Zenit St Petersburg 2 Dundalk 1
Dundalk were left cursing their luck for the second time in a fortnight after a scrappy Giuliano winner 12 minutes from the end denied them a famous point against Zenit St Petersburg in a snow covered Petrovsky Stadium.
Just as in Tallaght two weeks ago, an error rather than brilliance proved their undoing against the Russians and just as in Tallaght the woodwork providing the ‘what might have been’ narrative on two occasions, in particular eight minutes from the end when the post denied Patrick McEleney.
Stephen Kenny’s side had been defensively brilliant for 42 minutes until Brian Gartland was caught in possession by Aleksandr Kerzhakov, who teed up Giuliano for the opener.
The League of Ireland champions dared to dream, however, when Daryl Horgan equalised in the 52nd minute with a finish that demonstrated why he is in the provisional Ireland squad for next week’s World Cup qualifier in Austria.
However, a scrappy second from Giuliano 12 minutes from the end dashed their dreams just as he had done in Tallaght with Kenny admitting it was “difficult to take”.
He said: “Daryl’s equaliser deserved a result from any game. We got punished from giving the ball away twice, which is not like us, but Patrick McEleney’s effort off the post and bar was very unlucky. That was the margin.”
The one consolation for the Lilywhites was that they remain in contention for a place in the last 32 with two games to go.
“If we had drawn tonight and Maccabi had won we’d have been on five and they’d have been on six so it’s in our own hands going into the last two games. We’re in a good position,” said Kenny.
It was a brave resistance for much of the first half from Dundalk but they could have found themselves ahead with the game’s opening chance on 13 minutes when John Mountney’s cross from the right looped over the head of goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov before coming back off the post.
Zenit began to build-up a head of steam after that with Gary Rogers having to tip a 20 yard strike from Oleg Shatov over the bar five minutes later at the start of a siege that had the small travelling contingent counting down the minutes to half-time.
They rode their luck on 34 minutes when Aleksandr Kerzhakov, who had scuffed an effort at Rogers moments earlier, turned provider for Shatov who met his effort more sweetly only to see it turned behind by a block from Dane Massey.
Rogers then came to his side’s rescue on 36 minutes by saving at close range from Giuliano after he had been slipped through by Shatov.
Just when it looked like Dundalk had weathered the storm though, they shot themselves in the foot. Gartland’s short free on 42 minutes was played back to him by Chris Shields, with the centre half then caught in possession by Kerzhakov who raced down the left before squaring to Giuliano to slot home.
Ironically, it was a mistake at the other end which would lead to the equaliser seven minutes after the restart with Domenico Criscito’s poor header allowing Horgan to break from halfway before cutting across two defenders in such a way so they couldn’t touch him and firing to the net for what was his first European goal.
It rocked the Russians who once again began to pile the pressure on with Rogers brilliant once again to deny Mauricio on 62 minutes before Nicolas Lombaerts pulled Aleksandr Anyukov’s cross wide a minute later.
Axel Witsel was inches away with a long range effort on 70 minutes before the killer blow arrived eight minutes later.
Once again Dundalk would prove their own worst enemy though as, despite numerous chances, they failed to clear their lines following a game of pinball in their own area with Giuliano firing home from close range after Kerzhakov’s cross was kept alive by Mauricio.
To their credit, Dundalk refused to throw in the towel and with eight minutes to go they went inches away from a second equaliser after McEleney’s effort came back off the bar.
A case of so close but yet so far yet again.
With two matches to go, they remain in contention for the last 32 with a guarantee of something to play for when they travel to Israel for their final game on December 8th.
They might have taken no points from their two matches with Zenit but they can certainly take plenty of heart.
Zenit St Petersburg: M Kerzhakov; Anyukov, Luis Neto, Lombaerts (Zhirkov 88), Criscito; Witsel, Guiliano, Mauricio; Kokorin, A Kerzhakov (Djordevic 92), Shatov (Mak 68). Subs not used: Lodygin, Yusupov, Mogilevets, Dzyuba.
Dundalk: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Shields; Mountney (O'Donnell HT), McEleney (Shiels 83), Finn, Horgan; McMillan (Kilduff 65). Subs not used: Sava, Barrett, C O'Connor, Keane.
Referee: L Banti (Italy).
