Rapid Vienna 4-3 Dundalk
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s another big challenge for Dundalk.
The Lilywhites have lost both their opening games, 2-1 and 3-0 against Molde and Arsenal respectively.
Tonight certainly won’t be easy.
They travel to face the Austrian side, who went a goal up against Arsenal, before a 70th-minute David Luiz equaliser and a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal four minutes later got the Gunners out of jail.
On matchday two, they also suffered a loss, going down 1-0 against Molde.
Consequently, like Dundalk, Dietmar Kühbauer’s men currently have 0 points on the board and will be eager to pick up a win this evening.
Confirmation of the Dundalk team, which has several changes from the starting XI that faced Arsenal.
🏁 This is the team that Filippo Giovagnoli has selected for tonight's Europa League clash in Vienna.
— DundalkFC (@DundalkFC) November 5, 2020
6️⃣ There are six changes from MD2. McCarey, Hoare, Gannon, Sloggett, Flores and Leahy all start.
📺 Kick-off is at 5.55pm. Watch it live on @VMSportIE.#CmonTheTown #UEL pic.twitter.com/lxJ9xpUg8n
Here’s how Rapid Vienna are expected to line up…
25. Paul Gartler
22. Filip Stojkovic 20. Maximilian Hofmann 4. Mateo Barac
13. Thorsten Schick 39. Dejan Ljubicic (c) 28. Christoph Knasmüllner 16. Dejan Petrovic 31. Maximilian Ullmann
29. Ercan Kara 36. Kelvin Arase
Substitutes:
1. Richard Strebinger
6. Mario Sonnleitner
14. Srđan Grahovac
19. Deni Alar
30. Leo Greiml
32. Kohya Kitagawa
37. Lukas Sulzbacher
40. Melih Ibrahimoglu
45. Niklas Hedl
48. Yusuf Demir
In my opinion, Rapid Vienna are better than Molde. I think they have a lot more of an attacking threat that we need to be wary of, so I think this is possibly one of the hardest games. We’ll have to be right on it to come away with anything. Hopefully we do.”
Dundalk star Pat Hoban on tonight’s opponents. You can read the full match preview here.
So who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
Nervy moment for Hoare as he loses it in a dangerous area.
However, the Dundalk defender recovers well to clear Ercan Kara’s subsequent cross.
Hoban heads a Flores free kick wide from distance.
Dundalk look pretty comfortable and have made a decent start to this game.
RAPID VIENNA 0-1 DUNDALK (HOBAN 7)
Dundalk take the lead.
Shields hangs a cross into the area that Hoban meets with his head.
The striker’s header is not especially powerful, but the goalkeeper makes a poor attempt at a save, as it slips through his hands and into the net.
Thorsten Schick’s cross finds an unmarked Christoph Knasmüllner, who puts his header just wide.
That’s a warning for Dundalk, who were lucky not to concede there.
Here’s a look at that Dundalk goal…
WHAT A START! ⚫️⚪️
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2020
Pat Hoban heads @DundalkFC in front in Vienna!#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/KvHkrPk44f
Hofmann gets booked for a late challenge on Hoban.
That was during a dangerous-looking counter-attack, with Duffy bursting forward, but he was ultimately let down by a lack of Dundalk bodies in the box.
RAPID VIENNA 1-1 DUNDALK (LJUBICIC 22)
Rapid Vienna had clearly stepped it up after going behind and they are back in the game now.
It was a powerful long-range strike by Ljubicic, though McCarey arguably could have done better.
Another booking for Rapid Vienna.
Stojkovic is booked for a late challenge on Shields.
Moments later, Hoare sees yellow for a cynical foul on Ercan Kara.
Big chance for Dundalk!
Flores plays through Duffy on goal, but the winger’s finish is tame and straight at the goalkeeper, as a slightly awkward first touch made it difficult for him.
Kara runs through on goal, but Cleary does really well to use his strength to win back the ball.
Moments later, Hoare gets on the end of Duffy’s corner, but his flick-on goes just wide.
This has been a very entertaining first half.
Another Rapid Vienna chance!
Schick’s cross is headed just wide by Kara, who is under pressure from Leahy as he jumps.
Both sides will feel they should have more than one goal by now.
Here’s a look at the Rapid equaliser!
Dejan Ljubicic's equaliser for Rapid Vienna.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2020
Should Aaron McCarey do better?#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/ApV2oNcOU8
Kara curls a free kick well over.
Rapid have had the better possession and territory in this first half, but Dundalk have also sporadically threatened on the counter.
As I type, McCarey makes a good reaction save, after Christoph Knasmüllner gets on the end of a corner and volleys it towards goal.
Cleary gets yellow carded for a rash challenge on Kelvin Arase.
