Bohemians progressed in the EA SPORTS Cup after overcoming UCD in a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw after extra-time. The Students went ahead thanks to two excellently taken goals from Yoyo Mahdy and Gary O’Neill. But Keith Long’s men showed
Bohemians progressed in the EA SPORTS Cup after overcoming UCD in a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.
The Students went ahead thanks to two excellently taken goals from Yoyo Mahdy and Gary O’Neill. But Keith Long’s men showed a never say die attitude, battling back through the impressive Eoghan Stokes and a JJ Lunny penalty.
The visitors started much the better and Daire O’Connor’s lovely slide rule ball inside Jamie Hamilton at left back to Yoyo Mahdy saw the winger finish smartly across Colin McCabe into the far corner.
UCD made it 2-0 just after the half hour mark, again catching Bohs on the break. Skipper Gary O’Neill bending a spectacular right footed curler into the top corner from Georgie Kelly’s clever back heel.
Bohs started the second half much sharper and got themselves back into the game with a well-taken finish from Stokes. Grant played a lovely weighted pass into the right channel and the Bohs striker finished well across the body of Kearns.
Despite the pressure mounting from the Gypsies, goalkeeper Colin McCabe was called into action on a couple of occasions saving bravely from both O’Connor and Kelly who got themselves into one on one positions.
Bohs got the deserved equalizer with less than 10 minutes to go. Grant showed spectacular pace to get around Darragh Corcoran at the end line and was hauled down by the defender inside the box. Up stepped JJ Lunney to coolly send Kearns the wrong way to make it 2-2 and send the tie into extra-time.
Extra-time was a tired affair for both sets of players as the heavy pitch began to take its toll. Both teams had half chances from distance the home side looking most likely to get the winner. Colin McCabe was the penalty shootout hero saving low to his left from Paul Doyle as Bohs won the shootout 5-3 with Eoghan Stokes scoring the decisive spot kick.
