Shels stunned after late goals wreck hopes

By MARK McCADDEN THERE is little in football that can deliver a gut-punch like the blow suffered by Shelbourne in the closing stages of their Champions League clash with Qarabag last night.

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In the ascendancy and chasing an equaliser against their experienced opponents, Shels were on the end of a one-two that ended the League of Ireland side's hopes of progressing in Europe's top-tier competition.

As things stood, with nine minutes remaining, there was still some drama to be played out next week in Azerbaijan. The Reds would have taken heart from their reaction to Leandro Andrade's early opener, in how they tightened up defensively and created openings of their own.

Then their second-half performance had their opponents on the back-foot, as their aggressive attacking play clearly had them rattled.

Tolka Park was bouncing and the visitors’ clear discomfort led to them doing what they could to disrupt Shelbourne’s momentum and run down the clock, including lengthy stoppages with players hitting the turf and seeking the comfort of the physios sponge.

And then the first blow to silence the Riverside and all but end Shels’ interest in the Champions League - a goal against the run of play.

Four minutes later, a messy third for Qarabag and the tie was done.

Joey O'Brien's men were always going to be up against it, taking on a team packed with European experience and with a handful of internationals.