for Rovers as Seán Hoare comes off with an injury. Daniel Claery comes in to replace him.

15 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Another corner for Djurgardens. The goalkeeper unleashes a monster of a throw from his goal area which clears about 50 or 60 metres. Edvardsen forces the corner at the end of it.

The ball scrambles about from the opportunity but there’s no clear shot at the Rovers net and they come away with the ball again.

17 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Djurgardens take back a bit of the control again, spraying passes around without much pressure from Rovers. A long ball is floated in towards Asoro but there’s just a bit too much mustard on it and it goes out for a goal kick.

22 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Good save from Alan Mannus! It was Hampus Finndel who had the attempt at goal after a Chris McCann pass came to Asoro. Stunning effort from the edge of the box but the Rovers keeper collected the ball with ease.

26 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Good defensive work from Rovers, particularly from the substitute Cleary, which ends in a free for Dylan Watts.

27 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Another inviting free-kick from Erikkson but it’s a free out as Sabovic brushes his arm against the ball while trying to run through the Rovers cover.

27 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Nice play from Greene to engineer a corner by back-heeling the ball into a Djurgardens which goes out over the end line. They do little from the kick though as the delivery is gathered easily by keeper Vasyutin.

32 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Free given against Seán Gannon after dishing out a heavy tackle, but there’s no malice in it and no card follows.

35 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Very nervy moment there for the hosts, and Cleary will be very relieved they got away with that. Edvardsen pounces on a defensive error and has a two-on-one but he bizarrely takes the shot too early and it’s an easy save for Mannus in the end.

Sabovic has a chance moments later from a corner, but his effort sails well over the bar. It takes a deflection on the way to result in another corner.

41 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

More great work from Watts to control the ball and earn another free. He’s getting on a lot of promising ball in the first half. 

44 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Finn concedes a free in another dangerous position as Wikheim stands over it. He whips it in high and they play it about before spreading the play back over towards Wikheim.

The ball is sent back into the box where Danielson meets with a strong header, but Mannus gathers.

Half-Time! Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

And that’ll do for the first half. No major chances for either side, really. Rovers have come under pressure at times, but they’re more than holding their own in front of the home crowd.

Second Half! Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

50 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

WHAT A CHANCE!!

Rovers were so close there as Greene does brilliantly to use his body and sprint through on goal. He brings the ball past the keeper and gets a little nudge along the way but the momentum takes him too far away to get a shot off. The ball comes back to Gary O’Neill who also has a go but he can’t get the better of Vasyutin in the goal.

56 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

The pace of the game has dropped a bit as legs start to tire.

59 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Edvardsen should have done better there with basically a free shot at goal. Good work from Finndell to create the chance as the ball is whipped across the Rovers box.

It falls beautifully for Edvardsen but he gets the connection with his left footed shot all wrong and it fizzes off wide of the post.

61 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Both sides are running the bench now for one big push at getting the opening goal with just half an hour left.

65 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Another huge miss for Rovers!

This time it’s Seán Gaffney who has the chance as he gets on the end of an excellent ball over the top from substitute Jack Byrne. The keeper hesitates to allow Gaffney in but the angle is a bit tight and his final product is deflected away.

72 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Watts forces another excellent save from Vasyutin after pouncing on loose possession and shooting on the turn. But the Djurgardens is equal to the effort, and he has been super for the Swedish outfit tonight.

78 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Good save from Mannus and a follow up defensive intervention from Grace to keep Rovers’ net clean.

82 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Into the last 10 minutes now as Byrne sends in a free-kick which Lyons directs over the bear with a header.

87 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Great play from Djurgardens as they work the ball from left to right before delivering a dangerous cross which reaches the head of substitute Radetinac. He’s followed all the way and goes down as he makes contact with the ball. He screams for a penalty but the referee is not interested.

90 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Five minutes of injury time announced.

95 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

The visitors are really putting Rovers under pressure to get a winner. Time is almost up.

Full-Time! Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Djurgardens

So, it’s a share of the spoils for both sides to get their campaign underway. Rovers had some great chances to steal a winner but the Swedish opposition had their opportunities to break the deadlock as well, and overall, it’s probably a fair result.

Next up is Gent away in Belgium on Thursday, 15 September.

Well that’s all from us folks. We hope you enjoyed the coverage!

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