GOOD EVENING and welcome to Tallaght Stadium, which Dundalk FC will call home for one night only as they face BATE Borisov in the Champions League third qualifying round.
The Lilywhites were beaten 1-0 in last week’s first leg as substitute Mikhail Gordejchuk claimed victory for the current Belarusian champions.
We’re 45 minutes away from kick-off and I’ve just been handed the teamsheet so the starting XIs will be with you in a couple of minutes.
Two changes for the home side as Chris Shields and John Mountney are in for Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson.
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Ronan Finn, Stephen O’Donnell (c), John Mountney; Chris Shields, David McMillan, Daryl Horgan.
BATE BORISOV: Sergei Veremenko; Kaspars Dubra, Aleksandr Karnitski, Mirko Ivanic, Artur Pikk, Maksim Zhavnerchik, Aleksei Rios, Vitali Rodionov (c), Igor Stasevich, Denis Polyakov, Yuri Kendysh.
They’re six points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, but if Dundalk can stage a second leg comeback to progress to the Champions League play-offs (and within one round of the group stages), it would surely be up there as one of the greatest ever results from an Irish club in Europe.
So let’s have your predictions… How will tonight’s game go?
Poll Results:
Dundalk defender Brian Gartland is missing again tonight due to a broken wrist, and he’s on punditry duty with eir Sport.
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is in attendance, and so is ESPN’s US-based commentator and lifelong Dundalk fan Tommy Smyth.
The teams emerge as that famous Champions League anthem rings out around Dublin 24, and we’re seconds away from getting started here.
KICK-OFF – Bright start from Dundalk as Ronan Finn gets away down the left flank. Moments later, the Dundalk midfielder is fouled by BATE captain Vitali Rodionov.
We’ve just had the first shot of the game and it’s come from Radionov, who fires well over.
Great interception from Dundalk centre-back Paddy Barrett as BATE were looking dangerous inside the opposing box.
Chris Shields gives away possession and BATE break out wide. Shields tracks back in an attempt to make amends but Rodionov gets the shot off — although it’s blocked by a Dundalk body.
TWO CHANCES – And they’ve both fallen for the visitors. A corner is whipped into the front post and Yuri Kendysh heads just over. Then Aleksei Rios capitalises on a poor ball out of the backline and shoots a couple of yards wide of Gary Rogers’ post.
BATE continue to look the far more dangerous of the two sides here. They’re occasionally stringing together some neat passes in the middle of the field, while Dundalk have struggled to find their rhythm thus far.
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny doesn’t look happy with what he is seeing and he has sent Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson out to warm up. McEleney is now readying himself to come on.
SUBSTITUTION – Ronan Finn is off with McEleney introduced in his place. He’s obviously feeling an injury.
SAVE! We’ve just seen Dundalk’s first real opportunity to score. Mountney flicks the ball beyond Artur Pikk and drills it towards the bottom corner. Sergei Veramko gets down well to push the effort around the post, however.
A couple of shaky moments for Dundalk’s Paddy Barrett, as he hits a pass out of play then concedes a corner with a heavy touch. It invites more pressure from BATE and Rogers eventually smothers the ball.
Dundalk have let themselves down with several individual errors during this first half.
GOAL! Dundalk 1-0 BATE Borisov (David McMillan)
WOW! The Lilywhites have scored! Great work from Horgan, who shields the ball from three defenders and lofts a cross into the danger zone.
McMillan peels off his marker to head home and Tallaght Stadium erupts. The tie is level!
Half-time: Dundalk 1-0 BATE Borisov (1-1 on aggregate)
Here’s that goal for anyone who hasn’t seen it…
SECOND HALF – We’ve just restarted. One change at the break as the former Arsenal and Barcelona man Aleksandr Hleb is on for Aleksandr Karnitski.
Shot from BATE’S Igor Stasevich, who creates a yard of space and pulls the trigger. It’s a wild one, though.
THAT WAS CLOSE! Barrett can only head as far as the edge of the box and Rios isn’t far away with his snapshot.
Stasevich with another long-range attempt. This time it flies well over the bar.
GOAL! Dundalk 2-0 BATE Borisov (David McMillan)
DUNDALK ARE AHEAD IN THE TIE… 2-1!
McEleney works the ball well down right and sends a chip to the far post. Massey drills it back in and McMillan is in the right place to guide the ball in from close range.
They’re on the verge of history here!
CHANGE – Pikk is off for Mikhail Gordeichuk.
BATE look to be on the ropes. They’ve been rattled by the second goal.
INCHES WIDE – Hleb creates a chance for himself but he can’t find the target. Great play from the veteran.
McEleney shoots just over. Dundalk are playing with a lot of confidence now.
Shot by Hleb. Rodgers saves.
GREAT RECEPTION – Cheers ring out as McMillan goes off for Robbie Benson.
More attacking play by Dundalk. They’ve been the better team in the second half.
GOAL! Dundalk 3-0 BATE Borisov (Robbie Benson)
That’s it! Dundalk are going through!
Four minutes of additional time to play. Ciaran Kilduff is on for Horgan.
Full-time: Dundalk 3-0 BATE Borisov (Dundalk win 3-1 on aggregate)
UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT. A. RESULT.
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