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St Patricks' Ian Bermingham with Mohammed El Monir of Minsk. Tommy Dickson/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: St Patrick's Athletic v Dinamo Minsk, Europa League second qualifying round second leg

The Saints held the slender advantage of an away goal heading into tonight’s tie at Richmond Park.

GOOD EVENING AND welcome along. Both St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow SSE Airtricity League Premier Division club Dundalk by safely negotiating their passage to the next round of European competition tonight.

There are two League of Ireland sides in action in the Europa League second qualifying round – Turner’s Cross hosts BK Hacken, but we’re in Inchicore for the visit of Belarusian outfit Dinamo Minsk.

A brilliantly-struck goal by Christy Fagan saw the game in Minsk finish 1-1 a week ago, meaning the Saints bring a valuable away goal back home for this evening’s second leg.

Kick-off is 45 minutes away and we’ll have teams for you in a tick.

Here’s that Fagan goal in all its beauty…

stpatsfctv / YouTube

Teams are in and the home side are unchanged from the first leg:

St Patrick’s Athletic: Clarke, O’Brien (c), Hoare, D Dennehy, Bermingham, Kelly, Treacy, B Dennehy,  Timlin, Byrne, Fagan.

 

Dinamo Minsk: Ignatovich, Astraukh, Bykov, Korytko, Zhukovski (c), El Monir, Noyok, Habovda, Sverchinski, Rassadkin, Kaplenko.

If Pat’s do go through tonight, they will meet either Welsh club Connah’s Quay or Serbian club Vojvodina, who hold a 2-0 aggregate advantage in that tie, in the next round.

KICK-OFF – Great start from St Pat’s here. Christy Fagan intercepts a pass and advances forward before Billy Dennehy’s cross is hacked away. Then, Dinamo goalkeeper has to be quick off his line to clear an attempted through-ball.

Moments later, Ian Bermingham gets down the left and puts the ball into the danger zone, and it is cleared as far as Graham Kelly. He attempts the volley but doesn’t make decent connection.

A frantic opening few minutes.

Dinamo get a free-kick 25 yards out from goal but captain Valeri Zkukovski shoots low into the ball. He’s involved a minute later, with a through-pass to Gleb Rassadkhin, who goes down easily before referee Alan Mario Sant waves away claims.

Good defensive play from the Saints there. Darren Dennehy heads a cross away and Sean Hoare gets a block in, before captain Ger O’Brien eventually heads the ball back to goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.

They go on the attack with Fagan winning a corner, but it’s worked short to O’Brien and Hoare is penalised for a shove when the ball arrives at the back post.

GOAL! St Patrick’s Athletic 0-1 Dinamo Minsk (Gleb Rassadkin) (2-1 to Dinamo on aggregate) 

The visitors have gone in front here. Clarke pulls off two good saves in as many minutes, then Rassadkin arrives late to turn the ball home after a flick-on from the corner.

Another fine save from Clarke, who tips a long-range effort from Noyok over for the second time in the game.

Decent response to the goal from Pat’s. They’re getting both full-backs forward regularly and firing balls into the box, but they just haven’t fallen to a red jersey yet.

Shots at both ends – Bykov blasts well over the bar and, down the other end, Kelly’s effort whistles just past the post.

CROSSBAR – A Pat’s corner sees Sverchinski’s looping header drop onto his own bar and out for another corner. Dinamo are then let off the hook as they’re rewarded a free-kick.

YELLOW CARD – El Monir picks up a caution after he and Noyok both fly into a challenge on Bermingham. His team-mate possibly deserved the booking more.

Again, Pat’s work the set-piece short, before sending it in, and the chance goes begging.

GOOD STOP – El Monir takes a touch and shoots at goal, where Clarke stands strong to get his body in the way. The Pat’s number one is having a fine game.

Half-time: St Patrick’s Athletic 0-1 Dinamo Minsk (Dinamo lead 2-1 on aggregate) 

Keith Treacy with Artsem Bykov Keith Treacy with Artsem Bykov. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

SECOND HALF – We’re ready to go again. Big 45 minutes ahead for St Pat’s, as they need a goal to stay in the competition. No changes on either side at the break.

Pat’s win a free-kick and it’s Treacy to take. The delivery is a good one, but Minsk weather the danger.

SUBSTITUTION – Goalscorer Rassadkin heads off on a stretcher, with Luka Rotkovic replacing him.

Minsk work the ball well and Korytko puts an attempt on goal just wide. As Pat’s then go forward, Astraukh is booked for a cynical foul.

PAT’S CHANGE – Mark Timlin makes way for young striker Jamie McGrath.

Seconds later, Treacy whips a free-kick to the back post and Darren Dennehy gets his head on the ball to put it across the goal-line, but no one can capitalise.

BOOKING – Minsk skipper Korytko fouls Treacy and gets a caution for his troubles.

And David Cawley has just come on for Graham Kelly.

A super block by Bermingham denies substitute Rotkovic.

Minsk have just taken off their captain Zhukovski for Anton Shramchenko.

BIG CHANCE! Treacy shoots at goal from 25 yards and Ignatovich can’t hold it. Fagan follows up and blacks straight into the Minsk goalkeeper. The visitors aren’t happy with the Pat’s striker and a scuffle involving several players breaks out.

Both Fagan and Sverchinski are booked, then substitute Vladimir Khvaschinski, standing in the dug-out, is red carded.

We’re into the final minute of normal time, and Dinny Corcoran has been introduced for Conan Byrne.

Five minutes of additional time to play…

Full-time: St Patrick’s Athletic 0-1 Dinamo Minsk

That’s it, the visitors go through 2-1 on aggregate.

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