Champions League Report: Dundalk 3 - 0 BATE Borisov (Dundalk win 3-1 on agg)

Dundalk advanced to the Champions League play-offs followed a comprehensive three goal victory over BATE Borisov at a rain soaked Tallaght Stadium.

Stephen Kenny opted to start the same line up which began the second half in Belarus last week, while BATE opted to keep the same starting eleven from the first leg clash, leaving the winning goal scorer Gordeichuk on the bench alongside former Champions League winner Alex Hleb. 

The game opened with few clear chances for either side with BATE holding the upper hand in terms of composure and possession. Dundalk were nervy and found it difficult to create any real opportunities of note. They were dealt an early blow as Ronan Finn had to depart in place of Patrick McEleney. The former Shamrock Rovers midfielder had been a doubt before the game and lasted just past the half hour mark. At that stage the two best opportunities had fallen to BATE’s Rios who fired narrowly wide from 25 yards after picking up a loose Finn pass, before lashing over a corner from Stasevich.

The left winger had given Seán Gannon a difficult night last week but was forced to do most of his work infield in this week’s encounter. Indeed it was his overlapping full back Pikk who turned Mountney inside out halfway through the first half but failed to keep the ball in play. Dundalk’s Mayo midfielder got his own back moments later as he controlled Massey’s cross field ball beautifully before forcing Veremenko to shovel the ball wide at the expense of a corner.

Worse was to come for the BATE defence just before  half time as Daryl Horgan danced his way into an inch of space down the left and lifted in a peach of a cross and David Mc Millan leapt to nod the ball home from six yards. Cue pandemonium and a half time whistle which saw Dundalk leave to rapturous applause.

BATE came out for the second half safe in the knowledge that Dundalk needed to score again to progress. However, despite this security, they brought on the experienced Alex Hleb in the hope that he might replicate his excellence of last week. It wasn’t to be however, as first blood in the second half went to Dundalk. McEleney danced down the right and his over hit cross was driven back across the box by Dane Massey and David Mc Millan headed the ball to the net for his second goal of the night to take him to five Champions League goals for the season.

BATE responded almost immediately by bringing on last week’s goalscorer, Gordeichuk. It was almost paid dividends as the striker linked with Rodionov and Hleb to create an opportunity for the ex Barcelona man to shoot wide from inside the box. Gary Rogers’ goal led a charmed existence at times with Gordeichuk having an effort deflected into his grateful arms.

This inability to convert their chances allowed Dundalk to break with confidence and it was one of these breaks which allowed Robbie Benson to outpace the two central defenders and clip the ball into the corner past Veremko to completely shatter any hope the visitors had. Last October, Dundalk guaranteed a league title in Tallaght Stadium. Ten months later and tonight’s result secured an even bigger prize.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Paddy Barrett, Dane Massey; Stephen O’Donnell, Chris Shields; John Mountney, Ronan Finn (Patrick Mc Eleney 32), Daryl Horgan (Ciarán Kilduff 90+2); David Mc Millan (Robbie Benson 78)

Substitutes: Gabriel Sava, Shane Grimes, George Poynton, Patrick Mc Eleney, Robbie Benson, Darren Meenan, Ciarán Kilduff

Booked: Barrett (88)

BATE Borisov: Sergei Veremko; Kaspars Dubra, Artur Pikk (Mikhail Gordeichuk 66), Denis Polyakov, Maksim Zharvnerchik (Mikalay Signevich 81); Aleksandr Karnitski (Alexander Hleb 45), Mirko Ivanic, Yuri Kendysh, Aleksej Rios, Igor Stasevich; Vitali Rodionov  

Substitutes: Alexander Hleb, Mikhail Gordeichuk, Vitali Gaiduchik, Denis Scherbitski, Alexander Volodko, Yevgeniy Yablonski, Mikalay Signevich,

Booked: Rodionov (88)

Referee: Jakob Kehlet (Denmark).

Attendance: 5,000 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Stephen O’Donnell (Dundalk).

You can see pictures from the game by Michael P Ryan, Larry McQuillan and Tom Beary here.