Europa League Report: Zenit St Petersburg 2 - 1 Dundalk

Dundalk lost back-to-back games in the Europa League for the first time tonight as they suffered a 2–1 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg at the Petrovsky Stadium.

It is a blow to their hopes of progressing to the last 32 of the competition from a memorable week which saw two Lilywhites – Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle – named in Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad.

Scorer of the winner two-weeks ago, Giuliano gave Zenit the lead three minutes before the interval as the Russian’s ruthlessly punished Brian Gartland’s error on the half-way line as the Brazilian passed unopposed to the net.

A killer blow you would think, but this Dundalk team are made of sterner stuff and Horgan equalised in the same minute as Robbie Benson gave the Lilywhites the lead in Tallaght on matchday three.

He raced onto Ronan Finn’s wonderful through ball, composed himself and slotted into the same corner as Giuliano had earlier. 1-1.

The winning goal arrived though through the scourge of Dundalk, Giuliano, in the 78^th minute. The Lilywhites failed to clear after a concerted period of penalty area pinball and the Zenit number seven notched home his sixth Europa League goal of the season.

The result sees the Lilywhites drop to third-place in the group on goals scored from Maccabi Tel Aviv although should the placings remain the same at the end of the final game night, Dundalk would progress with the better head-to-head record.

Dundalk were always going to be under pressure going into the game, especially as star-players Ronan Finn, Patrick McEleney and Chris Shields were all carrying niggling injuries.

The trio lined up alongside each other in Stephen Kenny’s midfield, although the most significant decision saw Gary Rogers replace Gabriel Sava in goal. In the only other change from two weeks ago, John Mountney deputised for the injured Robbie Benson.

In what was a strange opening half, Zenit looked the more incisive and had more of the ball, as expected, but they were unable to penetrate a stubborn Dundalk side who were equally as effective going forward early on.

Mountney was always the outlet for Finn, who was superb, to find down the right and it was his cross-come-shot which almost gave the Lilywhites the lead as the ball cannoned off the post.

Finn and Daryl Horgan had further shots on goal either side of Oleg Shatov bringing the best out of Gary Rogers who saved high into the top left corner from the Zenit winger’s shot.

Both sides continued to trade possession with Zenit doing so less expensively as Andy Boyle and Dane Massey were required to throw their bodies on the line to block repeated shots from Mircea Lucescu’s men.

The gaps were appearing though and Giuliano began to exploit them, none more so than in the 36^th minute when he left Boyle on his behind with a jinking dart into the area and looked sure to pass it to the net only for the Rogers to rescue Dundalk again with another terrific save.

It looked as if the Lilywhites were going to hold on until half time scoreless, especially following another inspired Massey block from Shatov’s pile-driver, until Giuliano passed into the net.

The second-half began with Zenit on the front foot once more with Horgan’s first European goal for Dundalk coming completely against the run of play.

Rogers, who has recently endured a tough time in goal for the Louthmen, continued to produce saves of the highest calibre with his stop from Mauricio’s venomous drive through a myriad of bodies just past the hour standing out.

The home side persisted in pressing as Dundalk got deeper and deeper but with Stephen O’Donnell, on as a half-time substitute, they had an extra bodyguard in front of their back four and he was proving very effective up until Zenit broke their stringent resolve for the second-time.

Dundalk came with their inevitable push late on with McEleney cannoning the cross bar, Horgan’s free-kick hitting the wall and Kilduff challenging the faltering Zenit stopper from a wide delivery.

The Russians held out though for their second 2-1 win over Stephen Kenny’s men in the space of 14 days.

Zenit St. Petersburg: Mikhail Kerzhakov; Aleksandr Anyukov, Luis Neto, Nicolas Lombaerts (Yuri Zhirkov, Domenico Criscito ©; Axel Witsel, Mauricio; Aleksandr Kokorin, Giuliano, Oleg Shatov (Robert Mak 67); Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Luka Djordjevic 90).

Subs not used: Yuri Lodygin (gk), Artur Yusupov, Pavel Mogilevets, Artem Dzyuba.

Booked: Domenico Criscito (41), Nicolas Lombaerts (86).

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle ©, Dane Massey; Ronan Finn, Chris Shields, Patrick McEleney (Dean Shiels 83); John Mountney (Stephen O’Donnell 46), David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 65), Daryl Horgan.

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Alan Keane, Paddy Barrett, Ciaran O’Connor.

Booked: Ronan Finn (44), Brian Gartland (71), Patrick McEleney (80), Stephen O’Donnell (87).

Referee: Luca Banti (Italy).

Attendance: 16,000 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Giuliano (Zenit St Petersburg).