It does not come easy
for Stephen Kenny’s side, after his side took a hurtful loss from an opportune
strike from AZ Alkmar Wout Weghorst in the ninth minute, to put the Lilywhites
destinies on hold.
Still the feat looks
a bit tough but not impossible, as a win next week at Tel Aviv and face an
already eliminated Maccabi FC, that can play the role of spoiler against the
Dundalk Boys, as the Israelis have nothing
to lose but mess things up for the Irish side.
With a win, these can
put a little hope when both Zenit and AZ showdown, an odd result for the
Russian side would be catastrophic for the Louth County squad.
As the Irish side
still has the opportunity to make it into the next phase, of the knockout rounds.
So far, in the tournament,
Dundalk FC has presented itself has a hardened and resilient group not to be
messing with as well its losses have been by just a goal difference, not bad
when you play against some of Europe’s elite squads.
However, the
Lilywhites not seeing any action after their FAI Cup performance, their
performance had the entire elements to win the match, until that infamous goal
after that header by the Dutch striker, that keeper Gary Rogers could stop it
for the lone goal.
With a wary Stephen
Kenny putting a 4-2-3-1 formation and sending a lone striker in Ciaran Kilduf
upfront, he thought at least he could salvage a point with a draw or going for
the whole three points, taking advantage of their condition of locals.
Sending a trio of
aces in his frontal attack to make it work and create havoc on AZ backfield,
with Darryl Horgan, Patrick MCEleney and Ronan Finn to lead and orchestrate the
offense and coordinate with Robbie Benson and Captain Stephen O’ Connell.
Manager Stephen Kenny
thought he had the ideal formation to stop the Dutch side cold and maybe
deliver a win or at least the tie.
Despite the local
Dundalk Boys persistence towards the posts of Sergio Rochet, the outcome for
the Irish became a grim one with no goals at the end and not rescuing at least
the draw, which could facilitate their pass.
Alongside the moves,
that Manager Kenny did during the course of the match could not turn the tide
in favor of his initial eleven and now they have to prepare themselves to their
next challenge in Israel and make it happen with a win to net their pass.
For now the ultimate
of goals for Stephen Kenny’s bunch is to consume the feat of advancing into the
Knockout group and continue making history for Irish football and elevating its
reputation in the world.
As I wrote once, down
but not out, for the persistent Lilywhites, with the condition of a little help
from their friends from Zenit, at the end they have their destiny in their
hands, for Kenny and his chaps there is no tomorrow.
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