Champions League Report: Dundalk 1-1 FH Hafnarfjordur

Dundalk and FH Hafnarfjordur played out a battling 1-1 draw in what turned out to be a tense UEFA Champions League second round qualifier first leg in Oriel Park.

David McMillan appeared to give the Lilywhites a lead that they wouldn’t surrender mid-way through the second half with an excellent finish low to bottom right-hand corner as Oriel Park erupted with delight.

However, former Dundalk frontman Steven Lennon was the villain on his first return to his former stomping ground. The Scottish striker drove a stinging effort to the net with 14 minutes to play to give the Icelanders a deserving share of the spoils ahead of next week’s return leg in Hafnarfjordur.

Tonight’s visitors will surely be the happier side leaving north County Louth as their away goal gives them the advantage ahead of the second encounter. A tight rematch is anticipated in Iceland seven days from now though, with Stephen Kenny and his players sure to mount a strong challenge.

The Lilywhites were in the ascendency from the kick-off, and although FH forced two early corners, they had to bear the brunt of the inspired interchange play between Dundalk’s dangerous trio, Ronan Finn, Patrick McEleney and the irrepressible Daryl Horgan during the opening exchanges.

The first chance of note arrived for John Mountney 20 minutes into proceedings. Patrick McEleney bamboozled FH left-back Bodvar Boovarsson with a mesmerising dribble, before laying it off for Mountney to strike first-time. His effort was poor though, and it trickled wide of Gunnar Nielsen’s goal.

Although Dundalk were in control, FH could have taken the lead on the half-hour. Atli Gudnason got a lucky break as he skipped through the challenges from Brian Gartland and Stephen O’Donnell before unleashing a shot on the half-volley which appeared certain to find the back of the net. However Gary Rogers somehow pawed the ball away to safety.

The Icelanders got on top as the opening half closed. Gudnason was drifting across the periphery of Dundalk’s rear-guard, picking up loose balls as the Lilywhites struggled to come to terms with the technical nous of the visitor’s midfield.

Indeed, FH could have been awarded a penalty five minutes before the interval when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Andy Boyle. Bulgarian referee Nikola Popov, positioned perfectly, refuted the meagre claims for a spot-kick.

Oriel Park was in silence, a mixture of nervousness and coyness pervaded the Carrick Road venue as half-time approached. The home crowd’s aura wouldn’t have been helped by either of the events leading up to half-time.

Gartland, suffering from a wrist injury sustained earlier in the half was withdrawn for Paddy Barrett, prior to David McMillan missing a gilt-edged opportunity following in from a Horgan free-kick which Gunnar Nielsen parried away. The striker blasted over from seven yards with an open goal seemingly at his mercy.

The second-half was certainly a slow-burner. Neither Dundalk nor FH where able to establish a firm foothold in the game, as the robust midfield tussling continued. Free-kicks off target from Daryl Horgan and Emil Palsson were about as close as we came to a goal as the game had lost its spark.

However, Oriel Park was in raptures on 68 minutes. Celebrations that mirrored those of the title-winning festivities of 2014 and 2015 were seen as David McMillan wheeled away to the terraces in delight at scoring his second European goal for Dundalk.

The move leading up to it was slick. Patrick McEleney was set free in acres of space down the right by Sean Gannon, with McMillan steaming away to his left and the crowd baying for him to service the prolific striker.

McEleney heeded their demands, and placed a scrumptious ball into the path of McMillan, who half-volleyed with aplomb from 16 yards into the bottom right corner of the town end goal.

Unfortunately, Dundalk’s delight was short lived as their former favourite Steven Lennon punished ponderous defensive play. Paddy Barrett failed clear the ball deep inside his penalty area, and Lennon ruthlessly despatched the breaking ball past the desperate dive of Rogers as FH gained their crucial away goal.

The visitor’s seemed content with their away goal and opted to sit deep for the final ten minutes of a contest that will deeply frustrate all involved with the Lilywhites.

Robbie Benson’s immediate contribution having been introduced for Mountney was to interchange possession with Horgan. The latter whipped in a great ball for the onrushing Paddy Barrett. However, Faroe Islands international ‘keeper Nielsen gathered spectacularly.

The game had gone flat once more, you could hear a pin drop in the ground and Dundalk’s key men, McEleney, Finn and Horgan began to see their influence upon proceedings wane. Discontentment murmured through the strong home crowd with FH easily snuffing out their hosts on numerous instances.

Stephen Kenny’s men will though be relieved that they will at least go to Iceland for next week’s second leg level. FH almost stole the victory in added time when Thorainn Ingi Valdimarsson dummied three Dundalk defenders and hammered a cross which Robbie Benson did well to clear.

Dundalk FC: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland (Paddy Barrett 44), Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; John Mountney (Robbie Benson 82), Ronan Finn, Stephen O’Donnell, Ronan Finn, Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 78).

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Shane Grimes, Darren Meenan, Chris Shields.

Booked: Ronan Finn (66).

FH Hafnarfjordur: Gunnar Nielsen; Jonathan Hendrickx, Kassim Doumbia, Bergsveinn Olafsson, Bodvar Boovarsson; Bjarni Thor Vidarsson, David Thor Vidarsson (Petur Vidarsson 87), Emil Palsson; Thorainn Ingi Valdimarsson, Steven Lennon, Atli Gudnason (Sam Hewson 80).

Subs not used: Kristjan Finnbogason (gk), Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, Alli Vidar Bjornsson, Jeremy Serwy, Asgeir Brynar Gudmundsson.

Booked: Kassim Doumbia (23), Bergsveinn Olafsson (57),

Match Referee: Nikola Popov (Bulgaria)

Attendance: 3,500 (approx)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Emil Palsson (FH Hafnarfjordur)