Rovers outclassed in Tallaght

Shamrock Rovers 1 PAOK Salonika 3:A goal from Billy Dennehy in an improved second-half performance failed to make up for a miserable opening 45 minutes at Tallaght Stadium tonight as Michael O'Neill's side were outclassed by the Greek side, who go top of Group A.

Chris Turner had the first chance of the match in the second minute but his 25-yard strike was caught by Kostas Chalkias.

Just like their opening Europa League home game against Rubin Kazan, Rovers shipped an early goal as Greek international Dimitris Salpingidis fired home after seven minutes from Adelino Vieirinha’s pass.

It was a weak strike and the ball trickled in to the back of Ryan Thompson’s net before defender Craig Sives could make a clearance.

Rovers had a couple of chances when Pat Sullivan forced Bruno Cirillo to make a clearance before Dennehy fired over the bar from 25 yards.

Georgios Georgiadis was then caught offside as the visitors looked to press home their advantage before his 20-yard strike was blocked by Dan Murray.

The resulting corner almost led to PAOK’s second, but Thompson made two excellent saves to deny them.

Giorgos Fotakis fired in an inswinging corner which Thompson punched clear before he caught Georgiadis’s 25-yard strike.

Thompson then denied PAOK again in the 25th minute when he caught Dorvalino Lino’s shot from the right of the area.

Enda Stevens had a chance cleared by Cirillo before Salpingidis had a shot blocked by Sives.

A second goal was always on the cards and Salpingidis was instrumental when he intercepted a pass and played in Fotakis who fired into the bottom left corner.

Salpingidis then netted PAOK’s third three minutes later from close range after he got on to the end of Georgiadis’s inch-perfect cross from the right.

Dennehy scored six minutes into the second-half when his 25-yard free-kick flew past Chalkias.

Vieirinha then hit the post and later saw his shot fly over the bar as the visitors searched in vain for their fourth goal.

However, it was still a comfortable win for the Greek side which puts them one step closer to the knockout stages.