FRANCELY Lomboto struck a glorious winner as Sligo Rovers beat his old club Galway United at the Showgrounds.
Both sides had men sent off in a second half which saw the visitors strike the woodwork twice late on, while the Tribesmen had three efforts cleared off the line.
Jad Hakiki gave Rovers the lead before the break, but league top scorer Moses Dyer levelled early in the second half.
Dyer was sent off after a flashpoint with Sligo captain John Mahon before Lomboto hit the winner on 73 minutes. Galway’s direct style provided chances from set-pieces.
Patrick Hickey’s volley was repelled by Sligo keeper Sam Sargeant after a long-throw in from Ed McCarthy, while Sargeant tipped over a Cian Byrne free-kick soon after.
Rovers’ rearguard held out at the break but the visitors could have gone ahead 60 seconds from the interval.
McCarthy and David Hurley had chances cleared off the Sligo line by Mahon and McDonagh.
Sargeant then pulled off a wonder save to keep Hurley at bay. John Russell’s men finished the half the happier.
Owen Elding provided a through ball for Hakiki, who placed his effort beyond Galway keeper Evan Watts.
Home smiles turned to frowns upon the restart when Dyer guided Byrne’s free-kick beyond Sargeant.
Both camps were reduced to ten on 53 minutes when Mahon and Dyer clashed after the Rovers skipper had hit the Kiwi with a late challenge.
Lomboto then scored an audacious winner against his former employers after another crazy scrap.
He initially struck the bottom of a post, before Hakiki had a shot saved by Watts. The ball landed to Lomboto, who back-heeled it between the legs of the stunned keeper.
Rovers lived dangerously in the closing stages, but held on.
SUN STAR MAN
Jake Doyle-Hayes (Sligo)
SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant 6; McDonagh 7 (Van Hattum 64, 6), Mahon 5, Reynolds 8 (Patton 85, 6), Hutchinson 7; Wolfe 6 (Denham 64, 7), Doyle-Hayes 8; Fitzgerald 6, Hakiki 6 (Mallon 85, 6), Elding 6; Waweru 6 (Lomboto 64, 7).
GALWAY UNITED: Watts 6; Esua 6, Slevin 7, Buckley 7, Cunningham 6 (Burns h-t, 6); Borden 5 (McCormack h-t, 6), Byrne 6 (Walsh 83, 6); Hurley 6 (Brouder 74, 6), McCarthy 6 (Shaw 74, 6); Hickey 7, Dyer 5.
REFEREE: N Doyle (Dublin) 6.
