Santa Clara FC suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Shamrock Rovers in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff. The Azorean team took an early lead through Vinícius Lopes at the 20th minute, but the Irish visitors responded with goals from Grant and Mandroiu, overturning the score. The second leg is scheduled for next Thursday in Dublin, where Santa Clara must win to advance and recover from a poor start to the season, having lost their first two league matches. Coach Vasco Matos remains optimistic, stating, "We are at halftime of the tie, and the team has shown it can turn things around. We will go to Ireland seeking victory." Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers coach Stephen Bradley praised his team’s European experience and resilience, emphasizing their confidence to win in Dublin. The match highlighted Santa Clara’s need to improve their finishing, with several scoring opportunities missed in the second half. The team’s recent form includes a four-match winless streak, but the club remains hopeful for a comeback in Ireland, with the tie still very much open.