Drogheda United head for Kiev next week with their Champions League hopes still alive after a magnificent display against the Ukrainian giants at Dalymount Park.
Paul Doolin's men were given little chance by the bookies against a side boasting more than 250 international caps, but the stylish Kiev outfit needed a superb 86th-minute winner to give them breathing space going into the second leg.
Drogheda were unchanged from the side which defeated Levadia Tallinn in Estonia last week, while the Ukrainians included their recent €6 million signing, Croatian star Ognjen Vukojevic.
In sharp contrast to many Champions League qualifying games, both sides showed a refreshingly positive attitude and an open, entertaining first half was the result.
Artem Milevsky wasted a great opportunity for the visitors when he side-footed Andriy Nesmachniy's cross wide from close range.
But Drogheda had two decent shouts for a penalty in quick succession as crosses from Joe Kendrick and Fahrudin Kudozovic appeared to be handled on the ground.
Oleksandr Shovkovsky in the Kiev goal then had to dive to his right to keep out Ollie Cahill’s angled shot after the former Shelbourne star sprinted forward from the centre circle.
But the Ukrainians were looking the more threatening in attack and they made one chance count at the end of an excellent 10-minute spell.
Milevsky forced a brilliant tip-over save from Jamie Ewings, who then blocked Vukojevic’s low shot with his feet, but on 23 minutes the goalkeeper could only parry a free-kick into the path of Taras Mykhalik who shot home from 10 yards.
But although Milevsky and Tiberiu Ghioane went close to extending Kiev’s lead, Drogheda were by no means outclassed and they received rapturous applause as they made their way to the dressing-rooms at half-time.
That was nothing to what they got in the 47th minute when Kudozovic’s cross was met by Adam Hughes, whose glancing header dropped into the net despite Shovkovsky getting a hand to the ball.
A magnificent 45 minutes followed as both sides went in search of a winner. Vukojevic struck the foot of the post for the Ukrainians and Bangura blazed over from 10 yards out, while Ewings performed heroics for Drogheda, making a series of wonderful saves.
The Boynesiders had their chances too. The outstanding Graham Gartland had a header clutched under the bar by the Kiev 'keeper and Cahill blazed over the bar after being set up by Hughes.
But there was heartbreak for the Drogs in the 86th minute when Oleksandr Aliev sent a fabulous 25-yard shot past Ewings, beating the 'keeper at his near post.
Drogheda United: Ewings, Byrne, Maher, Gartland, Kendrick, Baker, Keegan, Hughes, Cahill, Kuduzovic, Zayed Subs: Barrett for Kudozovic (62min), Shelley for Keegan (71min), O’Brien for Baker (90min).
Dynamo Kiev: Shovkovsky, Betao, Ghioane, Vukojevic, Aliev, Bangoura, Diakhate, Mykhalik, Milevsky, Nesmachniy, Ninkovic. Subs: Kravets for Bangoura (61min), Shatskikh for Ghioane (80min), El Khaddouri for Milevsky (89min).
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway).
