NO SHELTER FROM STORM

Classy Croats roar back in the second leg with strikes of sheer brilliance to stun Tolka

- BY MARK McCADDEN

TWO outrageous goals last night extinguished Shelbourne's second effort at securing group stage football but the Reds will fight another day in the Conference League playoffs next week.

Coming into last night's Europa League second-leg 2-1 up, they looked set for a grandstand finish when Mipo Odubeko scored from the spot to level the tie with five minutes remaining.

There was time for a heartbreaking twist as HNK Rijeka snatched an 88th minute winner through Ante Orec, who minutes earlier had conceded the penalty with a tug of John Martin's jersey.

Shelbourne battled bravely, but conceded two screamers, with Toni Fruk living up to his billing as a potential heir to Luka Modric's spot in the Croatia team by scoring a spectacular opener.

Even that, however, was topped by Tiago Dantes' strike 18 minutes from time.

There were more twists to come as the game hurtled towards a dramatic finish, but one twist too many as far as the League of Ireland champions were concerned.

Shelbourne will now play the winners of Linfield's tie with Faroe Islands side Vikingur for a spot in the league phase of the Conference League and they will do so buoyed by last night's performance.