Shelbourne 1-3 HNK Rijeka (3-4 agg.)
Eoin Harrington reporting from Tolka Park
It will be the UEFA Conference League playoffs for Shelbourne after a remarkable second leg tie of their Europa League qualifier against Rijeka on Tuesday night.
Ahead of kick-off, all in attendance knew that this had the potential to be a historic night for Shelbourne, after last week’s heroic comeback win in Croatia. The equation was simple – avoid defeat on the night, and they would be guaranteed European group stage football for the first time in their history.
Progression to the Europa League playoffs would guarantee a place in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League at the very least, and the continued dream of even loftier heights.
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Heimir HallgrÃmsson, Stephen Cluxton, and Bertie Ahern were among the many fans in a reduced-capacity but nonetheless sold-out Tolka Park, summing up the magnitude of this game for the Reds.
Shels boss Joey O’Brien made just one change to the side that pulled off the late late show in Rijeka, with Sean Boyd forced out through injury and replaced by Ali Coote in the starting XI.
Ultimately, a heartbreaking conclusion saw Shelbourne lose out on aggregate to a last-gasp goal from Rijeka, just moments after Mipo Odubeko looked to have forced extra-time.
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Shelbourne drop to Conference League playoffs after dramatic defeat to Rijeka
There was early controversy, as Shels were denied an early penalty when Ali Coote was brought down by Rijeka keeper Zlomislic after a looping ball over the top. Nothing doing was the verdict of referee Marian Barbu.
For the foreseeable from there on out it was one-way traffic as Rijeka – bolstered by the return of star man Toni Fruk – took control of proceedings in Drumcondra.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between but Shels were offered warning signs that Rijeka were dangerous from distance with an early free kick from Fruk, and a driven effort from Ante Matej Juric that required a smart block from Shels skipper Paddy Barrett.
Ultimately, Rijeka’s control of proceedings paid off with a stunning opener courtesy of their main man.
Shels had struggled to keep hold of Fruk, recently called up to the Croatian senior side for the first time. The 24-year-old was consistently dangerous in pockets of space in the first half and, just after the half hour, he made the Irish champions pay.
Fruking hell.
The Toni Fruk goal that had Shels trailing 1-0 at the break to Rijeka.pic.twitter.com/dtOESBf7VX
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 12, 2025
Some clever interplay led to the ball being flicked up on the edge of the Shels area, and Fruk laced home a beautiful volley from just outside the box to level up the tie on aggregate.
Only after that goal on 33 minutes did Shelbourne briefly enjoy a spell in the ascendancy.
Kerr McInroy was the best player on the park for the hosts in the first half, and he provided their best chance since that penalty claim in the opening minutes, when Zlomislic parried away his volley from close range.
McInroy was joined by Harry Wood and Milan Mbeng as the Shelbourne players most involved in the first half, as they pressed and counter-pressed relentlessly.
However, it was Ali Coote’s dropping into deeper areas and the isolation of his strike partner, Mipo Odubeko, that better summed up Shels’ first-half struggles to gain a foothold in the game.
Rijeka were set up smartly in defence, and Shelbourne were perhaps a little too narrow in their approach before the break.
A nervous wait followed for the home fans before half-time, as Shelbourne desperately sought to stop Rijeka scoring the second that would properly turn this tie on its head.
At the break, Coote was withdrawn for last Wednesday’s match-winner John Martin. The 26-year-old very nearly created an equaliser for Shels within moments of coming off the bench.
Just a few minutes after replacing Coote, Martin drove in behind the Rijeka defence and pulled the ball back to a chasing Odubeko. From close range, Odubeko hooked his shot just wide.
It was Shels’ best chance up to that point, but it buoyed the crowd, and an enormous roar went up from the home fans as they chased the equaliser that would put them ahead on aggregate.
Rijeka did not create too much of note immediately after the break, as Shelbourne took more of the attacking impetus.
The first big chance of the second half for the visitors came just after the hour mark, once again courtesy of a low driven shot from range from Juric. Shels keeper Wessel Speel did well to get down to stop it as it took a deflection en route.
Moments later, Fruk likewise had a driven effort from range blocked, as Shelbourne showed their defensive resilience.
Shels were perhaps growing in influence without necessarily growing in threat as the second half progressed, with Rijeka playing a patient game.
And then, with 20 minutes to go, what looked to be the killer blow.
Tiago Dantas had been quietly impressive in dictating the play from deep for Rijeka and, with the Croatian champions taking a more cautious approach, he found himself in acres of space inside the Shelbourne half, and took a pop from nigh on 35 yards.
12 August 2025; Tiago Dantas of Rijeka shoots to score his side’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round 2nd Leg match between Shelbourne and Rijeka at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
It sailed past Speel and arrowed into the top corner, a killer blow that put Rijeka in control of the tie.
If the Croatians had been cagey and defensive before Dantas’ goal, they completely stood off after it went in. Shels committed more men forward but Rijeka were more than happy to keep hold of the ball as the playoff round approached on the horizon.
However, the drama was far from over yet.
John Martin had been Shelbourne’s best player after his half-time introduction, and he got in behind the Rijeka defence with under ten minutes to go.
A tug on his jersey from Ante Orec was initially waved away by referee Barbu, before a word came in his ear.
League of Ireland crowds are not accustomed to VAR checks, let alone the near four-minute long check that followed the felling of Martin. The Shelbourne faithful made their frustrations abundantly clear as Barbu stood in front of the monitor minutely parsing over the slow-mo footage.
Then, a finger pointed at the spot and up stepped Odubeko. It was by no means a confident penalty but, despite Zlomislic getting more than a hand to it, it slid under the Rijeka ‘keeper, and Shels were back level on aggregate with under five minutes to play.
12 August 2025; Mipo Odubeko of Shelbourne shoots to score his side’s first goal, a penalty, during the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round 2nd Leg match between Shelbourne and Rijeka at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The roar that met Odubeko’s goal was deafening but the home crowd were silenced just moments later.
Having given away the penalty that drew Shelbourne level in the tie, Orec was to break their hearts at the other end, as the substitute turned and drove the ball into the bottom left corner in the final moment of regulation.
Shouts of handball from the crowd and groans of frustration for every free-kick given Rijeka’s way made clear how the home fans felt towards the man in the middle.
It was an extraordinarily dramatic finish, and Shelbourne did not let up in their relentless push for the goal that would force extra time.
Ultimately, though, it was in vain, and the Tolka Park crowd were left shell-shocked by a rollercoaster finish that saw their hopes raised and instantly dashed.
A Conference League playoff against either Vikingur or Linfield now awaits, the first leg of which will take place in Tolka Park next Thursday night.
The dream of European football is far from over for Shelbourne, but there was more than a hint of disappointment in the air on a night when they came close to making history in Tolka Park.
Perhaps that will just have to wait a fortnight.
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