Sligo left with massive task in the second leg in Shkodra

LIKE so many other nights in the unspectacular history of League of Ireland sides in Europe, it was a case of so near yet so far for Sligo Rovers.

Last season, the width of a goalpost came between Drogheda United and one of the biggest achievements from a domestic side on the continent.

And, again, it was a case of what might have been as Paul Cook's side conceded two crucial away goals in the first round of the Europa League at the Showgrounds, leaving a huge mountain to climb for the Bit O'Red in the daunting return leg in Albania.

While they pulled a late goal back through local hero Rafael Cretaro's spot-kick, this was a tie that was there for the taking and the defeat will feel all the more cruel because Rovers bossed it from the very start.

"I don't think we were good enough, I don't think we showed enough passion, enough life, I thought the game passed us by. I thought the occasion was far too much for some of our players," said a disconsolate Cook afterwards.

"I thought we got what we deserved, people will say we were unlucky, that doesn't wash with me. We put our players under pressure to go out and enjoy themselves and we froze, whether the players like it or not, and that's the disappointing thing.

"I can't stand people without desire and life to play and tonight we stunk of that in the second half."

The opener was particularly facile for the away side, as right winger Dritan Smajlaj roamed across the field unchallenged before firing a spectacular strike in at Richard Brush's left-hand post.

Owen Morrison had been the focal point of almost every burst forward for Sligo, turning inside onto his good right foot before whipping in an almost identical ball.

The best chance came when the former Derry winger latched onto a long Danny Ventre ball, with a delightful first touch taking him inside his marker, before finding Romuald Boco on the far post, who rattled the bar with his close-range volley.

It was a gilt-edged opportunity for the Benin international and it would have been a deserved opener as they continued to exploit the plentiful gaps in the Vllaznia defence.

Crucial

And it was to prove more crucial on 75 minutes, when Alan Keane deflected in a Noracim Shtubina cross for another devastating blow.

To Rovers' credit, they fought back with great spirit and they could easily have escaped with a draw as they were handed two penalties in the final 10 minutes.

First, Keane, attempting to atone for his own goal, smashed against the bar with nine minutes to go, before Cretaro tucked the second home five minutes later after the Albanians' 'keeper was sent off for striking Richard Ryan with an arm.

But, as they continued to push, it wasn't to be as they are left with a massive task next Thursday in the second leg.

Sligo Rovers -- Brush; Keane, Ventre, Feeney (Noctor 64), Holmes; Morrison, O'Grady, Ryan, Cash (Doherty 73); Cretaro, Boco.

Vllaznia -- Grimaj; Hallagi,Mrvaljevic, Beqiri, Osja; Smajli, Hallbani, Belisha, Shtubin; Kasapi (Bishani 87), Sinani (Balaj 83).

REF -- Christof Virant (Belgium).

(Source: Neil Ahern - IrishIndependent)