JONATHAN AFOLABI saved Bohemians from a third defeat this year to rivals Shamrock Rovers when he sparked a sensational comeback in last night’s electrifying Dublin derby.
The former Ireland underage striker scored one and was heavily involved in the build-up for James Clarke’s equaliser, as Bohs rescued a point against the league leaders.
Markus Poom had already lit up the game with a wonderful 25-yard volley.
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Rovers were leading through Neil Farrugia’s 48th minute header when the Estonia international smashed the ball past James Talbot from distance.
But that wasn’t the end of the top-quality, high-octane action, as Afolabi responded with a super strike of his own to halve the deficit.
The game exploded into life in the second-half after an intriguing opening 45 minutes, in which Rovers’ relentless high pressing forced the Gypsies into error after error in defence.
Despite their territorial dominance, the Hoops failed to create a single chance in the opening period.
Bohs, on the other hand, were wondering how they weren’t ahead at the break, as they carved out some decent opportunities on the counter-attack.
But the second-half was a different story altogether, with Rovers finally turning their pressing into what appeared to be an unassailable lead.
Afolabi wasn’t ready to raise the white flag, however, and his 67th minute goal was followed seven minutes later by substitute Clarke’s equaliser.
The first-half was mostly a masterclass in high-pressing by the visitors, with Bohs centre-half Kacper Radkowski in particular struggling to cope with the pressure.
Wing-backs Ronan Finn and Farrugia pushed forward at every opportunity, starving their opponents of any space inside their defensive third.
Radkowski, at one point in the first-half, kicked the ball across his goal and out of play for a corner.
At the other end, Bohs were far more composed, with the lively McDonnell at the heart of most of their good attacking work.
He drilled one early shot across goal and wide, and then pressured Rovers defender Roberto Lopes into an error that led to another half-chance.
McDonnell then robbed Dylan Watts on 27 minutes and played the ball to the feet of Afolabi, who turned and sent a shot arrowing towards the bottom left-hand corner.
The ever-improving Leon Pohls did well to dive full-stretch and push the ball around the post - but that wasn’t his best stop of the first-half.
When a Coote corner was met by the chest of Akintunde moments before half-time, the German goalkeeper somehow raced across goal and prevented the score.
Bohs also threatened through a Coote free-kick, which curled over the bar from the narrowest of angles, and an Afolabi shot that was deflected wide.
McDonnell wasn’t far off either from 20 yards as the hosts tried to turn the screw.
But for all their first-half chances, the hosts found themselves behind just three minutes into the second period.
Rory Gaffney rescued a deep cross, played the ball back to Sean Kavanagh and his cross was headed home from close range by Farrugia.
Then came Poom’s wonder-goal. Jack Byrne’s free kick was cushioned back towards the Estonian by Lopes - and he unleashed an unstoppable volley from 25 yards.
There was no saving this one, as it flew into the top right-hand corner of the net.
The action continued at breakneck pace, with Graham Burke, Afolabi and Burke again exchanging efforts at goal.
Gaffney then opted to shoot from 20 yards on 66 minutes, when he had an unmarked Byrne to his left.
The recently crowned SSE Airtricity Player of the Year was left to rue that chance, which was comfortably saved, when moments later Bohs pulled a goal back.
The Gypsies passed their way to the edge of the Rovers area, where Afolabi spun and drove a brilliant shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Clarke should have levelled on 73 minutes when he was picked out by Coote 15 yards from goal, but his side-footed effort was too close to Pohls.
Take two for the Bohs sub one minute later, when he was picked out by fellow-sub Dylan Connolly after fine play by Afolabi, and this time he made no mistake.
He produced another side-footer, but this time sent the ball wide of Pohls and inside the bottom right-hand corner.
With St Pat’s and Derry City also winning, it was a crucial point for Bohemians.
