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Welcome to Setanta Sports' live coverage of this Europa League qualifying match between
Drogheda United and Bulgarian giants
Levski Sofia.
We're coming to you live from Swords Community Stadium, home for all of Drogheda United's European matches.
Here is the line-up that
very newly-minted Drogs manager Enrique Vasquez is going to run out today in his debut:
Drogheda United (4-4-1-1)
GK - David Ryan
LB - Shane Grimes
CB - Paul Andrews
CB - Alan McNally
RB - Michael Daly
LM - Gavin Brennan
CM - Daire Doyle
CM - Gavan Holohan
RM - Cathal Brady
CAM - Declan O'Brien (C)
ST - Gary O'Neill
They'll be opposed by Levski Sofia, who finished strongly in 2nd during the Bulgarian "A" Group season in 2012-13. Levski are bolstered by imports Rafael Bastos and Larsen Touré, however Touré will miss today's match with a sprained MCL. Here is how Levski will line up today:
Levski Sofia (4-4-2)
GK - Iliev
LB - Gavazov
CB - Koev
CB - Dankov
RB - Mulder
LM - Rafael Bastos
CM - Gadzhev (C)
CM - Shopov
RM - Ivanov
LST- Bojinov
RST- Genkov
Levski enter today's match as strong favorites, and are easily one of the most talented teams involved in the First Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League.
We'll take a short break and come back with kickoff from Ireland!
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1' - O'Brien passes it to O'Neill and Drogheda get us underway! Should be an excellent match on a seasonably warm Thursday evening here in Ireland.
18' - Plenty of midfield control for the Bulgarian visitors thus far, but no chances to show for it- here comes Bastos, sprinting down the left flank for Levski, CROSSES IT FOR BOJINOV--
EXCELLENT SAVE BY RYAN! He keeps the hosts level, denying Bojinov on the doorstep!
22' - Ivanov floats in a corner for Levski...headed out, only as far as Gazanov WHO FIRES--
Another quality save from Ryan!
24' - Now Declan O'Brien steps up to take a dangerous free kick for Drogheda, at the edge of the Levski 18. O'Brien runs up, CURLS IT--
Just over the bar from O'Brien!
43' - Bastos plays it to the edge of the 18, he finds Bojinov. Bojinov spins off his man, SHOT--
It grazes tbe top of the bar and goes over! So close from the visitors!
45+2' - That will do it for the half, as the Andorran referee blows his whistle.
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I storm into the change room, flipping the refreshment table.
"Come on you fools! This is the biggest game of your season! There are over three thousand supporters out there who came because you mean something! You mean something to this town, you are this town. Now go out there, and make Horgan proud!"
With that, captain and elder statesman Declan O'Brien stands up, shouting, "Let's do it for Robbie! Gone too soon lads, let's win this for Robbie!"
While all the lads got riled up and walked out of the change room, I pulled Declan aside.
"While you are my captain, I've made some tactical moves. I'm subbing you out for Walshe."
"Are you thick? The kid's still wet behind the ears."
"Don't make a scene, Declan..."
And there my captain went, storming out after his teammates, blubbering like a little girl. Some leadership.
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45' - Welcome back to Setanta Sports' live coverage of this Europa League qualifier between Drogheda United and Levski Sofia! We're all square after one half of play, though shots are 9 to 1 in favor of the Bulgarian visitors. Drogs manager Enrique Vasquez made two changes at halftime, bringing on youngster Carl Walshe and former Shelbourne striker Phil Hughes have come on to form the final two in a new-look 4-4-2. Vasquez is clearly looking for more offensively from his squad. Levski kick us off and we're underway from Ireland!
46' - Immediately Drogheda win a free kick, from about thirty-five yards out. It appears Brennan is going to float this into the box on a high cross, with five Drogs players huddled at the edge of the 18. Quickly taken by BRENNAN TOWARDS GOAL--
Iliev gets a fingertip to it to push it over! Corner to Drogheda!
47' - The Drogheda corner's whipped into the box...and cleared away easily by Rafael Bastos.
51' - Now on the counter here come Levski, it's Tsonev! Tsonev, plays a high ball over the top, BOJINOV RUNS ONTO IT- IN CLEAR ON GOAL-
AND HE FINISHES! Valeri Bojinov puts the visitors up, 1-nil!
