Shamrock Rovers face Europa League exit after being thrashed by PAOK

PA Sports Staff

Shamrock Rovers are on the brink of exiting the Europa League after being crushed 4-0 in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier against PAOK in Thessaloniki.

The Dublin side have a mountain to climb in the second leg at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, although a place in the Europa Conference League group stage has already been guaranteed regardless of the outcome.

Shamrock were buckling as the first-half was concluding with VAR coming to the rescue after Baba Rahman had taken advantage of a foul on Gary O’Neill to score.

Four minutes into injury time, PAOK made the breakthrough their pressure deserved when Dan Cleary nodded Andrija Zivkovic’s cross into his own goal.

Brazilian winger Taison extended the lead three minutes after the interval when he followed his surging run by beating keeper Leon Pohls from short range.

The problems piled up for Shamrock as Joshua Honohan was sent off in the 52nd minute for receiving a second yellow card and PAOK took advantage by netting their third through Giannis Konstantelias.

The Greek side almost made it four only for Fyodor Chalov to direct a 93rd minute penalty at Pohls before Rahman killed off the tie just seconds before the final whistle.