Hoops to face Juventus after Israel win | Airtricity League

Hoops to face Juventus after Israel win

Juventus will visit the Tallaght Stadium next week after Tommy Stewart’s second half strike earned Shamrock Rovers a famous win in Tel Aviv.

With the tie level at one all and Bnei Yehuda pushing for an insurance goal, Stewart fired home from Stephen Rice’s long throw to send the travelling Hoops into dreamland.

Their reward is a tantalising clash with the Italian giants and Rovers can thank goalkeeper Alan Mannus who pulled off a string of stunning saves to deny the Israelis.

Michael O’Neill made one change to his team from the first leg with goalscorer Robert Bayly starting in midfield, with Gary Twigg up front on his own.

The Israelis looked uncomfortable under the high ball and Rovers could have led early on as Dan Murray hit the crossbar.

James Chambers found his skipper with a pinpoint corner and the skippers’ downward header came off the ground and hit the bar.

Having made the early running, the Hoops were forced to chase the ball for long stretches as Yehuda kept possession.

That made life difficult in the Tel Aviv heat and cracks began to appear in the Rovers defence.

Mannus brilliantly denied Oz Ezra Raly who was played through by the creative Liroy Zhairi on 26 minutes, before he could only watch as Linig Sinisa Hvratsk’s shot took a tricky deflection off Egiya Yavruyan and spun just wide.

Twigg had two chances before the break, but while Rovers needed a goal it the Israelis who looked like getting it.

Mannus made a point blank save from Zhairi’s header after Ezra Raly got to the by-line, before he then reacted brilliantly to tip Sinisa Hvratsk’s rising drive over the bar.

But it was Rovers who made the breakthrough. Rice’s long throw caused havoc in the Yehuda defence. Aidan Price nodded the ball into the danger zone and with Ivan Garrido hesitant, Stewart took full advantage to nip in and score.

The Israelis threw everything into getting an equaliser but the closest they came was when Murray cleared Yavruyan’s header off the line. They had chances to extend their lead, but one was enough.

BNEI YEHUDA -- Aiyenugbha; Azuz (Baldut 79), Garrido, Viktor Hadad, Ederi; Abu Zaid (Levi 90), Zhairi, Sinisa Hrvatsko (Menashe 74), Ezra Raly; Hafike, Yavruyan.

SHAMROCK ROVERS -- Mannus; Sives, Murray, Price, Stevens; Chambers (Dennehy 64), Rice, Turner (Bradley 84), Bayly (Kavanagh 58), Stewart; Twigg.

REFEREE -- Antony Gautier (FRA)

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