Dundalk left needing a miracle in Warsaw after tens of thousands flock to Aviva

Dundalk’s hopes of making Irish football history were dented a significant blow on Wednesday night as a controversial decision by German referee Deniz Aytekin gave way to Legia Warsaw securing a vital 2-0 away win in Dublin.

Stephen Kenny described the decision from referee Aytekin to give Legia a second half penalty as ‘appalling’ and based on ‘whimsical’ decision making from the referee but by his own admission, were unable to create any clear cut chances.

On a night when Dundalk seemed remarkably comfortable before the penalty decision against Andy Boyle, Stephen Kenny’s men will be left ruing letting a manageable task develop into an impossible one with the late concession of a second goal.

Despite the debatable nature of Legia’s first goal, Dundalk will be disappointed to have been incapable of keeping the Polish in touch going into the second leg with soft second goal late on despite a strong first half showing.

Daryl Horgan and Patrick McEleney, in particular, were stand out performers in a first half were neither side created any clear cut chances, although Horgan’s cross that quickly developed into a shot after ten minutes put Legia Goalkeeper Arkadiusz Malarz in considerable trouble.

McEleney, meanwhile, was notable for his brilliant use of the ball and well-timed runs from the centre of midfield, combining well with Horgan and creating space that wasn’t utilised well enough to Dundalk’s detriment.

Legia were clear in their set up in the first half relying on wingers Steeven Langil and Michal Kucharczyk to provide width and depth hoping to exploit any space that Sean Gannon and Dane Massey may have left whilst venturing forward.

Langil’s cross come shot similar to that of Horgan’s earlier effort and a Kucharczyk shot set up by the increasingly dangerous Nikolic were their only attempt’s of note in the early exchanges.

Despite a strong start though, Dundalk seemed to lack the bravery demonstrated early on by Horgan and McEleney and Legia began to grow more into the game with Kucharczyk having the first half’s best chance when his shot was easily saved by Gary Rodgers from 14 yards.

Dundalk would have been hoping the slump towards the end of the first half would be quickly forgotten going into the break but it was Legia who showed their European experience as the game developed.

Daryl Horgan, who sincerely looked at home at this level, played a brilliant ball early in the second half towards Sean Gannon in the Legia box but Stephen O’Donnell showed his naivety by not reading Gannon’s position and taking the ball away from the Dundalk defender.

Despite Legia’s growing dominance of possession, Dundalk will feel every right to feel hard done by with the manner of Legia’s first goal.

As Nikolic broke clear down the right hand side, he cut back to Langil, whose shot was blocked by Andy Boyle’s arm as he was facing in the direction of his own goal.

The handball was distinctly unintentional and would have raised debate to the validity of the decision, but the German referee Aytekin pointed to the spot regardless.

Following this, however, Dundalk will have no complaints about their inability to chase the game with a lack of opportunities created, a chance missed considering the sizeable home crowd in the Aviva.

In fact, the inevitable situation of chasing the game and creating space for Legia to counter developed as the game grew on. Chances from the impressive Langil and substitute Kopczynski reminded Dundalk of the vulnerability of a two-goal disadvantage going into the away leg.

Dundalk’s best chance came from Ciaran Kilduff who broke onto a great run from Ronan Finn but fired his shot over leaving Dundalk reminded of what could have been as full time approached.

Their inexperience quickly showed however, as their task was made almost insurmountable in the last minute of injury time as another Legia substitute Aleksander Prijovic broke through and calmly dispatched a brilliant finish to leave Dundalk needing a miracle in Warsaw.