56' - Bojinov is sent in again on the clear for LEVSKI-
But he's denied by a superb fingertip stop from David Ryan! What a match for Ryan!
63' - There's Ivanov in the midfield, Ivanov, circles past his marker, sends a through ball for Bojinov- He's got it- Bojinov in alone on goal--
Another spectacular save by Ryan!
69' - Drogheda starting to roam dangerously far forward here, they're vulnerable on the counter.
70' - Hughes sends a ball into the box FOR WALSHE-
But he can't latch onto it, and it rolls harmlessly into the arms of Iliev.
71- - Away comes Bastos, quickly, for Levski. Pacing down the right flank, he strides past the Drogheda defender, keeps running towards the corner, what a run from Bastos here as he CROSSES-
AND THEY SCORE! Valeri Bojinov with his second of the match, a powerful header off of an excellent cross from Bastos, and this one is surely in the bag now for Levski!
73' - Bojinov is yet again released here for Levski! He streaks in alone on Ryan, SHOOTS-
Another fantastic save from the Drogheda keeper! He's keeping this scoreline respectable!
78' - Now it's Tsonev in alone behind the Drogheda defenders, yet another breakaway for Levski-
Ryan makes an awkward-looking shin save!
84' - Now here's Gadzhev on the right flank for Levski, Gadzhev, holds, holds, CROSSED-
Excellent save on the header by Bojinov! Rebound pops loose--
AND BOJINOV MAKES IT THREE! A hat trick for Valeri Bojinov as he buries his own rebound, 3-nil Levski!
87' - Hughes plays a long-ball for Walshe, Walshe latches onto it at the edge of the Levski 18...Walshe spins, FIRES--
And grazes the post, but it stays out! So close from the hosts!
90+3' - Iliev launches a big kick up into the night sky, and the
referee blows for full time, that's all from Ireland tonight, as Drogheda United fell quite a ways short in their upset bid, losing 3-nil at home thanks to a treble from Levski's Valeri Bojinov.
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Post-match presser
"Jamie O'Houlahan, Dublin Free Press, why couldn't you get anything going against Levski offensively?"
"Well, Jamie, what you saw out on the pitch tonight was the difference between an above-average professional team and an above-average semi-professional side. The fitness, the sheer skill, there were two different calibres of team on the pitch here tonight.
"Bryce Cuffernan, Drogheda Daily Mail, speak of what an important match this was for the players and supporters."
"Thanks Bryce. It was a massive game for the players, and the town as a whole. We played our hearts out, I was extremely pleased with the effort level and work rate the lads showed after being off for more than three weeks. To come back with that kind of enthusiasm and effort, after everything they've been through, is a testament to the character of each and every member of the club. The supporters were excellent, loud until the final whistle, and we know we have the best supporters in Ireland right here with Drogheda."
"Enrique, a difficult loss for you, but there was never any doubt as to the result from the opening kickoff. How good was Valeri Bojinov tonight?"
"Well, he scored a hat trick. He was unplayable. We tried marking him all sorts of different ways, and nothing worked. The remarkable service he got from Bastos helped, for sure. Bastos' balls were the key for Levski tonight."
"Tommy Harrington, WorldSoccer.com, your side did not muster a single shot on target. Any concern going forward, with the St. Pat's match in three days' time?"
"No Tommy, I'm not concerned at all. We played a side today that is 100 times better than any side we will face in the Irish Premier Division, and I am not concerned about this loss being a sign of anything to come domestically."
"Final question?"
"Enrique, Gord Bronwyn, Dublin Expositor, are you afraid of how bad the scoreline might be when you travel to Sofia for the meaningless second leg?"
"No. Nikolay Mitov and I have a mutual respect for one another, and I don't think the scoreline will get too out of hand. I've got a tactic in my backpocket which I think will help reduce their scoring chances. Thanks everybody."
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Thank god that's over. We never had a chance against an import-laden pro squad. The first thing we need to do is improve our defense, then the midfield. Then we can discuss turning pro, or building up our stadium, or developing our youth system.
Who am I kidding, I'm only here as an interim manager.
I take a look at my phone, and see a text from the chairman, Agnew.
"Meeting tomorrow with board, 10AM sharp. Be there, not a minute late."
Uh oh, I think to myself when I feel a hand ON MY BACK-
3-0
