Dundalk's European journey ends with Tel Aviv defeat

Dundalk’s European adventure has come to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League Group D.

Stephen Kenny’s side needed to win at Netanya Municipal Stadium and hope that AZ Alkmaar only managed a draw at home to Zenit St Petersburg in order to advance to the knock-out stages.

However, neither element went their way. Dundalk pegged back a penalty from Tal Ben Chaim, with an own goal from Eliazer Dasa, but a second strike from Dor Micha before half-time won it for the hosts, leaving Dundalk fourth in the table and contemplating what might have been.

A 3-2 win for Alkmaar against Zenit ensured the Dutch took second spot in the group, meaning Tel Aviv themselves were eliminated, finishing third in the table.

Tel Aviv carved open the first chance of the game just five minutes in with Omri Ben Harush collecting far out and finding Vidar Orn Kjartansson with a delightful through ball, where he pulled back to the centre for Chris Shields to get in and turn away.

The Israeli side continued to dominate early doors with Ben Chaim rounding keeper Gary Rogers and stroking home only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Dundalk were proving dangerous themselves when on the ball; however, with Patrick McEleney slipping in Sean Gannon down the right with the fullback crossing for the centre and David McMillan narrowly missing connection.

Tel Aviv had been the better of the teams early doors and they got their reward. Brian Gartland gave the ball away in the danger area with Haris Medunjanin taking up the attack and Rogers bringing him down in the box. Ben Chaim stood up to slam the ball left and home for a deserved lead after just 20 minutes.

Dundalk needed to score next and they did. Robbie Benson started the move from midfield before feeding McEleney to slip a neat ball past the defence for Shields to latch onto before crossing to the centre where Dasa bundled home under pressure from Horgan.

Medunjanin was causing all sorts of danger for Tel Aviv as they looked to edge back in front with a very dangerous ball into the box in particular, Dundalk getting a reprieve as a foul was blown on keeper Rogers.

The game was evenly poised with both teams threatening. McMillan almost capitalised from a poor Tal Ben Haim clearance as he collected and burst into the box only for the defender to cover back and clear up his own mess.

Another goal did come before the break and it was for the hosts. Ben Chaim found space on the left and crossed for Miha, with acres of space in the box, to finish home. In truth the shot was weak, and agonisingly crept through the hands of Rogers in nets.

The Israelis had another goal in the net after the break thanks to Eyal Golasa, but the ref ruled that Kjartansson had shoved Patrick Barrett in the back in the build-up and a second goal was ruled out for offside.

Dundalk were throwing everything at their chance of a comeback with five in attack, but were struggling to find the quality they needed in the final third, with Tel Aviv hitting on the break and Ben Chaim firing off a fine effort with Sean Gannon forced to make a diving block-tackle.

As the game ticked towards the hour the home team were dominating the tie with Medunjanin pushing a threatening cross into the box and Eitan Tibi connecting with his head only to direct the effort over the bar. Miha also had a pop for Tel Aviv with a long-range effort blocked away by Andrew Boyle at the top of the box.

Dundalk were beginning to be pegged right back and came close to shipping a third when Golasa nutmegged Barrett and played in for Ben Chaim to fire a shot at the near post - Rogers getting down to divert away. With 20 minutes remaining it should have been 3-1. Ben Chaim cut in off the left, played a 1-2 with Kjartansson and lobbed Rogers for Golasa to smash home with an open goal, only to somehow get it all wrong and put the effort wide.

The long season seemed to have finally got to Dundalk as they were continually pegged back by wave after wave of Tel Aviv attack and another goal looked inevitable for the hosts.

But having been under the cosh for almost the entire second period, Dundalk almost nicked an equaliser with three minutes to go. Horgan broke down the left flank crossing deep to the back post where McMillan was stretching to meet it, only just missing connection, and what would have been a certain goal.

The frustration was beginning to show as Horgan was booked for kicking out at Golasa with the game nearing the final ten. Ciaran Kilduff was introduced by boss Kenny in an effort to change things for the Irish side but another goal just wouldn’t come for the team from County Louth.

Photo: Inpho/Dov Halickman

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