Super-sub Dylan Watts was sprung off the bench to head home a late equaliser to secure a vital point for ten-man Shamrock Rovers in tonight's UEFA Conference League 1-1 draw with APOEL at Tallaght Stadium.
Following a hard-fought first half, where Stephen Bradley’s side hung on at times against the impressive Cypriot champions, the Hoops were then hit with a hammer blow five minutes into the second half as Neil Farrugia was sent off.
APOEL capitalised on the extra man almost immediately and looked to be cruising following Konstantinos Laifis 59th-minute opener.
However, the home side gambled in the final 20 minutes, emptying the bench and it eventually reaped its reward as Watts bagged the injury-time equaliser.
It was one-way traffic for the opening ten minutes as the visitors came to attack, and to do so with real style and substance as they ran at Rovers from either flank and through the middle, with Marquinhos and David Abagna looking lively from the off, with the former testing Leon Pohls inside the opening 60 seconds.
It took Rovers that entire time before they could make their first foray out of the half as Danny Mandroiu was sent flying down the wing, and while Johnny Kenny looked to have lost his marker on the edge of the box, the delivery was intercepted.
And it was Marquinhos again who conjured something out of nothing in a packed penalty area as he span and shot just beyond the far post in the 17th minute with APOEL again controlling the tempo of the entertaining encounter.
Direct from Rovers in the 22nd minute as Kenny went racing in behind the static APOEL defence, however, the referee appeared to play on as the striker was knocked off balance before snatching at a shot that flew high and wide.
More APOEL pressure led to a half-chance as a long ball caused a moment of commotion as Pohls was unsure on edge of the box and chested clear before it was hooked back over his head, but thankfully for the stranded keeper it bounced wide of the post.
With half an hour on the clock, Abagna unleashed a wild, yet off-target shot from distance; the first signs of frustration perhaps for the stylish side who were unable to cut through a well-organised Rovers unit.
And the Hoops did show signs that they were growing in confidence, with Gary O’Neill always looking for the ball as the home side enjoyed moments of positive possession without really penetrating deep into APOEL territory, however.
The visitors ended the half in the ascendancy, and yet Rovers looked comfortable behind the ball as they eased through the final minutes of the opening period with nothing to separate the sides at the break.
It was Rovers who started the second half on the front foot and enjoyed an early chance on target – their first of the game – when O’Neill rolled Kenny through on the edge of the box, and while there was plenty of venom behind his shot, the keeper was behind it and saved easily.
APOEL wasted little time responding as Dieumerci Ndongala raced down the right and fed Youssef El-Arabi bursting into the box, and while there was a moment of anxiety for the home side as a cheeky back-heel was attempted, the execution was not as impressive.
The Hoops were reduced to ten men as Neil Farrugia was hit with a second yellow card in the 50th minute; the midfielder picked up a soft caution in the first half and again will feel harshly done by as he made the minimum of contact with Marquinhos before getting his marching orders.
And Rovers were almost punished immediately as APOEL enjoyed another chance on goal, however, Sergio Tejera’s shot was crucially blocked by Dan Cleary.
Pohls was then called into action and produced a wonderful reflex save to maintain parity in the 58th minute, but from the resulting corner, the visitors took the lead thanks to a powerful header from Konstantinos Laifis.
Bradley was forced to rejig his formation, with Markus Poom making way, and the home side did well to shut up shop for a few vital minutes after the goal to keep the deficit to the minimum.
Richie Towell was then sent into the action as the Hoops looked to remain positive going into the last 20 minutes, knowing that a chance or two may present itself.
And the perfect opportunity arrived in the 74th minute as the ever-energetic Kenny raced into the box, however, the striker would prove too honest as he was clipped in the box but stayed on his feet and slammed his shot at the keeper – the Hoops missing out on a near-certain penalty opportunity, while APOEL would probably have been reduced to ten men in the process.
Jack Byrne was then sent on to face his former side, with the creative midfielder tasked with rescuing something, and Dylan Watts and Aaron Greene were also sent on as Rovers threw caution to the wind as the game moved into the final ten minutes.
APOEL appeared to be tiring somewhat, but they remained capable of bursting into life, looking to exploit the space that existed in the Rovers half, and Marquinhos should have wrapped up the points with five minutes to play as he capitalised on a defensive error but was unable to convert the close-range effort.
Five minutes of injury time as Rovers maintained their push for a late leveller, and the South Stand roared along as a late corner was earned.
And then the Hooped faithful erupted as the tempting delivery was timed perfectly by Watts, who guided the ball home from close range.
The game finally resumed following the extended stay behind the goal as Rovers enjoyed their European moment with their supporters, however, there was still time for either side to snatch a late, late winner.
But Rovers kept the foot on the gas as the shell-shocked APOEL unit were unable to get going again, and in the end it was the home side celebrating an unlikely point to kick off their Conference campaign in style.
Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls; Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Josh Honohan, Markus Poom (Cory O’Sullivan 54), Gary O’Neill (Richie Towell 64), Neil Farrugia, Darragh Nugent (Jack Byrne 77), Danny Mandroiu (Aaron Greene 77); Johnny Kenny (Dylan Watts 77)
APOEL: Vid Belec (capt); Mateo Sušić (Issam Cheabake 72), Xavi Quintillà, Radosav Petrovic, Konstantinos Laifis (Lasha Dvali 89); Georgi Kostadinov, Sergio Tejera, David Abagna (Panagiotis Kattirtzis 61), Dieumerci Ndongala (Marius Corbu 89), Marquinhos; Youssef El-Arabi (Algassime Bah 72)
Referee: Jeremie Pignard (FRA)
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