Second half goals from in-form strikers Tommy Jonsson and Stefan Selakovic ended Bohemians' dreams of Champions League glory this season. The Swedish side dumped out the Dublin outfit at the Orjans Valls Stadium to set up a third qualifying round clash with Belgian giants Anderlecht next week. It was always going to be an uphill task for Bohemians, after last week's 2-1 home defeat at Dalymount Park.
But the Republic of Ireland champions provided stubborn opposition early on in tonight's second leg. Former Celtic man Paul Byrne had two long range efforts, the first saved by Halmstads keeper Hakan Svensson and the next just two minutes later narrowly over the bar.
Then former Wolves man Glen Crowe volleyed just wide of the target from a narrow angle as the visitors settled down to their mixture of defence and counter-attack.
But the Dublin side had a real let-off just two minutes before the interval following a neat exchange between Torbjorn Arvidsson and Selakovic. Robert Andersson took advantage but his shot from 14 yards was deflected by the feet of keeper Wayne Russell.
Halmstads eventually took the lead on 57 minutes when Mikael Nilsson played a long ball out of defence to striker Andersson. He managed to avoid a tackle from Bohemians' defender Avery John but was then tripped outside the box by keeper Russell, who was shown a yellow card.
Jonsson made no mistake from the resulting free-kick, shooting home at the near post with Russell stranded. Selakovic made victory certain on 68 minutes after Trevor Molloy was dispossessed. Nilsson collected the ball and then Andersson provided the perfect opening for Selakovic to shoot home with deadly accuracy from 23 yards.
Despite the introduction of substitutes Gary O'Neil, Dave Morrison and Dave Hill, the Dublin side could find no way back. And their problems were further completed when central defender Shaun Maher was stretchered off on 64 minutes following an accidental clash of heads.
Bohemians boss Pete Mahon said afterwards: "Good luck to Halmstads in the next round. But I knew that we were always chasing the game after our defeat in Dublin last week, a match we should at least have drawn."
Elsewhere in the Champions League, Rangers won 3-1 at home to Maribor - 6-1 on aggregate. Rangers will face Fenerbache in the third and final qualifying round for the group stages.
In the same round, Liverpool will face Macaabi Haifa - the Israelis easily beat FC Haka of Finland. Barry Town of Wales beat Porto 3-1 tonight but the Portuguese went through 9-3 on aggregate.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
