Shelbourne come from behind to seal impressive first-leg win in Croatia

PA Sport Staff

Shelbourne came from a goal down to earn a 2-1 away win in the first leg of their Europa League third-round qualifier against HNK Rijeka.

Niko Jankovic’s opener for the Croatian side was cancelled out quickly by a Sam Bone header before John Martin ensured Shelbourne take a one-goal lead back to Tolka Park for the second leg next Tuesday.

The hosts had the better of the first 45 and could have got the opener just before the break as Jankovic forced Wessel Speel into a good save.

Rijeka opened the scoring 11 minutes after the interval when Speel committed a foul inside the area and Jankovic made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-0.

Shelbourne were only behind for a couple of minutes though, as Kerr McInroy’s delivery from a corner picked out James Norris and his header was turned in by Bone.

The visitors turned the game on its head 20 minutes from time – Harry Wood provided the cross onto the head of Martin, who nodded home at the back post to seal an impressive win.