Shamrock Rovers hit Floriana for five as Pico Lopes makes hero’s return
Shamrock Rovers defeated Floriana 5-0 in a UEFA Conference League qualifier, moving closer to the group stages. The match featured a strong performance from defender Pico Lopes upon his return.
Why it matters
Success in European competitions is vital for the financial and competitive growth of Irish football clubs.
A hero’s return for Pico Lopes and near certainty that Shamrock Rovers will reach the Uefa Conference League group stage for a third straight season.
That is the sort of consistency their manager Stephen Bradley predicted at the start of the 2020s.
Rovers were exceptional from start to finish, overturning a 2-0 deficit against the Maltese champions with John McGovern’s goal early in the second half opening the floodgates.
The reward is a trip to Yerevan later this month to face Armenian champions Ararat.
Lopes’ last game of football was the unforgettable World Cup round of 32 defeat to Argentina and Lionel Messi . On his return from America, he slotted back into the heart of the Rovers defence to put manners on lesser-known Argentinians in the Floriana ranks.
Gastón Manuel Romano and Federico Varela barely got a kick as Bradley’s European veterans hit the Maltese for five goals.
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