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Shamrock Rovers were left with work to do after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie.
The Hoops took the lead in the 18th minute through Dylan Watts, but they were pegged back by goals from Aron Bjarnason and Andri Snær Magnason.
Rovers will need to win by two clear goals in the second leg to progress, or by any margin if they win by a single goal and score more away goals than UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal.
The game started brightly for Rovers, who created a number of chances in the opening 10 minutes. However, they were unable to find the breakthrough until the 18th minute, when Watts fired home from close range after being teed up by Ronan Finn.
UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal responded well to going behind and equalized in the 32nd minute through Bjarnason. The Icelandic side then took the lead in the 54th minute through Magnason, who fired home from the edge of the box.
Rovers pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but they were unable to find a way through the UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal defence.
The second leg of the tie will take place at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, July 25th.
Rovers’ performance
Shamrock Rovers were the better team for large parts of the game, but they were ultimately undone by their own profligacy in front of goal. They had a number of chances to score in the first half, but they were unable to take them. In the second half, they continued to create chances, but they were unable to find a way through the UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal defence.
The Hoops will need to be more clinical in front of goal in the second leg if they are to progress to the next round. They will also need to be more solid defensively, as they were caught out on a number of occasions in the first leg.
UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal’s performance
UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal were the underdogs going into the game, but they showed that they are a good side. They were well-organized defensively and they made the most of their chances in attack. They will be confident of progressing to the next round, but they will need to be at their best in the second leg.
The significance of the result
The result is a blow to Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of reaching the Champions League group stage. They will need to win by two clear goals in the second leg or by any margin if they win by a single goal and score more away goals than UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal. However, they will be confident of doing so, as they have a good home record in Europe.
The result is also a significant one for UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal. They are a small club from Iceland and they are not used to playing at this level. However, they showed that they are capable of competing with the best teams in Europe. They will be confident of progressing to the next round and they will be hoping to make history by becoming the first Icelandic club to reach the Champions League group stage.
The future of the tie
The second leg of the tie will be a close-fought affair. Both teams will be confident of winning and they will both be looking to make history. It is sure to be an exciting game and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Conclusion
Shamrock Rovers were left with work to do after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie. The Hoops will need to win by two clear goals in the second leg or by any margin if they win by a single goal and score more away goals than UNG Menntaskóli Vík í Mýrdal. The second leg will be a close-fought affair and it is sure to be an exciting game.
