Bohemians 0 Red Bull Salzburg 1
(Salzburg win 2-1 on aggregate)
A heartbreaking, late defensive error deprived Bohemians of a deserved place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League to the huge disappointment of the 5,000 strong crowd at Dalymount Park.
Bohs were just three minutes away from a meeting with Dinamo Zagreb next week when disaster struck to bely an otherwise superb defensive display.
In attempting to get the ball back to Brian Murphy, right-back Mark Rossiter’s backward header fell short and lurking substitute Patrick Jezek pounced to loop a clever header over the stranded Bohs keeper.
It was a dreadful way for Bohs to go out as they contained and frustrated the talented Austrian side for much of the game.
Jason Byrne looped a header over the bar from Killian Brennan's cross on ten minutes while Conor Powell's cross forced a trip-over save from Douglas Gustafsson as Bohs gave as good as they got in the first half.
Though they did have the better possession, Salzburg never worked Murphy, one of the targets in the home side being watched by a posse of cross channel scouts, in the first half.
Christoph Leitgeb burst forward following a loose pass by Brennan to shoot wide while defender Franz Schiemer headed over from Dusan Svento’s corner.
As expected, Bohs had to defend well in the second half and they did so, with central defenders Brian Shelley and, in particular, Ken Oman outstanding.
Bohs were effective on the counterattack, stretching the visitors on 67 minutes as Byrne worked a one-two with Joseph Ndo only to shoot straight at Gustafsson.
Salzburg chased the game hard late on. A mistake from Anto Murphy gave Christian Schwegler the ball to cross, but giant striker Marc Janko glanced a header wide.
But there was no reprieve on 87 minutes when the unfortunate Rossiter gifted Salzburg their passage to the next round.which Jezek clinically took.