Sporting Fingal EID 1-4 FK Nikars Riga
SPORTING FINGAL EID's UEFA Futsal Cup campaign came to an end after a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Latvian side FK Nikars Riga in Romania.
It was a game that Fingal dominated in most areas save the key aspect of sticking the ball in the opposition net.
Sporting had much of the possession and outshot their opponents by 22 to 18 but all they had to show for it was Ross Zambra's opening goal in the 11th minute.
It was the third time this week that Junior Da Silva's side had led more experienced opposition but once again they ultimately fell short of securing a main round victory.
After Irish international Zambra's opener after good work by Mark Langtry, the impressive Aleksejs Baranovs levelled matters in the 16th minute from the penalty spot.
Baranovs proved the difference between the sides after the break when he scored twice more. He found the net in the 22nd minute then Igors Dacko made it 3-1 in the 31st minute.
Fingal suffered a blow when Helio Neto was dismissed in the 39th minute for a second bookable offence after a foul on Dacko and Baranovs found the net from the resulting free-kick.
FAI Futsal Co-ordinator Derek O'Neill was quick to pay tribute to the achievements Sporting Fingal EID have made for Irish futsal this year.
"People will look at the results this week and not get the full picture. Fingal were up against full-time professional outfits so any amateur team would find it a major challenge," O'Neill explained.
"If you look at the clubs from our neighbouring countries, no English or Scottish futsal team has ever made it through to the main qualifying round so that should but Fingal's achievements into context.
"Hopefully Sporting will have learned a lot from their experiences in Europe this year and help raise the standards for all the Irish futsal clubs to try and match."
SPORTING FINGAL EID: Fornal, Langtry, de Melo, Cezar, Isaias Lima; Daly, Zambra, Melo, Fetherston, Anderson Nunes, Musteata, Neto.
FK NIKARS RIGA: Dobrovoļskis; Dacko, Baranovs, Zolotuhins, Selezņovs; Trofimovs, Gnutovs, Zolotarjovs, Jerofeevs, Žukovs, Ļašenko, Matrjoņins.