THE DOMESTIC SEASON is over but Dundalk have a couple of particularly important fixtures to get through before the year is out — starting at Tallaght Stadium tonight.
Stephen Kenny’s side can take a major step towards qualification for the last-16 of the Europa League — which would be a first for Irish football — with a positive result against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.
There was good news in Russia earlier this evening as Group D leaders claimed a 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv, meaning even a draw here puts the Lilywhites sitting second in the table heading to Israel for the final game on 8 December.
This evening’s game has been sold-out for the past week, although a limited number tickets were available at the gate earlier today, and kick off is 8.05pm.
When the sides met back in September, Ciaran Kilduff was sprung from the bench to grab an 89th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
The striker was a substitute that night, but starts this evening.
And we’ve got team news. Dundalk, who have been waiting on the fitness of a number of players, make two changes from the team that played in the FAI Cup final.
Robbie Benson has recovered from a hamstring injury and comes in for Chris Shields, while Ciaran Kilduff is preferred to David McMillan as the lone striker.
Captain Stephen O’Donnell was rated as doubtful due to an ongoing groin issue, but has been deemed fit to start.
With the exception of injured defender Rens van Eijden, AZ boss John van den Brom has a full deck to choose from. Mats Seuntjens gets the nod ahead of Robert Muhren in midfield and Muamer Tankovic is named in attack with Levi Garcia dropping to the bench.
Dundalk: Rogers; Gannon, Boyle, Gartland, Massey; O’Donnell (c), Benson, McEleney, Finn, Horgan; Kilduff.
AZ Alkmaar: Rochet; Johansson, Vlaar (c), Wuytens, Haps; Luckassen, Seuntjens, Rienstra; Jahanbakhsh, Weghorst, Tankovic.
Dundalk’s star winger Daryl Horgan is being closely-monitored by several clubs across the water right now. This evening, Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy is in attendance to get a closer look at the Galwegian.
Current Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane are also expected to be present.
KICK-OFF – Skippers O’Donnell and former Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar shake hands after the coin toss and the visitors tip off to get us started.
An evenly-contested opening five minutes with both teams trying to find their rhythm.
A loose pass from Gartland forces O’Donnell into a foul on Seuntjens, and AZ have a free-kick. It’s clipped to the back post where Rogers comes out to punch away.
GOAL! Dundalk 0-1 AZ Alkmaar (Wout Weghorst)
Disaster for the Lilywhites. After a succession of corners, Luckassen sends a cross over from the opposite side. Massey makes the mistake by taking a heavy touch in the box, and Weghorst pounces on the ball to blast beyond Rogers.
Dundalk have begun to get their foot on the ball in the last couple of minutes, but their passing isn’t quite as sharp as what we’ve come to expect from them so far.
That’s more positive from Dundalk. A move down the left flank involving Benson and Horgan sets Kilduff away but he’s tackled by Wuytens, who concedes a corner.
The set-piece is clear before Horgan sends it back into the danger zone, where Rochet collects.
Super play from Ronan Finn. The Dubliner takes on Haps and puts an inviting ball across the AZ goalmouth. It’s hoofed away but the home side win back possession and Finn earns a corner – although there were Dundalk shouts for a penalty after coming together between Rochet and Benson before the ball went out of play.
Kilduff then gets a free header but puts it over the bar.
Finn has a pop from distance and it’s struck well but whistles wide of Rochet’s goal. It’s been much better from Dundalk in the last ten minutes.
There could be bad news, however, as O’Donnell appears to be struggling.
Another header wide of the target as Horgan’s free-kick is met by Kilduff but the striker can’t direct it at goal.
And it looks like Stephen O’Donnell’s night is over as he has signalled to the bench.
O’Donnell goes down to receive treatment, but he hasn’t been substituted just yet and returns to the field to play on.
SUBSTITUTION – John Mountney is on for O’Donnell, who cuts a frustrated figure as he leaves the pitch.
From a Dundalk corner, AZ break on with a counter-attack with Tankovic, who switches play to Jahanbakhsh.
The Iranian attempts to return the favour by picking out the same team-mate, but it goes behind and the referee rather strangely gives a corner.
Thankfully, it’s a poor taken one and Dundalk have the goal-kick.
Half-time: Dundalk 0-1 AZ Alkmaar
Encouraging from Dundalk again as they begin the second half as they ended the first with plenty of possession.
Benson is picked out by McEleney over the top, but the linesman’s flag shoots up to rule him offside.
Gannon goes on a super run past a couple of challenges but has the ball nicked off him by Vlaar.
Two shots from AZ to report — Jahanbakhsh volleys into the arms of Rogers, and Seuntjens drags an effort wide after Gartland had handed them the ball back.
SAVED! Weghorst runs through on goal and is denied a second goal by a strong stop from Rogers.
Big chance for AZ. Jahanbakhsh gets to the endline after latching onto Lukassen’s pass and cuts the ball back for Rientra, who steps inside a tackle and shoots at Rogers.
The ball is deflected out off the Dundalk keeper.
Vlaar meets the corner at the near post with a flick that’s cleared, then Rogers gets down to save from Johansson.
Chance for Kilduff but Rochet gets out quickly to smother the ball.
Yet another save from Rogers as he pushes Seuntjens’ shot onto the post.
And there are changes on both sides – Jahanbakhsh is off for Dabney dos Santos, and David McMillan has just replaced Kilduff, who hasn’t had the best of night.
MORE SUBSTITUTIONS – Tankovic makes way with Thomas Ouwejan being introduced, and Dean Shiels replaces McEleney.
YELLOW CARD – Wuytens goes into the book and Dundalk have a free-kick in a dangerous area. It’s wasted, however.
Dundalk are pushing for the equaliser with AZ sitting back. Finn and Gannon both come close with the latter’s shot deflected out for a corner.
Full-time: Dundalk 0-1 AZ Alkmaar
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