Shamrock Rovers' hopes in Europe's premier competition took a major hit as they were contained with relative comfort by Breidablik in the first leg of this first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League in Tallaght.
There was no suggestion that Rovers underestimated their Icelandic opposition and they had certainly done their homework, which makes this performance all the more galling, as they struggled to create anything of note in 90 minutes.
An insipid performance from the Dubliners leaves them on the verge of getting no further than the first round in the Champions League and they must encounter Breidablik's astroturf surface next week relatively low on confidence after failing to score for the third game running.
Damir Muminovic's thunderous free-kick proved the difference between the teams
In truth, it never looked especially likely as this game developed and Breidablik were always relatively comfortable.
A goal from Damir Muminovic decided a poor game and, on this evidence, it is hard to see Rovers getting anything next week – but they will know it will be hard to play much worse and a one-goal deficit is just that.
The majority of the 7,216 crowd went home bitterly disappointed, a pocket of visitors getting a lot of love from the visiting players at the end as Tallaght Stadium emptied abruptly.
Leon Pohls accepted his player of the month award pre-game but the sight of Alan Mannus on the Hoops bench will encourage fans as likely they will need the veteran's experience in this campaign.
With a view to the future, Gavin Bazunu's younger brother Todd, 16, warmed up with Pohls and Mannus.
Stephen Bradley likes experience in Europe but this was a starting Rovers XI distinctly devoid of attacking pace, with Neil Farrugia and Trevor Clarke both injured; Johnny Kenny commenced on the bench, Jack Byrne slotting in behind Rory Gaffney.
This was by no means Rovers' best starting side and their passing was poor in the opening stages, Byrne dropping back into his own half to get involved.
It was no surprise that the visitors had the first real opening and it was Pohls who rescued the sluggish Hoops. Faroe Islands international Klaemint Olsen rose to head Hoeskuldur Gunnlaugsson's corner towards goal; it was luck and only luck that saw the ball go in Pohls' vicinity and the German did well to deal with it.
By now, both Gary O'Neill and Pico Lopes had been sloppy in possession and lucky to get away with it. Watts turned and drove wide on 13 minutes, Rovers belatedly alive. Byrne then played Gaffney in one-on-one but he could not quite work a better angle and his shot was parried away by Anton Ari Einarsson – their one genuine opening in the first 45 minutes.
Rovers continued to underwhelm and Kristinn Steindorsson had Dan Cleary fretting but his poor effort underlined a consensus: Rovers would have been behind against better opposition. Byrne's poor pass that was nowhere near Gaffney then had the locals howling in the main stand.
Stuey Byrne says Shamrock Rovers were "as poor as I've seen them in in Europe in three years" in their 1-0 defeat to "technically very good side" Breidablik of Iceland
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 11, 2023
📱 Recap: https://t.co/nv3nLf1ouw
📺 Reaction: https://t.co/nT5wNoxR91 pic.twitter.com/GHmEaHzrwH
This was as poor as Rovers had played in some time and Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson's header over was a further reminder of their lethargy.
More really sloppy Hoops play resulted in the free that led to the opener, Gaffney losing the ball and Cleary, again stretched, committing a poor foul.
Rovers will not be happy with the strength of their defensive wall, which parted, and Pohls was possibly not in the best position – but there is no getting away from the quality of the Muminovic strike, a thunderbolt.
As the interval neared, Rovers finally put a nice move together, and Gaffney pulled his shot wide from Lopes' nice pass.
What might Stephen Bradley have said at half-time to a bunch of players that had hitherto laboured with 37 per cent of the ball despite being strong favourites? The Hoops emerged relatively hastily from the changing rooms and Bradley was sticking with the XI that started for now.
The Irish champions did start the second half with purpose but without creating anything. As such, Graham Burke's introduction for Watts on the hour mark was no surprise. Burke made a pretty immediate impact and soon forced Einarsson to parry away.
Sean Kavanagh's strike was batted away by Einarsson after Towell connected with a fine long ball from Hoare. The lively Johnny Kenny then drove straight at Einarsson, but the night fizzled out.
Shamrock Rovers: Pohls; Hoare, Lopes, Cleary; Finn (Towell 72), O'Neill, Poom, Watts (Burke 60), Kavanagh; Byrne; Gaffney (Kenny 88).
Breidablik: Einarsson; Gunnlaugsson, Margeirsson, Muminovic (Aðalsteinsson 73), Yeoman; Einarsson, Sigurjonsson (Sigurðarson 73), Eyjolfsson; Svanthorsson (Hlynsson 67), Olsen, Steindorsson (Ingvarsson 87).
Referee: Chrysovalantis Theouli (Cyprus).
