(KA win 5-3 on aggregate)
Sloppy defending came back to haunt Dundalk once again as they bowed out of Europe to Icelandic outfit KA in Oriel Park.
Trailing 3-1 from last week's first leg in Reykjavik when Hallgriumur Jonasson’s side scored with all three shots on target, the Lilywhites found themselves chasing a three-goal deficit when Jóan Edmundsson scored with the visitors’ first attempt on 14 minutes.
While John Martin gave Stephen O’Donnell’s side some hope with a brilliant 33rd-minute header, the Lilywhites lacked creativity and threat and Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson’s penalty eight minutes from time ended their slim hopes of a late revival.
Substitute Greg Sloggett did head home an equaliser a minute from time to at least see them avoid defeat on the night but it is KA who march on to face Club Brugge next week.
In the end, KA scored from five of their six shots on target across the two legs to deservedly advance, with the home side punished for defensive lapses that have now seen them fall behind 20 times in their matches across all competitions this season.
While there have been comebacks in some, this was ultimately a hurdle too far.
The home side threatened for the first time on 13 minutes with Patrick Hoban unable to direct Daniel Kelly’s cross from the right on target.
They fell behind from the resulting kick-out by Kristijan Jajalo. The goal kick was flicked on by Ásgeir Siguregeirsson, who got there ahead of Louie Annesley, Faroe Islands international Edmundsson racing through to slot past Nathan Shepperd for his first goal for KA.
Dundalk struggled to create chances in the period after that but a big one did go a begging on 27 minutes when Archie Davies’ ball up the right saw Kelly get in behind Ívar Örn Árnason only for him to fire across the goal and wide with his effort.
The Lilywhites did give themselves a lifeline on 33 minutes though when Martin pulled a goal back with a bullet header at the near post from Ryan O’Kane’s left wing cross.
Connor Malley then had an effort from range pushed away by Jajalo rather unconvincingly a minute before the break with Árnason clearing the loose ends before Kelly could pounce.
It was the Icelandic side who were first to threaten on the restart with Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson curling a free-kick around the wall but straight at Shepperd eight minutes after the restart.
Martin then nodded a half chance wide at the other end before Steingrimsson had an effort blocked by Annesley.
Martin looked to be in on 57 minutes when Hoban’s knock-down was flicked on to him by Kelly but it clipped his heel with the goal at his mercy 10 yards out as another good opening went astray.
The Louth men then had a huge let-off on 66 minutes when more sloppy defending saw the ball drop to substitute Jakob Snaer Árnason six yards out but his effort deflected off Andy Boyle before clipping the bar and spinning over.
Paul Doyle then fired over from an O’Kane cut-back on 70 minutes before Martin struck the underside of the crossbar from Hoban’s knock down five minutes later.
The game was ended as a contest eight minutes from the end though when Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson sent Shepperd the wrong way from the spot after a clumsy challenge by Malley on Ívar Örn Árnason.
Dundalk at least avoided defeat on the night when substitute Sloggett headed home his first goal in a year with a header from O’Kane’s corner a minute from time but it was a case of too little, too late for the home side.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Andy Boyle (Darren Brownlie 84), Louie Annesley, Darragh Leahy (Johannes Yli-Kokko 71); Daniel Kelly (Cameron Elliott 84), Paul Doyle, Connor Malley (Greg Sloggett 84), Ryan O’Kane; Patrick Hoban, John Martin.
KA Akureyri: Kristijan Jajalo; Hrannar Björn Steingrímsson (Alex Freyr Elísson 90), Dusan Brkovic, Ívar Örn Árnason, Birgir Baldvinsson; Daníel Hafsteinsson (Andri Fannar Stefánsson 90), Rodri, Sveinn Margeir Hauksson; Jóan Edmundsson (Jakob Snaer Árnason 60), Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson (Paetur Petersen 84), Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson.
Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)
