Rovers lost out by two goals to an impressive Flora in Tallinn

Daire Walsh

Shamrock Rovers have been left with it all to do after falling to a 4-2 defeat against Estonian outfit Flora in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn this evening.

Despite Graham Burke and Liam Scales finding the net in either half for the Hoops, a brace of Martin Miller finishes – as well as one each for Sergei Zenjov and Rauno Sappinen – leaves their opponents two goals to the good heading into next Thursday’s second leg in the Tallaght Stadium.

Having comfortably defeated Albania’s KF Teuta Durrës (home and away) in the previous round, Rovers were confident of continuing their winning run. Unfortunately, following Joey O’Brien’s misplaced ball out of defence, Konstantin Vassiljev expertly played in former Blackpool striker Zenjov for a deadlock-breaker on 13 minutes.

There was a further set-back for Rovers just shy of the half-hour mark, when Sappinen laid off to the onrushing Miller, who fired emphatically beyond the reach of Hoops netminder Alan Mannus.

This was throwing down the gauntlet to Stephen Bradley’s men, but Rovers worked themselves back into contention when Burke spectacularly rattled the Flora net in the 43rd-minute.

This was the Dubliner’s sixth goal in European competitions and left them 2-1 in arrears at the break.

Flora maintained their potent attacking threat on the resumption, however, with Sappinen twice going close to restoring their two-goal advantage.

An outstanding save from Mannus denied him on 55 minutes and he also shot over when through on the target three minutes later.

The 25-year-old Estonian finally got it right with 18 minutes remaining, when he was on hand to fire home after Mannus had parried a Zenjov effort.

A determined Rovers side looked set to make an encouraging end to the contest as Scales headed to the net off Burke’s enticing delivery from the right.

That was until Miller found the roof of the net off a Sappinen pull-back to ensure Flora will bring a two-goal cushion into next week’s return fixture.