Shamrock Rovers will now need to win their last two game to progress to the knockout stages of this season's Conference League after going down by the odd goal in three to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in front of a crowd of over 9,000 at Tallaght Stadium.
Trailing 2-0 against a side that have graced the Champions League and have played over 300 European ties, Rovers got a late lifeline as sub Conor Malley produced a moment of magic to cut the deficit in the 87th minute.
However, despite a frantic finish, the League of Ireland champions couldn’t get an equaliser which would have been hard on a classy Shakhtar who were deserving winners on the night.
Rovers now turn their attention to their penultimate game in the league phase away to Icelandic side Breidablik on Thursday 11 December, before concluding against Hamrun Spartans from Malta a week later.
The home side were missing the likes of Josh Honohan and Danny Mandroiu from their FAI Cup-winning team and had ex-Irish international Graham Burke on the bench as manager Stephen Bradley opted to play John McGovern alongside cup hero Rory Gaffney
The Shakhtar players, meanwhile, emerged from the tunnel onto the Tallaght Stadium pitch with their shoulders draped with the blue and yellow Ukrainian national flag as applause for the gesture rang around the ground.
The away support also held up a banner which read 'Thank You Éire’ in response to Ireland taking in refugees from the war with Russia.
Both sides began briskly having to cope with a difficult swirling wind and forced a series of early corners but we had to wait until the 20th minute before the first real chance: Ed McGinty saved a close-range shot from striker Vincius Tobias with his legs.
But Rovers, who survived a goalmouth scramble from the resultant corner, fell behind in the 24th minute as Brazilian Kaua Elias scored his third Conference League goal of the season, guiding home a Tobias cross from close to the penalty spot.
The hosts had to soak up a lot of pressure as the visitors searched for a second, but a Rovers chance saw John McGovern head a Danny Grant right-wing cross just past the post.
That near miss energised the home side and McGovern went even closer moments later as his shot from inside the area beat the Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk who was relieved to see the effort cleared off the line by Valeriy Bondar.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, Bradley's side started the second period well and had a penalty appeal turned away by the referee as Danny Grant tumbled in the area under pressure from Riznyk who then dived full length to save one-handed a shot from Matt Healy from outside the area.
At the other end McGinty too was at full stretch to deny Elias his second goal in the 58th minute with a superb save to deny the 19-year-old's goal-bound header.
The Hoops boss then made his first substitutions of the night, bringing on Ireland Uunder-17 hero Michael Noonan, along with Malley and Burke.
But the Ukrainian side laid siege on the Rovers goal in the remaining minutes and Shakhtar doubled their lead through Nazaryan’s free kick on 77 minutes, a goal that had a huge slice of luck as it deflected off Burke in the wall, deceiving McGinty.
Elias had the ball in the net three minutes later as the 900-strong away support celebrated what they thought was their third goal, but after a VAR check it was ruled out after a foul on Roberto Lopez from a Shakhtar corner.
Credit to Rovers though who ensured a nervy finish for the Ukrainians when Malley pulled a goal back with a delicious dink over Riznyk coming in on the angle from the right-hand side
But time ran out for the Hoops and they nearly conceded again as McGinty made another big save as the clock ticked towards the 90. He came quickly from his line to deny Elias who was in the clear and one on one with the Rovers keeper.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes ©, Dan Cleary; Danny Grant, Dylan Watts (Aaron Greene 87), Matt Healy, Darragh Nugent (Conor Malley 68) , Cory O'Sullivan; Rory Gaffney (Graham Burke 68) John McGovern (Michael Noonan 68).
Shakhtar Donetsk: Dmytro Riznyk; Vinicus Tobias, Valeriy Bondar, Mykola Matviyenko ©, Irakli Azarov (Pedro Henrique 74); Yehor Nazaryna; Lucas Ferrera (Artem Bondarenko74), Dmytro Kryskiv (Oleh Ocheretko 74) Isaque (Luca Meirelles 90+1); Newertton (Yukhym Konoplia 84); Kaua Elias.
Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)
