UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round
Shelbourne 1 - 3 FT HNK Rijeka
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Shelbourne
Midfielders
M. Zlomislic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Orec
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Majstorovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Radeljic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Devetak
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Petrovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
T. Dantas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Ndockyt
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
T. Fruk
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
N. Jankovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Juric
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
A. Todorovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Kitin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Cop
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Gojak
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Menalo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Ilinkovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Lasickas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Thaqi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Butic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Husic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Yankov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Kreilach
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
HNK Rijeka
Midfielders
W. Speel
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Mbeng
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Bone
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
P. Barrett
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Norris
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
H. Wood
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Lunney
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Ledwidge
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Coote
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Odubeko
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. McInroy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
L. Healy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Moylan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Gannon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Chapman
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Coyle
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Martin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Kelly
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Moore
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Temple
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Caffrey
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Ring
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/06/2025 | HNK Rijeka | 1 - 2 | Shelbourne | UEFA Europa League | Stadion HNK Rijeka Dean Šćulac |
08/06/2025
Shelbourne Win
HNK Rijeka Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Rijeka Deliver Masterclass to Silence Tolka Park
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 57/100. Our verdict is clear: this was a textbook display of European away-day ruthlessness that leaves the hosts with a mountain to climb.
Early European Nerves
The Stakes could not have been higher under the lights at Tolka Park, with both sides desperate to keep their UEFA Europa League group stage dreams alive. Shelbourne stepped onto the pitch aiming to use their home crowd to rattle the visitors, but HNK Rijeka arrived with a clear, uncompromising game plan. The Croatian outfit absorbed the early energy, carefully managing the tempo before striking with precision. Just past the half-hour mark, the breakthrough arrived. T. Dantas found a pocket of space and delivered a measured ball for T. Fruk, who finished clinically in the 33rd minute. That opener immediately deflated the home support and forced a tactical rethink from the hosts, who suddenly found themselves chasing shadows against a technically superior midfield.
A Cruel Second Blow
As the second half unfolded, the Balance of the tie heavily favoured the visitors. Shelbourne pushed higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser, but this only left them vulnerable to the counter-attack. HNK Rijeka exploited these growing gaps with merciless efficiency. The defining moment arrived in the 73rd minute when the architect of the first goal turned finisher. T. Dantas, orchestrating the play all evening, latched onto a sharp pass from M. Devetak to double the advantage. It was a hammer blow to the Irish side, effectively dismantling their defensive structure and leaving them exposed. The visitors controlled the tempo from there on out, turning the match into an exercise in possession retention while waiting for the hosts to overcommit.
Late Drama and Deflation
Just when the fixture seemed entirely dead and buried, a sudden spike in Intensity offered a glimmer of hope. In the 86th minute, Shelbourne were awarded a penalty, sending a jolt of electricity through Tolka Park. A. Odubeko stepped up and confidently converted from the spot, halving the deficit and setting up what looked to be a frantic finale. The home side threw caution to the wind, committing every available man forward in stoppage time. However, this desperation proved to be their final undoing. With vast tracts of empty space left behind, HNK Rijeka launched one last sweeping move. N. Jankovic teed up A. Orec in the 90th minute, and his composed finish restored the two-goal cushion, sealing a 3-1 victory and putting the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
Key Questions
Who scored the goals in this match?
T. Fruk, T. Dantas, and A. Orec scored for HNK Rijeka, while A. Odubeko converted a late penalty for Shelbourne.
Where was the match played?
This UEFA Europa League qualifying fixture was hosted at Tolka Park.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Grind and Grit in Europa League Qualifying
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 16/100. Neutrals might skip this low-wattage qualifier, but the razor-thin margins mean everything for these two clubs fighting for a European lifeline.
The Setup
On August 12, 2025, Tolka Park plays host to a crucial 3rd Qualifying Round tie as Shelbourne meet HNK Rijeka. With a place in the main competition dangling just out of reach, the Stakes are massive for the dressing rooms, even if the wider football world isn't watching. A dismal Stars rating confirms what we already know: there are no marquee names here to manufacture a moment of magic out of nothing. Instead, this tie relies entirely on a tight Balance. Neither team wants to make a fatal error. Expect a physical, low-risk affair where the fear of elimination dictates the tempo.
Key Battle
The midfield engine room will decide this tie. Without standout individual flair, the game breaks down to a pure unit-versus-unit tactical struggle. Shelbourne's gritty midfield block must disrupt the Croatian visitors' passing rhythm and force turnovers in dangerous areas to mask their own creative limitations.
Our Prediction
HNK Rijeka to edge it 1-0. The visitors possess slightly more European pedigree to navigate these tricky, hostile away fixtures. They will absorb early pressure from the Irish side, frustrate the home crowd, and eventually snatch a decisive goal from a scrappy set-piece.