By Glenn Mason
Rubin Kazan outclassed a spirited Shamrock Rovers to ease to a 3-0 win in Group A of the Europa League at Tallaght Stadium.
Goals from internationals Obafemi Martins, Christian Noboa and the impressive Gokdeniz Karadeniz ensured Rubin's clear superiority was rewarded with three points.
Rovers expected a difficult night in their first game at such a high level of the game and so it proved, as the two-time Russian champions exposed the Hoops almost at will.
Ryan Thompson kept the score down and enhanced his own reputation by saving Nelson Valdez's first half penalty.
Rovers battled impressively throughout and there is no shame in losing to a side that beat Barcelona in the Champions League in 2009.
Midfielder Stephen O'Donnell had a chance for a consolation but he also missed from the same spot as Valdez after Gary Twigg was tripped.
Michael O'Neill had stressed in the build-up that his team would compete on this historic night for Irish football. He will have been proud with the way they responded to falling behind and rallied in the closing minutes.
O'Neill sprang something of a surprise in selecting O'Donnell to start and leaving Chris Turner and Karl Sheppard on the bench.
O'Donnell's ability to keep the ball probably swayed O'Neill as he knew Rovers would be under pressure for long periods.
Rubin's expensively assembled team was full of internationals and millionaires, notably former Newcastle striker Martins and Paraguay's Valdez, who have 30 international goals between them.
Italian left-back Salvatore Bochetti and Turkey's Karadeniz added more class on the left.
It was the worst possible start for Rovers as Martins punished poor defending by the home side. Karadeniz's low cross rolled across the box and although Rovers had enough players to clear, Martins swept the ball past Thompson.
There were clearly nerves in the home defence early on and they were lucky not to go two down after ten minutes as Valdez drilled over.
Rovers settled thereafter and O'Donnell provided hope when he headed Rohan Ricketts' cross over under pressure from keeper Sergei Ryzhikov.
Aleksandr Ryazantsev was booked for a combination of two challenges on Ricketts as the home side began to exert some pressure on their more lauded opponents.
Rovers were always susceptible to the pace of the Rubin attack and Martins gave a glimpse of why they paid €17m for him after 35 minutes.
The Nigerian raced past Sullivan and Sives on the left, before Sives pushed him over in the box and referee Zsolt Szabo pointed to the spot.
However, the curse of the car park end struck again as Thompson kept out Valdez's spot-kick and Dan Murray cleared the rebound.
Thompson was alert moments later as he flew off his line to clear after Bebras Natcho's pass had put Karadeniz through on goal.
Martins made way at half-time for Petr Bystrov and the substitute made an immediate impact as his cross lead to the second goal.
Conor McCormack's clearing header dropped nicely on the edge of the box for Noboa and the Ecuadorian smashed the bouncing ball past Thompson.
Ronan Finn should have brought his side back into the game but Ryzhikov parried his tame header after Twigg's clever flick-on.
Finn and McCormack were then called ashore as O'Neill tried to inject some pace into the Rovers attack by bringing on Billy Dennehy and Ciaran Kilduff.
Before the substitutes could have any impact, Rovers were three down after a fine passing move by Rubin.
The classy Karadeniz put the result beyond any doubt with a superb strike that went in off the underside of the bar.
O'Donnell was given the chance to repeat his heroics of Belgrade after a rare foray forward for Rovers resulted in César Navas tripping Twigg in the area.
However, the midfielder added his name to the growing list of players to have missed penalties at that end as Ryzhikov saved with his leg.
With Rovers looking briefly dejected, Rubin poured forward and Natcho saw his daisycutter come back off the foot of the post.
However, the home side were determined to end the game on a positive note and only a lack of composure in the area prevented them finding the net.
The late rally saw Dan Murray head over, Enda Stevens fail to connect with Kilduff's cut back and Turner fluff a chance from six yards, while Dennehy's low free-kick was pushed away by Ryzhikov.
Rubin may have taken a comprehensive victory on the night, but the home fans left in full voice and looking forward to the next instalment of the adventure against Spurs at White Hart Lane in two weeks.
Shamrock Rovers: Thompson; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Stevens; Finn (Kilduff '56), Rice, O'Donnell, McCormack (Dennehy '56), Ricketts (Turner '64); Twigg.
Subs not used: Brush, McCabe, Sheppard, Paterson.
Rubin Kazan: Ryzhikov; Kaleshin (Ansaldi '75), Sharonov, César Navas, Bochetti; Noboa, Natcho; Gokdeniz Karadeniz, Ryazantsev, Martins ( Bystrov h/t); Valdez (Dyadun '64).
Subs not used: Arlauskis, Kasaev, Eremenko, Kverkvelia.
Booked: Ryazantsev, César Navas, Dyadun, Sharonov.
Referee: Zsolt Szabo (Hungary)
Attendance: 6,900.
