Dundalk 0-0 BATE Borisov (BATE win 2-1 on aggregate)
Despite huffing and puffing for large periods of the game, Dundalk just could not blow the BATE Borisov house down at Oriel Park as the Belarusian champions kept the clean sheet they needed to advance to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg, the visitors looked classy at times and will wonder how they did not hit the Dundalk net themselves.
To their credit, the League of Ireland champions hung in to the death but, with the exception of a David McMillan effort in the first half, they never really created the one opportunity of note that would have taken them through to a lucrative third round meeting with TNS or Videoton.
BATE meant business right from the off and they should have drawn first blood after just two minutes. Captain Vitali Rodionov, who escaped sanction from UEFA after appearing to head butt Dane Massey in the first leg, took control of the ball inside the Dundalk box but he blazed over.
Dundalk looked jittery throughout the opening 20 minutes and skipper Stephen O’Donnell had to produce a magnificent block to deny Rodionov in the 11th minute. Ihar Stasevich then curled an effort just wide after he was picked out by left back Filip Mladenovic.
Things got heated between the players towards the end of the first leg in Belarus and there was plenty of needle here. Brian Gartland had the BATE bench up in arms after clattering goalkeeper Sergei Chernik and Mladenovic and Darren Meenan also made their way into the Greek official’s notebook.
Dundalk regained their composure and they created their best opportunity of the game in the 26th minute. Mladenovic’s slack pass was cut out by Ronan Finn. He fed David McMillan who dribbled into the BATE box but Chernik came from his line to make a fine save.
BATE upped the ante and Dundalk were blessed to go in scoreless at the break. Gary Rogers made a spectacular save to pluck a Mladenovic free before Sean Gannon hacked the ball clear after Nemanja Milunovic turned Stasevich’s free towards goal.
The Dundalk goalkeeper then made a stunning save to deny Stasevich right before the interval and the Lilywhites went in relieved to be still on terms.
The pattern of the second half matched that of the first and Rodionov threatened again in the 54th minute but the tireless O’Donnell was in the right place again to stop him from getting his effort away.
Kenny turned to his bench and Chris Shields, who started the game in Belarus, was introduced for the ineffective Meenan as Dundalk tried to wrestle control of the midfield.
The home crowd were given some encouragement three minutes later when Daryl Horgan floated a free kick over Chernik’s head but McMillan’s header could only find the roof of the net.
At the other end, BATE continued to ask questions.
Mladenovic found himself behind enemy lines again but Dundalk were let off the hook again as he dragged his shot just off target.
Montenegro international Nemanja Nikolic then sent a drive whistling just over the top just minutes after coming off the substitutes bench. The reaction of the BATE bench suggested he should have scored.
Dundalk tired in the latter stages and the one chance of glory never materialised. Half chances was as good as it got with a devilish cross from Horgan evading Finn. Richie Towell’s wayward effort in the dying stages summed up Dundalk’s frustrating evening.
DUNDALK FC: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; Darren Meenan (Chris Shields 56), Ronan Finn (John Mountney 76), Daryl Horgan (Kurtis Byrne 82); David McMillan.
BATE BORISOV: Sergei Chernik; Maksim Zhaverchik, Kaspars Dubra, Nemanja Milunovic, Maksim Mladenovic; Aleksandr Karnitski (Mikalai Sihnevich 90), Dmitri Baga, Mikhail Gordeichuk (Alexei Rios 85), Igor Stasevich (Nemanja Nikolic 68) Ilya Aleksievich, Vitali Ridionov.
Referee: Stavros Tritsonis (Greece).
