Odds BK 2-1 Shamrock Rovers (Odds BK win 4-1 on aggregate)
Late strikes from Ole Jorgen Halvorsen and Steffen Hagen were more than enough as Odds BK ended Shamrock Rovers’ Europa League hopes at the Skagerak Arena.
Rovers craved the first goal of the game, but in truth it never looked like coming as a measured Odds performances sees the Norwegians go through to meet Elfsborg of Sweden in the third qualifying round.
The only consolation for Rovers on the night came from Gavin Brennan’s last-minute goal.
Rovers’ boss Pat Fenlon made one change from the first leg with Brandon Miele returning to the side on the right as Marty Waters was dropped to the bench.
In a surprise move by Odds’ boss Dag-Eilev Fagermo, Canadian international striker Olivier Occéan and midfielder Jone Samuelsen were rested to the bench with Sunday‘s Tippeligaen game at home to Tromso in mind.
Occéan scored both goals in their 2-0 first leg win in Dublin, while Samuelsen was arguably their best player at Tallaght Stadium.
In an even start to the game, Rovers’ Gary McCabe had the first shot in anger with a long-range effort well off target 10 minutes in.
Rovers threatened again from their first set-piece four minutes later, Ryan Brennan slicing his header wide from McCabe’s diagonal free kick.
Hoops’ first scare arrived a minute later on the counter. Halvorsen broke on the right to feed the run of Oliver Berg whose low pull-back was well cut out by the watchful Luke Byrne.
Simon Madden was then there on the opposite flank with an important interception to take the ball off the toe of Rafik Zekhnini after Chukwuma Akabueze and Fredrik Nordkvelle worked Odds first real opening on 22 minutes.
The chances were coming now for Odds with Akabueze blasting a 20-yard drive which Craig Hyland was grateful was straight at him.
Patrick Cregg then bravely blocked a stinging shot from Nordkvelle on the edge of the area.
With Occéan on from the start of the second half, Odds should have been two goals up inside five minutes.
A shout for a handball by Rovers at one end was ignored.
Odds broke with Halvorsen’s cross somehow scooped over the bar by Zekhnini for an absolute sitter.
Emil Jonassen and Occéan then combined to set up Berg who also contrived to blaze over the top from close range.
A loose pass back at the other end gifted Patrick Cregg a sniff of goal, but his scuffed shot was comfortable for Sondre Rossbach.
The Odds keeper really had to work on 55 minutes, though, from Rovers’ first clear-cut chance.
Gavin Brennan and Cregg worked the ball to Mikey Drennan on the left side of the area and his well-struck shot was pushed round a post by Rossbach.
Miele might have done better minutes later when, with time and space on the right, he instead blazed over the bar.
Odds then made the breakthrough on the night on 71 minutes. Byrne’s weak header was picked up by Samuelsen, who skipped to the end line to cross low for Halvorsen to drill home.
Home captain Hagen added the second on 85 minutes with a bullet header at the far post from Espen Ruud’s corner.
Rovers got some joy on the night right on 90 minutes. Madden’s deep cross from the right was knocked back by Danny North and Gavin Brennan swept the ball home from eight yards.
Odds BK: Sondre Rossbach; Espen Ruud, Lars-Kristian Eriksen (Vegard Bergan 78), Steffen Hagen, Emil Jonassen; Oliver Berg, Ardian Gashi, Fredrik Nordkvelle (Jone Samuelsen 62); Ole Jorgen Halvorsen, Chekwuma Akabueze (Olivier Occéan h/t), Rafik Zekhnini.
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Dave Webster, Luke Byrne; Gary McCabe, Patrick Cregg (Cian Kavanagh 67); Brandon Miele (Danny North 80), Ryan Brennan, Gavin Brennan; Mikey Drennan.
Referee: Marius Avram (Romania).
