UCD 1-5 Slovan Bratislava (Slovan win 6-1 on aggregate)
UCD’s Europa League odyssey came to an end in the UCD Bowl after a brave and gutsy performance against Slovan Bratislava.
Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg, the Students were given a mountain to climb after Robert Vittek headed in an away goal four minutes before half-time.
Marko Milinkovic made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half, before Ryan Swan gave the students hope. However, another goal from Kornel Salata and two more from Vittek to complete his hat-trick brought UCD’s dream to an end.
The clock hadn’t struck the 60-second mark when Bratislava landed their first punch of the game, right-back Boris Sekulic’s left-footed shot not troubling keeper Corbett.
The Students, however, were not fazed by the early opening from the visitors, with Chris Mulhall latching onto a loose ball and zipping a shot just wide from 25 yards four minutes later.
The fast opening continued with the Slovak side registering their next attempt on goal after 11 minutes as the student’s scurried to clear in their own box.
Slovan midfielder Richard Lasik sent a 25 yarder just wide of the post after calmly being set up by captain Milinkovic.
While UCD’s attacks were limited, Ryan Swan showed his danger on 20 minutes, producing tricky feet to weave his way past Sekulic, his shot not troubling keeper Mucha.
Corbett earned his corn 60 seconds later, down quickly to stop long-range danger man Milinkovic’s drive from the edge of the box.
The Students worked hard to keep the Slovaks at bay with Jamie Doyle dropping inside from the left to stifle Bratislava in midfield.
The visitors, however, always looked more likely to score, Corbett reacting well to push Krelak’s effort wide on 33 minutes.
Thomas Boyle was the saviour from the resulting corner as Miklos caused havoc in the Students' defence, Sekulic unable to poke home after Boyle’s pressure.
The visitors grabbed their precious away goal on 41 minutes, breaking quickly after UCD had pressed high in enemy territory.
Kubik’s left-wing cross found Milinkovic free at the back post and the Slovan captain calmly headed across goal for Vittek to power a header past Corbett.
Slovan looked to finish the tie off from the opening moments of the second half, Jakub Podany’s cross finding Milinkovic, whose curler shot wide of the post.
Two chances went a begging for Bratislava on 48 minutes. Krelack couldn’t get enough power in his header before Corbett batted Stefanik’s shot away.
Captain Milinkovic showed a calm finesse to dance his way into the UCD penalty area before slotting home into the bottom left hand corner one minute later.
The students showed grit and determination, never giving up on the tie, even though they now needed four goals to progress to the third qualifying round.
Ryan Swan snatched his third European goal on 57 minutes, collecting a loose ball and recovering from a stumbleto race on and slide the ball home.
Slovan keeper Mucha was at his best two minutes later, quickly denying Swan after Mulhall slipped UCD’s record European goal scorer in one-on-one.
Slovan sealed their spot in the third qualifying round, adding their third goal of the evening on 81st minutes when Kornel Salata landed a free header past Niall Corbett.
Slovan put the gloss on the victory in added time with Vittek sealing his hat-trick, a scoreline the Students didn’t deserve.
Robert Vittek rounded Corbett on 91 minutes to slot home his second of the evening, before heading home two minutes later to complete his hat-trick.
UCD: Niall Corbett, Micheal Leahy, Maxim Kouogun, Tomas Boyle, Mark Langtry, Chris Mulhall (Samir Belhout 88), Robert Benson, Gary O’Neill, Dylan Watts (Conor Cannon 50), Jamie Doyle (Eoin Kirwan 75), Ryan Swan.
SK Slovan Bratislava: Jan Mucha, Boris Sekulic, Martin Dobrotka (David Hudak 69), Kornel Salata, Jakub Podany, Marko Milinkovic (Davd Hudak 84), Richard Lasik, Samuel Stefanik, Frantisek Kubik (Filip Orsula 67), Adam Krelak, Robert Vittek
Referee: Ognjen Valjic (Bosnia)
