Shelbourne score five against Nõmme Kalju in a lively first leg

Shelbourne defeated Nõmme Kalju 5-2 at Tolka Park. Sean Moore scored once in each half for the Irish side.

Rodrigo Freitas, Ali Coote and Dan Ring added the other goals. Enrique Esono scored both replies for Kalju.

Freitas opens the scoring after three minutes

Shelbourne required only three minutes to take the lead. Rodrigo Freitas scored the first goal at Tolka Park.

The early goal gave the home side immediate control. Kalju had to chase the match.

Shelbourne continued to move players into advanced positions. A second goal arrived before the middle of the half.

Sean Moore found the net in the twenty-first minute. His goal doubled Shelbourne’s advantage.

Ali Coote scored four minutes after Moore. Shelbourne now held a three-goal lead before half an hour.

Three different home players had already scored. The rapid sequence placed the visitors in a difficult position.

Esono gives Kalju a first-half response

Enrique Esono reduced the deficit in the fortieth minute. His goal changed the score to 3-1.

The reply arrived before the interval and kept Kalju within two goals. It was Kalju’s first goal after Shelbourne had scored three times.

Neither team added another goal before half-time. Shelbourne kept their two-goal lead.

The first half contained four goals from four separate moments. Three belonged to the home team.

Freitas scored the earliest goal of the match. Coote scored Shelbourne’s third goal before the interval.

Esono remained Kalju’s only scorer at the break. He later added another goal near full time.

Moore scores again after the restart

Shelbourne restored a three-goal advantage two minutes after half-time. Moore scored his second goal in the forty-seventh minute.

The forward had now struck on both sides of the interval. His brace moved the score to 4-1.

Kalju prevented another immediate home goal after that moment. The match remained at the same score for most of the half.

Shelbourne managed the larger lead without losing their attacking threat. Fresh players entered later.

Moore’s two goals formed the central individual contribution. No other player scored twice for the home side.

The early second-half goal removed much of Kalju’s half-time momentum. They again required several goals to level the aggregate score.

Ring and Esono trade late goals

Dan Ring scored Shelbourne’s fifth goal in the eighty-ninth minute. It followed a long scoreless period.

The goal gave Shelbourne their largest lead of the night. Five different scoring moments had now gone to the hosts.

Esono replied again during the final minute. His second goal reduced the final difference from four to three.

Both teams scored during the final minutes. The match ended 5-2.

Seven goals came from six different scoring entries. Moore and Esono were the only players with braces.

The late Kalju goal narrowed the aggregate task. Shelbourne still retained a strong first-leg advantage.

Shelbourne take a three-goal lead to Estonia

Shelbourne will begin the return match three goals ahead. Kalju require a major home win.

The Irish side scored three times before the twenty-sixth minute. That opening period built most of the final advantage.

Moore’s second goal restored the lead after Esono’s first reply. Ring then scored late.

Kalju can use Esono’s two goals as their clearest attacking reference. Both arrived after Shelbourne had built large leads.

The second leg will decide the place in the next qualifying round. The first match did not use an away-goals rule.

Shelbourne leave Tolka Park with five goals and a three-goal cushion. Kalju return home still needing a win.

Shelbourne spread the goals across the lineup

Freitas began the scoring before Kalju could settle into their defensive positions.

Moore then attacked space between the central defenders for his first goal.

Coote’s goal completed a rapid opening that placed Shelbourne three goals ahead.

Esono answered by taking Kalju’s best first-half opportunity before the break.

Moore struck again almost immediately after play resumed for the second half.

The forward’s two goals arrived on opposite sides of the interval.

Ring entered the scoring list during a late attack from the home side.

Esono’s second reply kept Kalju within three goals on aggregate.

Tolka Park saw seven goals without one player claiming a hat-trick.

Shelbourne travel to Estonia with a strong lead and five different scoring actions.

The opening twenty-five minutes shape the result

Shelbourne scored three times before Kalju could slow the home attacks.

Freitas, Moore and Coote scored through three separate attacks.

The first strike arrived before the visitors had settled into the match.

Moore increased the lead, while Coote scored during another quick attack.

Esono’s response prevented Kalju from reaching half-time without an away goal.

Moore then restored the larger margin almost immediately after the restart.

That sequence left Kalju chasing the aggregate score for the rest of the evening.

The final two goals changed the margin but not the first-leg winner.

Two braces shape the seven-goal match

Moore scored twice for Shelbourne and struck in each half.

Esono answered with both Kalju goals after large home leads.

Four other scoring moments came from Freitas, Coote and Ring.