SHAMROCK ROVERS suffered a disappointing defeat to Russian multi-million dollar outfit Rubin Kazan in an ice-cold UEFA Europa League Group A tie.

 

With snow lining the surrounding areas of the Centralniy Stadion pitch and ice picks needed to clear the stands, the conditions along made this a major test for the Airtricity League champions.

Unfortunately Michael O'Neill's side fell to a fifth successive loss in the group stages of the UEFA competition.

Paraguayan international Nelson Valdez gave the home side the lead in the tenth minute when he slotted home after good work by Christian Noboa. Valdez held off the attentions of Ken Oman before firing low past goalkeeper Ryan Thompson.

The Hoops bravely stayed in contention with Oman heading them level just two minutes later. Rubin had been penalised for a foul on Ronan Finn and Billy Dennehy crossed for Oman to head past keeper Sergei Ryzhikov.

Unfortunately Kazan regained the lead in the 36th minute when Bebras Natcho turned brilliantly on the edge of the box and curled a low shot into the bottom corner past Thompson.

After the break the tie was killed off when Valdez scored again in the 51st minute. Noboa was once again the provider and with one of the Rovers defenders sleeping as the rest pushed out for offside, the Paraguayan fired past Thompson on the turn.

Kazan were gifted a fourth goal in the 63rd minute when Obafemi Martins tapped home after the ball deflected to him off Stephen Rice. The visitors were livid that the ball had run out of play before Gokdeniz Karadeniz crossed yet somehow the officials failed to spot it.

Karl Sheppard came close to pulling one back in the 82nd minute when substitute Ciaran Kilduff headed down from an Enda Stevens cross. Unfortunately for Rovers the ball struck the Kazan crossbar.

The Hoops will meet Tottenham in their final game on December 1`5.

RUBIN KAZAN: Ryzhikov; César Navas, Kaleshin, Bocchetti, Sharonov, Ryazantsev (Dyadyun 71), Noboa, Karadeniz (Ansaldi 69), Natcho, Martins, Valdez (Kasaev 62).

 SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Sullivan, Stevens, Murray, Oman, Rice, Paterson (Kilduff 70), Turner (Twigg 81), Dennehy, Finn (O'Donnell 70).

 Referee: H Lechner (AUT).