Ludogorets

Shamrock Rovers' Champions League qualifying campaign continues this evening. Stephen Bradley's side are in Bulgaria to take on Ludogorets in the first leg of ...

Ludogorets have competed in the Champions League or the Europa League every year since 2013. Stephen Bradley's side are in Bulgaria to take on Ludogorets in the first leg of their second round tie. Stephen Bradley's side have onerous task in Bulgaria

Hello, and welcome to tonight's liveblog. Shamrock Rovers are in Bulgaria for their champions League second qualifying round tie against local champions ...

The third of the evening, a second for the home side. Hoare is furious as the last kick of the game ends in a third goal. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites. Attack after attack for the home side. A yellow and free-kick is the result. He has not had much to do in the second half, but a mix-up between Burke and O’Neill sees Ludogorets break and Santana strike a low effort. Cicinho fouls on the edge of the box. The referee blows for half-time. A backpost cross finds Sotiriou and the ball crashes off the post. A terrific spin in the box gets away from Gary O’Neill. Shamrock Rovers desperately need the half-time whistle. Another corner for the home side. Rory Gaffney is set for a night of hard running.

Reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers are in Bulgaria for their Champions League second qualifying round first leg clash ...

Shamrock Rovers are back in action in the second UEFA Champions League qualifier round, and Bulgarian club Ludogorets await them.

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Second-half revival kept Ludogorets in check until injury-time strike put tie to bed.

Suddenly Rovers had a piece of the contest. The inability to do the basics will grate on Bradley and his players. It was a painful reminder of Ireland’s standing in European football. The scope of the task facing Rovers was evident inside four minutes. There has been plenty of rumours about Bernard Tekpetey forsaking Ludogorets before the season catches fire, with Dutch and Portuguese clubs have been looking to sign the Ghanaian winger. The first goal came from deep.

Beaten in Bulgaria, Shamrock Rovers now need the biggest of miracles in Dublin next week if they are to retain an interest in the Champions League for this ...

Rovers were punished for slack play in added time as Lee Grace tried to play the ball out but Ludogorets pounced and Thiago's shot went in off a Rovers defender. Only for Mannus' save to deny Cauly on 44 minutes it would have been game over but as Ludogorets backed off in the second half, Rovers responded with some strong passages of play, though the closest they came was a shot by Dylan Watts, which was too high, while a Graham Burke cross forced a save from Ludogorets keeper Sergio Padt, and on 83 minutes Sean Kavanagh almost found fellow sub Burke. With just over 90 minutes played, that Rovers revival had hinted that Ludogorets could be vulnerable in the second leg and a 2-0 deficit was difficult to overturn though not impossible, but Thiago popped up in added time to fire home and more or less seal a place in the third round for Ludogorets.

A stoppage-time third goal for Ludogorets in Bulgaria tonight looks to have hurtled Shamrock Rovers out of the Champions League with next week's second leg ...

The late sickener means Ludogorets will be even more tempted to produce a Samba show in Dublin next week. Having gone 66 minutes without forcing a corner, a succession of three from Burke in eight minutes straight after his entrance almost earned a reply through Hoare. Perhaps the introduction of such an attack-minded player could have exposed the back-to-back champions to further damage on a first-half they ended battered and bruised. Cicinho, Brazilian born but a naturalised Bulgarian international, intercepted the ball, Rovers were in retreat mode. Mannus was helpless for that concession and he was beaten again nine minutes later. “We were good in the second, with one or two good chances, and we were playing some good football.