Shels qualify despite late scare - July 20, 2000 Shelbourne 1 Sloga Jogomagnat 1 (Shels win 2-1 on aggregate) Eircom League champions Shelbourne reached the second qualifying round of the Champions League after earning a 1-1 draw against Sloga Jugomagnat of Macedonia at Tolka Park last night. But only for a last-gasp clearance off the line from Owen Heary their dream would have been shattered. Shelbourne set out their stall right from the start, building from defence. They were always at their most dangerous from set-pieces and could have taken the lead in the early stages when a Richie Baker free from the right-hand side floated onto the head of Pat Scully. But the Shelbourne captain missed the opportunity. Scully went close again 20 minutes later when he again got on the end of a set piece - but this time his header was well saved by Sloga goalkeeper Nikoloski. Shelbourne started the second half as they had finished the first and they finally got their reward in the 67th minute when a Mark Hutchison cross was sidefooted into the Slogo net by Garry Haylock. Shels looked well on their way with a two-goal aggregate lead but it all changed in the 81st minute when captain Pat Scully was adjudged to have fouled Beciri in the box. French referee Derrien was in no doubt and he pointed to the penalty spot to the shock of the 7,000 fans packed into Tolka. Nuhiji stepped up and clinically dispatched the spot kick into the left-hand corner of the net, sending Steve Williams the wrong way. Shelbourne nerves jangled from then on and when Tony McCarthy's misjudged clearance fell to the feet of Beciri it looked like the dream was over. Beciri hit a lob over the head of the advancing Williams and it looked a certain goal but Owen Heary came out of nowhere to stop the ball from crossing the line and send Shelbourne into the second round to face Rosenborg.
Shelbourne: Steve Williams, Owen Heary, Tony McCarthy, Pat Scully, Mark Hutchison, Richie Baker, Pat Fenlon, Paul Doolin, James Keddy, Garry Haylock, Dessie Baker |