Soccer

Dundalk keep Champions League hopes alive

Dundalk's David McMillan (left) celebrates with team-mate John Mountney after scoring his second goal in the Uefa Champions League third qualifying round second leg against BATE Borisov. Picture by Sportsfile 
Dundalk's David McMillan (left) celebrates with team-mate John Mountney after scoring his second goal in the Uefa Champions League third qualifying round second leg against BATE Borisov. Picture by Sportsfile  Dundalk's David McMillan (left) celebrates with team-mate John Mountney after scoring his second goal in the Uefa Champions League third qualifying round second leg against BATE Borisov. Picture by Sportsfile 

Uefa Champions League third qualifying round second leg: 


Dundalk 3 BATE Borisov 0 (Dundalk win 3-1 on aggregate)

A MUCH more composed display than their first leg performance sent SSE Airtricity League champions Dundalk through to a Champions League qualifier play-off and guaranteed Europa League football.

A first-half that lacked any real intensity and pace burst into life when, three minutes before half-time, David McMillan headed the home side in front. Patrick McEleney was introduced late in the half as a sub for the injured Ronan Finn and the former Derry midfielder provided the spark that was missing. He fed Daryl Horgan and, after great work down the left, he cut back for McMillan to head home at the far post.

The second-half opened with BATE clearly upping the tempo and a shot from Aleksei Rios on 55 minutes whizzed past the post to keep the Lilywhites on their toes. As the half wore on, however, in driving rain, Dundalk visibly grew in confidence and began to look more and more like the polished outfit their fans see week in, week out.

Then on the hour mark, the home side got the second goal their efforts deserved. The move was again started by McEleney out on the right and his ball to the back post was worked back across for McMillan, who threw himself at the ball to head home from just a couple of yards out.

At that point, Dundalk were through and could have defended en masse. However, they played how they are used to playing and sensationally added a third on 90 minutes. Robbie Benson sprinted through the middle and lifted a beautiful, delicate chip past the advancing keeper to send Dundalk through to the Champions League play-off round amid ecstatic scenes.

After the game, captain Stephen O'Donnell said: "It's unbelievable. No-one had given us a chance, but we had a meeting last night and everyone believed that we could do it.

"We knew that, if we could get in after them - we didn't play at all well last week - the worse we could have played and we came away with a one nil - that was crucial. We played more to our ability tonight and I think that we were deserved 3-0 winners. This is the best ever. Backs against the wall. Champions League opposition last year - playing against Barcelona and Leverkusen. To beat them 3-0 at home is unbelievable.

"All we wanted was respect in the league. There are some decent players and this is for everyone that plays in the league, not just Dundalk. Maybe now we won't be a bit of a laughing stock and that we showed that we can compete. 

“And you saw the likes of Daryl Horgan and Patrick McEleney, who could grace any stage - you can’t tell me that they are not better than some of the players that supposedly play at a higher level. It’s unbelievable for the whole team.”

MATCH STATS


Dundalk: Rogers, Gannon, Barrett, Boyle, Massey, Shields, Mountney, Finn (McEleney 32), O'Donnell, Horgan (Kilduff 90), McMillan (Benson 78); Subs Not Used: Sava, Grimes, Poynton, Meenan; Goals: McMillan 45, 59, Benson 90. 


BATE: Veremko, Zhavnerchik (Signevich 81), Dubra, Palyakow, Pikk (Gordeichuk 65), Karnitskiy (Hleb 46), Kendysh, Ryas, Ivanic, Stasevich, Rodionov; Subs Not Used: Soroko, Gaiduchik, Yablonskiy, Alyaksandr Valadzko; Booked: Rodionov, Stasevich. 


Ref: J Kehlet (Denmark).