SHAMROCK ROVERS HAVE stunned Partizan Belgrade on an historic night for Irish football.
The Hoops, coming into the second leg after a 1-1 home result, were one goal down by half time.
Partizan’s Vladimir Volkov rose highest as Rovers were caught out at a corner yet again; he headed down and into the back of the net.
The travelling supporters were celebrating when Pat Sullivan hit a stunning equaliser mid-way through the second period however.
And after the tie went to extra-time, Rovers sealed an incredible victory when Karl Sheppard was fouled by the goalkeeper – Stephen O’Donnell converted calmly.
The home side ended the game with 10 men after Medo Kamara was dismissed for a stamp late on.
Check out Sullivan’s goal:
Rovers now progress to the Europa League group stages.
Elsewhere, both Celtic and Rangers were dumped out of European competition. Daniel Majstorovic was dismissed as the 10-man Bhoys endured a depressing 3-1 defeat against Swiss side Sion.
The tie was in the balance after a goalless first leg in Glasgow but that changed inside a minute when the Hoops defender brought down Guilherme Afonso inside the box. After Majstorovic had walked, Pascal Feindouno scored from the spot and the Bhoys were up against it then.
Rangers crashed out of the Europa League at the hands of Maribor at Ibrox on what was a bitterly disappointing night for Scottish clubs in Europe.
Carlos Bocanegra struck his first goal for his new club to cancel out Dalibor Volas’ opener, but Rangers could not find a second goal to at least force the tie to extra-time.
Birmingham marched into the group stages with a 3-0 defeat of Nacional, Dnipro beat Fulham 1-0 but the Cottagers progress anyway while Stoke also romped to victory.
Spurs and Hearts drew 0-0 at White Hart Lane, meaning Harry Redknapp’s side cruise through by a five-goal margin on aggregate. Rovers could drawn with any of those sides of course.
As well as those clubs, the sides that drop down from the Champions League will also be in tomorrow’s draw.
Wisła Kraków, Maccabi Haifa, Malmo, Odense BK and FC Zürich were eliminated on Tuesday, while Udinese, FC Twente, Copenhagen, Sturm Graz and Rubin Kazan joined them last night.
The draw takes place at noon tomorrow in Monaco.
Partizan Belgrade: Ilic, Volkov, Medo, Rankovic, Tomic, Eduardo (Markovic 85), Vukic (Babovic 58), Ivanov, Jovancic, Sasa Ilic, Rnic.
Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, Sullivan, Murray, Sives, Stevens, McCabe (O’Donnell 68), Rice, Turner, Finn, Dennehy (Sheppard 46), Twigg (Kilduff 102).
