Bate Borisov 2-1 Dundalk
BATE Borisov will take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round encounter against Dundalk at Oriel Park next week, but Stephen Kenny’s side will be hopeful of turning the tie around after a fine display in Belarus.
Dundalk, led by the magnificent Stephen O’Donnell, looked assured for major spells of the game and made the journey home with an all important away goal in the bag thanks to David McMillan’s strike.
The visitors looked comfortable in possession early but they were punished by their first lapse in concentration after 11 minutes. Chris Shields lost possession and Dundalk paid the price as Vitali Rodionov threaded a deft pass into Aleksandr Karnitski, who rifled the ball past Gary Rogers.
The goal didn’t shake the Louth club and they should have restored parity in the 19th minute. A burst on the right allowed O’Donnell to pick out David McMillan at the far post. His header was touched on to the post by Sergei Chernik but, with the goal at his mercy, the Dundalk striker could only blaze the rebound over the top.
Chernik came to BATE’s rescue again two minutes later, throwing himself to the right to get the faintest of touches on a Dane Massey header.
The natives grew restless with every passing minute and they were stunned into silence as Dundalk deservedly pulled level in the 33rd minute. An attempted clearance by Kaspars Dubra deflected off Daryl Horgan and McMillan seized the opportunity, placing the ball through Chernik’s legs to send the travelling support into raptures.
BATE regained the lead four minutes later as lady luck turned her back on Dundalk. Evgeni Yablonski collected a Maksim Zhaverchik pass and his effort skidded off the unfortunate Shields to leave Rogers flat- footed.
The Belarusian champions started the second half in much better fashion and Dundalk were fortunate in the 52nd minute when Rodionov took a heavy touch as he bore down on the Dundalk goal with just Rogers to beat.
The Dundalk goalkeeper then had to make a fine save to stop Nemanja Milunovic’s towering header after the Serb had got up to meet a Ihar Stasevich corner before gathering from left back Fiilip Mladenovich.
Dundalk kept the hosts at arm’s length and BATE’s frustration at not getting a third goal was evident, with Karnitski lucky to finish the game after incidents with Massey and Towell in quick succession.
The game petered out in the final stages and Dundalk will go into in the second leg next week with nothing to fear.
BATE Borisov: Chernik; Zhaverchik, Dubra, Milunovic, Mladenovic; Karnitski, Yablonski, Baga (Nikolic 64); Gordeichuk (Rios 80), Rodionov, Stasevich.
Dundalk: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Shields, O’Donnell; Mountney (Meenan 70), Towell, Horgan (Byrne 88); McMillan (Finn 77).
Referee: Vlado Glojovic (Serbia).
