Shelbourne received the higher of Linfield within the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying spherical tie at Tolka Park with Mipo Odubeko’s second-half strike the one aim of the sport.
The Northern Eire champions had to absorb loads of strain to make sure they’d return to Belfast for subsequent week’s second leg going through solely a one-goal deficit.
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In what was their first aggressive recreation of the 2025-26 season, David Healy’s aspect appeared effectively drilled and defended strongly all through, though Evan Caffrey had two good possibilities within the first half.
The hosts in Dublin additionally had a penalty award overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR) within the first half, however Odubeko’s well-taken end within the 58th minute finally proved to be the distinction.
Linfield present defensive grit in goalless first half
The sport at Tolka Park offered a second conflict between the champions of the Irish Premiership and League of Eire Premier Division in as many seasons after Shamrock Rovers thumped Larne 4-1 in final yr’s Uefa Convention League.
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And whereas the Republic of Eire aspect once more asserted their dominance within the first half of this one, Linfield held agency by way of the opening 45 minutes regardless of a number of scares.
Caffrey seemed energetic all through for Shelbourne and got here closest to opening the scoring within the early exchanges when he received on to the top of a near-post nook solely to see his flicked header come again off the crossbar.
The identical participant then drew a superb save from Linfield keeper Chris Johns from point-blank vary after defender Euan East had slipped within the build-up.
As Shelbourne piled on the strain, they thought they’d have the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot when Ben Corridor was adjudged to have dealt with Jonathan Lunney’s effort from the sting of the field, however the choice was overturned by VAR.
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Whereas admirably organised with out the ball, within the absence of playmaker Joel Cooper who joined Coleraine over the summer season, Linfield supplied little attacking menace, though they did have a number of probabilities of their very own within the goalless first half.
First Ethan McGee drove an effort extensive after latching onto a free move throughout the field earlier than, within the remaining minutes earlier than the break, Callumn Morrison’s looping effort didn’t catch out Conor Kearns within the Shelbourne aim.
Shels up ante with second-half substitutes
Shelbourne have been enjoying their first Champions League fixture since 2005 and, whereas their title-winning supervisor Damien Duff departed between the draw and this primary leg, they got here into this one 25 video games into their home season.
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New supervisor Joey O’Brien received his first win in opposition to Cork Metropolis on Friday evening and, compared to Linfield who had solely final week’s Charity Protect remaining underneath their belts, their elevated match sharpness was evident.
Mipo Odubeko is one participant who has been having fun with life underneath former West Ham and Bolton defender O’Brien and the striker opened the scoring together with his third aim in as many video games.
13 minutes into the second half, he was put by way of by substitute strike companion Sean Boyd, took a contact to get the ball out of his toes and fired into the far nook.
Boyd, whose help got here solely two minutes after his introduction as a part of a triple sub, proved to be a energetic substitute as he flashed a header throughout aim earlier than firing Tyreke Wilson’s cross excessive.
Kieran Offord got here closest to delivering a Linfield equaliser within the closing minutes when he charged down Conor Kearns tried clearance solely to see the ball deflect narrowly extensive.