Derry City 0
Dinamo Minsk 2
Simon Collins reports from Brandywell Stadium
DERRY CITY FACE a daunting task to keep alive their slim hopes of advancing in to the second qualifying round of the Europa League after what proved to be a comprehensive defeat to Dinamo Minsk.
In fact, the home side had made a nightmare start to the match as Dinamo skipper Nino Galovic rifled in a close-range shot with less than two minutes on the clock.
The Belarusians controlled the game without ever getting out of second gear and they put the tie to bed on 64 minutes through Uladzimir Khvashchynski, who netted a killer second away goal, before Conor McDermott was later dismissed after receiving a second yellow card.
It was always going to be a huge ask for Derry to progress and, if the truth be told, they go into next Thursday’s second leg in Belarus needing a minor miracle to turn this around.
Kenny Shiels handed his son Dean his City debut, while McDermott returned to the starting XI in the unfamiliar left-back position.
The Candystripes got off to the worst possible start as the Belarusians netted within two minutes. Dan Seaborne conceded a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area and Uros Nikolic’s strike was closed down by the wall. Artsem Hurenka crossed towards the back post where Galovic took a touch before rifling into the net from 12 yards.
Dinamo came so close to doubling their advantage on 13 minutes. Hurenka crossed dangerously towards the back post where Khvashchynski’s close-range header was denied by a fantastic save from Ger Doherty, who tipped it over the crossbar.
Derry’s first effort on goal arrived on 18 minutes and it lifted the attendance, as Jamie McDonagh crossed from the right before substitute Ronan Hale’s overhead kick went just over the bar.
Five minutes before the break McDonagh made a crucial interception to deny Anton Saroka what would have been a certain goal when he latched onto a ball over the top of the City defence.
Dinamo almost added a second on 63 minutes when Khvashchynski squared the ball to Saroka and his shot on the turn went under the body of Doherty, but the City skipper reacted quickly to stop the ball on the line.
There was nothing he could do to keep out Dinamo’s next effort as the Belarusians broke quickly. When Pilip Ivanou drew Doherty out of his goal, he found Khvashchynski, who was left with an easy tap-in from 10 yards.
It went from bad to worse for City as McDermott was shown his second yellow card for clipping the heels of Uros outside the box with eight minutes left on the clock.
Derry were simply outclassed on the night but they face a huge task to keep the score to a minimum in Belarus next Thursday night.
DERRY CITY: G. Doherty; J. McDonagh, D. Cole, D. Seaborne, C. McDermott; Rory Hale (Ronan Hale, 6), A. Splaine; B. Fisk (G. Peers, 78), A. McEneff, D. Shiels; A. Roy (R. Patterson, 60).
DINAMO MINSK: A. Harbunou; M. Zhaunerchyk, N. Galovic, A. Chyzh, M. Shvetsou, Y. Astraukh (R. Behunou, 77); A. Hurenka, U. Nikolic, M. Kaplenka (P. Ivanou, 29), S. Yahaya; U. Khvashchynski (A. Salavei, 66), A. Saroka.
Referee: Nikola Popov (Bulgaria)
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