He becomes the second Dundalk centre-back to go in the book.
HALF-TIME: RAPID VIENNA 1-1 DUNDALK
The second half has begun…
Dundalk have started this half on the backfoot.
Hoban concedes a sloppy free kick, fouling Stojkovic.
The ensuing set piece falls to Petrovic on the edge of the area, and his effort is deflected just wide.
Good run by Shields, who then plays through Hoban, whose effort is deflected just wide.
Those two players have arguably been Dundalk’s two best performers so far.
Mateo Barac is down and bleeding after a collision with goalkeeper Paul Gartler.
Mario Sonnleitner is set to come on in the defender’s place.
Chance for Dundalk!
Flores’ deep free kick finds Cleary, but he can’t direct his effort from a difficult angle on target.
Shields’ clearance is blocked.
It then falls to Christoph Knasmüllner, whose shot is straight at McCarey.
Hoare is fortunate to get away with a late challenge on Dejan Ljubicic inside the penalty area.
Down the other, Dundalk break at speed. but Duffy can only find the side netting with his finish from a tight angle.
Hofmann’s challenge on Duffy as he took the shot has left the winger in considerable pain. He may not be able to continue as a result.
Another nervy moment for the visitors.
Schick gets in behind the Dundalk defence, but his cross is cleared by Cleary.
Duffy is now back on the pitch after that injury.
The Lilywhites make a change, meanwhile, as Gannon is replaced by Mountney.
Ljubicic, who has been impressive, sets up Schick, whose shot from the edge of the area is deflected off target.
Dundalk are fading a bit, with Rapid Vienna looking the more likely side to get the winner.
The ball falls inside the area to Schick, whose attempt is blocked by Shields,
Demir and Grahovac are on for Rapid, with Petrovic and Knasmüllner off.
Dundalk also make a change, with Oduwa replacing Duffy.
Kara plays a ball into Demir, but McCarey is alert to get to the ball first.
The Dundalk goalkeeper will feel he could have done better for the Rapid goal, but he also had some excellent moments to keep his side in the game.
As I type, Demir shoots just wide from the edge of the box, as Dundalk breathe another sigh of relief.
More changes for the visitors, meanwhile, as Murray and McMillan replace Flores and Hoban.
RAPID VIENNA 2-1 DUNDALK (ARASE 79)
A cross falls to Schick, whose shot from a tight angle is parried by McCarey.
However, Arase is in the right place to head into the empty net and give the hosts the lead for the first time in this game.
PENALTY TO DUNDALK!
RAPID VIENNA 2-2 DUNDALK (MCMILLAN 82)
McMillan brings Dundalk level again.
The goalkeeper gets his hand to the penalty but can’t keep it out.
It initially came about after Oduwa’s through ball was cut out, but McMillan got to the loose ball first and was taken down by Sonnleitner in the process.
So close for Dundalk!
Sloggett gets on the end of a corner, but his header is inches wide.
RAPID VIENNA 3-2 DUNDALK (HOFMANN 87)
Rapid take a corner short.
Stojkovic crosses for Hofmann, who heads home.
McCarey will be disappointed, as he came for the cross but didn’t collect.
RAPID VIENNA 4-2 DUNDALK (DEMIR 90)
That’s game, set and match for Rapid.
It’s harsh on Dundalk, who have put in a good performance.
It’s the 17-year-old Demir who scores. He’s afforded too much space on the edge of the area and fires home brilliantly.
PENALTY FOR DUNDALK!
Oduwa, who has been excellent since coming on, is fouled after getting away from the defender.
RAPID VIENNA 4-3 DUNDALK (MCMILLAN 90)
FULL-TIME: RAPID VIENNA 4-3 DUNDALK
McMillan slots home his second penalty of the evening, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, but it’s virtually the last act of the game, as the referee blows up moments later.
Here’s a look at that late flurry of goals…
Rapid Vienna 3-2 Dundalk
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2020
Maximilian Hofmann beats McCarey who came off his line to clear the cross.#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/MrMJtHqmXQ
Rapid Vienna make it 4-2 in the 90th minute. @DundalkFC punished as they pushed forward for an equaliser.#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/xODCpuKwJP
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2020
David McMillan gets his 2nd and @DundalkFC's 3rd in Vienna.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2020
It's not enough though. 😑#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/FC5Bx7QjbI
So that’s that.
There were plenty of positives to take from Dundalk’s perspective. The Lilywhites will feel they could have come away with at least a point.
There were some excellent individual performances and scoring three goals at this level is no mean feat.
However, they will be disappointed with their defensive display.
Four goals conceded left them fighting an uphill battle and all of the goals were avoidable.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow.
