Rubin Kazan (2) 4
[Valdez 10' 51' Nacho 36' Martins 62']

Rovers (1) 1 
[Oman 12'] 
             

Hoops Line out
16 Ryan Thompson
2 Pat Sullivan  
3 Enda Stevens
17 Ken Oman
5 Dan Murray (c)
6 Stephen Rice
21 Ronan Finn
 26 Jim Paterson
20 Billy Dennehy
18 Chris Turner  
10 Karl Sheppard

Substitutes

8 Stephen O'Donnell
for Finn 69'
11 Ciaran Kilduff
for Paterson 69'
7 Gary McCabe
9 Gary Twigg
for Turner 81'
19 Gary O'Neill
27 Rohan Ricketts
1 Richard Brush


 

The Hoops travelled the furthest west of any team in the Europa League group stages and put in a fine display but the strength of the home side won out although the scoreline rather flattered Kazan.

A very good opening 10 minutes by the Hoops was wasted when Valdes skipped around Ken Oman to shoot past Thompson.

However just two minutes later Rovers got the perfect response when Ronan Finn was hacked down by Navas and Billy Dennehy sent in a deep cross that Ken Oman stretched to meet at the back post and his header beat Ryzikov to delight the travelling Hoops fans in the freezing conditions inside the stadium.

The Hoops continued to hold their own as the game progressed and there was a good discipline and balance to the Hoops team.

Navas was fortunate to stay on the pitch when he took down Sheppard after 22 minutes and a minute later the same player forced Thompson into a save from outside the box.

Billy Dennehy went on a marvellous run in the 29th minute down the right and he elected to shoot when Sheppard was better placed in the box but Ryzikov saved at his near post and the resultant corner saw Ryzikov fail to gather the ball but Rovers couldn't take advantage.

Ryan Thompson almost gifted Kazan with a goal in the 31st minute when he flapped at a delected cross and the ball was crossed low for Valdez but Dan Murray got back to clear off the line.

Rovers were undone by Nacho in the 36th minute when he turned at the edge of the area and his low shot went into the corner of the net with Thompson beaten.

The goal spurred the home side on and Rovers had to battle hard to stay in the game. Ryzikov did well to cut out Patersons cross on 40 minutes. Bocchetti then flashed a shot wide of the Hoops goal from inside the box.

Rovers were stunned on 51 minutes when Noboa flicked the ball over the Hoops defence and Valdez found himself in lots of space to turn and shoot past Thompson.

Rubin were on top now and Stevens and Murray both made good defensive tackles to deny the home side a shot on goal. Good possession by Rovers on 60 minutes almost set up Paterson with a shot on goal but the home side controversially extended their lead on 62 minutes.

Karadeniz waltzed past Stevens but the ball defintely crossed the line before his cross was deflected off Rice into the path of Martins and he scored from close range.

Rovers didn’t lose composure and went looking for another goal with O'Donnell, Kilduff and Twigg introduced. O'Donnell's free-kick on 71 minutes caused problems but a counter-attack from Kazan on 78 minutes saw Rice deny Kazaev with a last ditch blocking tackle.

Enda Stevens cross on 82 minutes fell to Sheppard at the back post as Ryzhikov went missing but the Hoops striker hit the cross-bar with his effort.

A late free-kick was awarded after Sheppard was bundled over right on the edge of the area but from a central position Billy Dennehy failed to hit the target.

Overall it was a fine performance from the Hoops but defensive errors against a class side was their downfall. However they certainly deserved a little more from this game.