To face a squad with
a payroll that triples the likes of the entire Lilywhites roster, tells you a
lot of the club that Stephen Kenny was about to face in their third match of
the always-contested UEFA Europa League.
As stated before
about this club lush payroll in order to be a contender in its domestic and
international competitions, Zenit- St. Petersburg squad looked like an
all-around challenge for the Loath County Boys playing as locals.
With tonight’s match
to play in the colossus of Dublin Tallaght Stadium, to a diligent Dundalk FC,
so far juggling its hectic schedule with league, internal cup and international
play in a short period.
So far, the Irish
Boys after their Monday night win over a decimated Longford Town and today’s
match schedule on a Thursday against the Russian locomotive. Both of these
squads were looking forward to place themselves atop their group of play.
Even though they are
playing in a loaned venue in Eire’s capital, still the amount of its followers
became impressively numerous alongside with the visitors, that at the end this
venue experienced a total sellout.
Still the visiting
Russians had a lot in their advantage despite the fighting spirit showed by the
Dundalk initial eleven- showing off a lot of courage and a spirited show of
force in every minute of this match.
What a match this
turn out to be for both Lilywhites and Blue and White Sky blues that at the end
the Russian side made honor to their moniker as the anti-aircraft gunners, putting a couple of
scores in the near end of the match to turn things around.
Getting back to the
game were the locals look very sharp as a knife and playing like there was no
tomorrow despite the foe in turn and its all-around reputation and experience with
its initial eleven looking as intimidating but with no effect into the locals.
So far, for Stephen
Kenny displaying in what looked a 4-4-2 formation with David McMillan and Patrick
Mc Eleney as the lone forwards and with Captain Stephen O’ Donnell absent due
to a hamstring injury, with Chris Shields taking over his spot and doing an
outstanding job.
Much ado a great
recognition to the Lilywhites defensive backfield, that at the end became overwhelmed
and although they are showings signs of fatigue after their load of work lately.
Still, the backfield fab
four of Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle and Dane Massey- an applause to
their amazing performance and displaying their one of a kind game despite the
late scores of the Sky Blues arsenal.
As the Russians with
a foursome of gunners that so far have become the terror in their group of play,
with nine goals scored between Oleg Shatov, Mak, Guiliano and Artem Dzyuba, the
Dundalk Boys defensive side prevailed and allowed just a couple of goals.
With a match going
into intermission tied at zero goals, in the second half it is when Dundalk pump
up the volume and turned on the whole of Dublin town and its colossus into a total
madhouse when Robbie Benson scored the first goal of the match in the 52nd
minute.
After the goal the
Lilywhites frontal attack became a solid one and with attempts from Ronan Finan,
David Mc Millan and Dana Massey seeing their shoots so close but going terribly
wide for the miss and luck.
As the local Irish
Boys almost netting another win and being so close within 40 minutes, these did
not foresaw how the Russian side could react and turn things around in a matter
of minutes after their halftime speech by their Manager Mircea Lucescu.
Here the visitors through
Robert Mak in the 71st minute, taking advantage of a poor clearance from
the locals keeper Gabriel Savas and the
ball coming into the feet of one of Zenit players this passing to Mak to complete
the play and tie the match.
No later, when the
Sky Blues striker in Brazilian Guiliano scored the go-ahead goal that at the end
gave his squad the win and three points of gold and placing them in sole possession
of first place in Group C and an all-around upset of the locals.
At the end, despite
the loss the Dundalk Boys left the field with their heads high and showing a
pride of having put in a gem of a match that almost could net them a valuable
win, but do not count this group of players out.
Post
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