Tolka Park will be trembling with tension next Tuesday exactly 21 years on from another titanic battle against Croatian opposition.
In that 2004 Champions League tie, Shelbourne overcame a first-leg deficit against Hajduk Split to score twice late on to seal a 4-3 aggregate victory.
There’ll be little change in the venue surroundings but a different task facing the current generation hosting Rijeka.
Against the odds, Joey O’Brien’s side accomplished what’s perceived as the difficult part by leaving Croatia on Thursday night with a 2-1 advantage.
Avoid defeat on their home patch and guaranteed is a playoff shot at reaching the Europa League next phase, €3.8million in prize money and the fallback of Conference League phase participation.
Joey O’Brien, after only his eight game in charge, insisted the Croatian champions remain favourites to prevail over the two legs. “Everything is still open in this tie,” cautioned the former Ireland international. “I still don’t think we’re favourites to go through.” Rijeka crave redemption too. Whatever about defeat to Ludogorets, they didn’t factor being humbled by Irish opponents in front of their home crowd.
“We send our apologies to the fans and everyone,” said a sheepish Radomir Dalovic, who will likely find himself sacked if the turnaround doesn’t materialise.
“I am first to do that because we have to learn lessons. Just as they beat us, we have to do everything to win in Dublin.
“I believe that we will be more like us and that we can win in Dublin. We will have five or six players there that we were missing at home. We are going there to atone for this defeat and win.” Exciting attackers Gabriel Rukavina and Toni Fruk, both red carded in the second leg of the last round, will return from suspension but they’ll still have to penetrate a Shels rearguard that were steady on the road. Their only concession was a penalty which new goalkeeper Wessel Speel needlessly erred for.
“One of the reasons why I wanted the job was the quality that we have in the dressing room,” explained Shels chief O’Brien.
“At times in the first leg, we showed that but I know there’s more from our team.
“We don’t play opposition in our league as good as Rijeka.
“European football has four halves of football – we have a small advantage but it’s two halves done and two halves to go.
“We have a good record at home and it’s all to play for.”
Before the European odyssey resumes, champions Shels host Bohemians in the league on Saturday (5pm). Rijeka will travel on Sunday, having fulfilled domestic duties too.
