Brondby 2
Shelbourne 0
By Paul Doyle
09/08/01: Shelbourne tumbled to a 2-0 defeat in Denmark tonight but produced enough threatening moments to suggest they could still progress to the second round of the UEFA Cup.
Shels fell behind to Brondby, who are already three games into their domestic season and top of the Danish league, after just 15 minutes. Steaming through a large gap on the right-hand side of the Shels defence, Rofal Niznik lured ‘keeper Steve Williams from his goal before slipping the ball sideways to Mattias Jonson who slotted it home with ease.
And second Brondby goal on 80 minutes, a powerful header from Rubens Bagger, was tough on Shels who had twice gone close to scoring themselves. In the first half Dessie Baker delivered a wonderful cross to Richie Foran, who steered his header on target but found the Danish keeper to in solid form.
Dessie Baker was again to the fore in the second half when he dived at a cross from his brother Richie to diver the ball towards the bottom corner of the goal. Again, however, goalkeeper Mogens Groth reacted superbly to palm it clear.
In the final minute, substitute Stephen Geoghegan got himself sent off for violent conduct.
Meanwhile at Flancare Park, a Keith O’Connor strike after 15 minutes appeared to have given victory to Longford Town in their first ever European tie. But with only 6 minutes left on the clock, Stefan Yurokov spoiled the party by grabbing an equaliser for Bulgarian side Litekh Lovech.