Bohemians have comfortably defeated Estonian champions Levadia Maardu 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying round. A goal from centre-half Shaun Maher and a Glen Crowe double strike were enough to ensure victory over a poor Maardu side.
The Gypsies got off to a flying start when Maher powered in Paul Byrne's deep cross past Ernest Martinsons in the Maardu goal after only one minute. Bohs added to their lead after ten minutes, when another inviting Byrne cross was met by Crowe, who made no mistake with his header. Maardu posed little threat in the first half, and their one chance, a fierce Aleksandr Tatarinov volley, was easily gathered by Bohs keeper Wayne Russell.
Tatarinov turned villain after ten minutes in the second half, when he clumsily fouled Mark Rutherford in the penalty area. Last season's top scorer Crowe stepped up and coolly slotted the spot kick low past Martinsons' right. Vitali Leitan had a great chance to pull back an undeserved away-goal for the visitors, but blazed over from only six yards after 65 minutes.
Bohemians boss Pete Mahon paid tribute to his players after this evening's impressive win. "To win 3-0 was absolutely fantastic. I always said football is about players and that's what it was about tonight. I don't think we could improve much on that game," he said.
Despite the margin of victory, he insisted that Bohs could have got more from the game. "We missed some great chances. Glen Crowe should have scored a third, though if he had gone down it would definitely have been a penalty," he said.
Mahon was pleased with his team's clean sheet. "Not conceding an away goal was crucial. But it's only half time. We have to do the same again," he said.
Bohemians will play the return leg on July 18 in the National Stadium in Kabriorg, Talinn.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
