Floriana crash out of Champions League after heavy 5-1 defeat at Shamrock Rovers

SHAMROCK ROVERS          5

Grace 7; McGovern 28, 48

Burke 61; Byrne 74

FLORIANA     1

Gudelj 13

(Shamrock Rovers win 5-3 on aggregate)

Floriana’s run in this season’s UEFA Champions League came to an end last after they succumbed to a heavy 5-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium, in Dublin.

As the scoreline shows, it was a tough night for the Malta champions who struggled to keep abreast with their opponents who imposed a high-tempo game and managed to fight their way back after losing last week’s opening leg 2-0 at the Centenary Stadium.

In the end, Shamrock Rovers progressed 5-3 on aggregate and will now face Armenian side Ararat Armenia.

Floriana, on their part, will now drop to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.

As expected, Shamrock Rovers came out strongly as they tried to step up the pressure on the Floriana defence.

The home side almost took the lead after four minutes Graham Burke made space for himself on the edge of the area and his shot flashed just wide.

The Rovers had an even better chance two minutes later when John McGovern forced his way through but was denied by a fine save by Gabriel Cioletti.

Their pressure finally yielded an opener when, from a Jack Byrne corner-kick, Lee Grace anticipated Cioletti to head home.

But Floriana soon hit back and they managed to level matters on 13 minutes.

In a swift break, Mustapha Jah turned past his marker before picking up Tomislav Gudelj, who tapped home.

The goal rattled the home side, who tried to restore their authority, and on 20 minutes Cioletti distinguished himself by denying Burke.

When it looked as though Floriana were controlling their opponents, Shamrock restored their advantage.

Brennan did well on the left before sending a teasing cross towards McGovern who headed home.

Floriana tried to fend off Shamrock Rovers’ continuous pressure and in stoppage time, Cioletti managed to push over Byrne’s shot with the aid of the crossbar.

Shamrock Rovers enjoyed a perfect start to the second half, adding a third goal inside the first minute.

Watts served the unmarked McGovern inside the area and the Irish forward fired home to level the tie on aggregate.

Things could have got worse for Floriana as on 53 minutes McGovern almost completed his hat-trick but was denied by Cioletti.

Shamrock completed the comeback on the hour mark when Graham Burke forced his way inside the area and after seeing his first shot block, he rattled home the rebound to put his team 4-1 up and ahead on aggregate.

Substitute Dervisagic should have levelled the tie for Floriana on 70 minutes when he was set up by Kurtalic but the Bosnian forward volleyed over from close in.

The Irish champions all but sealed their place in the next round with a fifth goal on 73 minutes when Jack Byrne rifled the ball home to the delight of the home fans.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: E. McGinty, L. Grace, R. Lopes, C. O’Sullivan, J. Mulraney (65  O. Sobowale), D. Watts (77 N. Razi), J. O’Reilly-O’Sullivan (77 C. Malley), J. Byrne, A. Brennan, J. McGovern (77 M. Noonan), G. Burke (77 J. Afolabi).

FLORIANA: G. Cioletti, C. Zammit Lonardelli, Kauan, O. Spiteri, M. Beerman, F. Varela, A. Kurtalic, G. Romano (63 D. Vella), R. Muric (52 K. Dervisagic), M. Jah, T. Gudelji (71 A. N’Dri).

Referee Joakim Ostling (Sweden FA).

Yellow cards: McGovern, Watts.