Europa League Report: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 - 1 Dundalk FC

From Brian T Farrell at the Netanya Stadium 

Despite a late charge, Dundalk exited the Europa League in Israel following a 2-1 loss for the Lilywhites at the hands of Maccabi Tel Aviv. It was disappointment for Stephen Kenny’s men as they miss out on qualification for the last 32,  finishing bottom of Group D, but they can be very proud of their excellent European campaign.

All of the game’s goals came before half-time, with Tal Ben Chaim’s penalty and Dor Miha scoring either side of an own-goal from Maccabi right-back Eli Dasa which had given Dundalk hope of pulling off another tremendous European result.

It wasn’t to be though and try as they would in the final minutes, the breakthrough wouldn’t come. However, it is unlikely that Stephen Kenny or his players will have any complaints as on the night the Israelis were far superior.

Finishing the group as the basement dwellers is perhaps a bitter way for the Lilywhites to end their European campaign. Indeed, up until the end of the SSE Airtricity League season, the County Louth side had looked poised to make it into the last 32.

Whereas many complained at their fixture load through September and October, they may now rue the lack of competitive action which has coincided with the Lilywhites losing both of their final group matches to sides whom they took points off earlier in the campaign. It really represents a drab ending to what has been an incredible campaign.

Hopes were high going into the game as Maccabi were in the midst of a crisis. Manager Shota Arveladze was effectively fighting to save his job while Dundalk were coming into the game in exactly the opposite frame of mind. Positivity was etched on all their faces prior to the start of the game at the Netanya Stadium with all from Kenny’s squad, bar Shane Grimes, fit for selection.

Before kick-off a minutes silence was impeccably observed as both sides paid their respects to the victims of last week's air disaster involving the Chapecoense team and accompanying delegation.

In the built up to this final Europa League Group D game both managers had encouraged their teams to attack. However this certainly was not the narrative of a very cagey opening quarter-of-an-hour. Maccabi’s key men, Haris Medunjanin and Tal Ben Chaim, began to fashion early chances though with their slick build-up seemingly too hot for Dundalk to handle.

Ben Chaim had the ball in the net after seven minutes only for the offside flag to come to the Lilywhites’ rescue.

The goal was coming for Maccabi though and it duly arrived, although not in the form Dundalk would have anticipated. Brian Gartland’s error of judgement saw him try to play the ball through the legs of Ben Chaim. It was a costly error which resulted in Vidar Orn Kjartansson latching onto the breaking ball and being chopped down by the out-rushing Gary Rogers for a penalty.

Ben Chaim slotted in the spot-kick, sending Rogers the wrong way.

Within six minutes Dundalk were level. Their first meaningful attacking venture saw Chris Shields find space inside the 18-yard area and his daisy-cutting drive across the goal was perfectly placed for Daryl Horgan to tap home to the empty net, albeit with the final touch coming off Dasa.

You would have expected Dundalk, as they do so regularly, to push on at that stage and take a foothold on the game with the technical play of Ronan Finn and Robbie Benson. However, apart from Finn and chinks of brilliance from Horgan, Dundalk were below par with David McMillan in particular struggling to link the play for the Lilywhites up front.

Ben Chaim continued to be the one to cause Dundalk the most problems and he grabbed an assist to accompany his earlier goal seven minutes before the interval. He found Macabbi captain Dor Miha free inside the box before the latter slammed the ball into the net. Rogers will not be too happy with himself with the ball appearing to slip from his grasp.

The second-period was a slow burner with Maccabi monopolising the play but little clear-cut chances were created. However Rogers had to pull off a good stop from Ben Chaim before Miha saw a shot, towards the unguarded goal, sail horribly wide of the target.

The final minutes saw the visitors press towards the goal and an equaliser which would have given them the consolation of finishing third in the group.

Substitute Ciaran Kilduff, so often the hero this term, missed a glorious chance to rescue the point three minutes into stoppage time. His thunderous header went off target when it looked easier to nod Horgan’s enticing corner into the net. This after McMillan has stumbled at the vital stage when he looked assured to level for a second time.

And along with those missed opportunities went Dundalk’s European campaign, a run which has seen them lose their final four games by a solitary goal in each game. The Lilywhites should look back fondly on 2016 though, as they became the first ever Irish team to record a victory in group stages of a European competition when they beat Maccabi 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium back in September.

Dundalk FC, a nation salutes you.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv: Predrag Rajkovic; Eli Dasa, Dor Peretz, Haris Medunjanin ,Tal Ben Chaim, Dor Miha, Eytan Tibi, Omri Ben Harush; Eyal Golasa (Gal Aberman 82), Vidar Orn Kjartansson, Tal Ben Haim (Eden Ben Basat 88), Nosa Igiebor (Yossi Benayoun 84).

Subs not used: Daniel, Egor Filipenko, Barak Itzhaki, Sagiv Shalom Jehezkel

Booked: Eyal Golasa (11).

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon (Stephen O’Donnell 68), Brian Gartland (Paddy Barrett 46), Andy Boyle ©, Dane Massey; Ronan Finn, Chris Shields; Patrick McEleney (Ciaran Kilduff 80), Robbie Benson, Daryl Horgan; David McMillan.

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Alan Keane, Paddy Barrett, John Mountney.

Booked: Gary Rogers (20), Daryl Horgan (75).

Referee: Robert Schörgenhofer (AUT).

Attendance: 10,000 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Tal Ben Chaim (Maccabi Tel-Aviv).