FC Copenhagen 1 Shamrock Rovers 0:Shamrock Rovers will have it all to play for against FC Copenhagen in Tallaght Stadium next Tuesday after impressing in a narrow Champions League third round qualifying defeat in Denmark this evening.

The first leg was settled by a fourth minute Solvi Ottesen header at the near post but Rovers showed enough throughout to suggest Copenhagen won’t have it easy in Dublin next week.

Ottesen’s finish was a disastrous start for the visitors, but after a shaky first quarter they began to cause their hosts problems with Billy Dennehy particularly effective on the left.

The winger had the best chance of the half in the 28th minute when Gary Twigg got a touch on a cross from the right and, as the Copenhagen defence failed to clear, Dennehy nipped in to toe-poke it towards goal. Only the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Johan Wiland prevented an equaliser.

Ryan Thompson in the Rovers goal was soon called into action and did brilliantly to deflect Pape Paté Diouf’s point blank header over the bar in the 41st minute.

Rovers arguably had the better of the second half and saw three chances go abegging as they pressed for an equaliser.

Ken Oman glanced Dennehy’s corner just past the post, before Ronan Finn made space for himself in the box but pulled his left foot shot across goal.

Dennehy was again on hand to provide a 72nd minute cross on to the head of Twigg, but the Rovers hitman saw his downward header comfortably held by Wiland.

Copenhagen went in search of a late second as Rovers sat back, content with the scoreline. Dan Murray was brought on to shore up the defence and, despite the hosts controlling possession in the closing stages, they were given nothing by Rovers and were fortunate to be taking a lead to Tallaght.