Europa League Match Report: Dundalk 0 - 1 AZ Alkmaar

There was disappointment for Dundalk as AZ Alkmaar defeated them 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium to put the Dutch side in pole position to progress to the last 32 of the Europa League.

The only goal of the game was scored when the match was only nine minutes old with Wout Weghorst scoring what turned out to be the winner after some scrappy defending from the Lilywhites.

The loss is something which will have Stephen Kenny and his side smarting in the aftermath but  AZ were deserving of their first group stage victory this season. The attacking creativity from Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ben Rienstra showed their class going forward.

The result will be a bitter pill for Dundalk to swallow - the Lilywhites have now lost four of their last five games in all competitions, as they drop to third in the group and losing control of their Europa League destiny.

Their trip to Israel is a fortnight away if their European campaign is to extend into 2017, they now must rely upon Zenit doing them a favour against AZ while Dundalk must win in Tel Aviv. It is all set-up for a grand stand finish to Group D.

It was 18 days since Dundalk last took to the field for a competitive game and Kenny made two changes to the side which started the FAI Cup Final which they lost to Cork City.

Europa League hero from rounds one and two, Ciaran Kilduff came in up top in place of David McMillan, while Robbie Benson returned from injury to partner Ronan Finn and captain Stephen O’Donnell in middle of the park. However the Dundalk skipper would only last 41 minutes before retiring with a hamstring complaint.

AZ, on a seven-match streak without a win in the Europa League group stages, made two changes from their 1-1 draw with Roda JC at the weekend and four alterations from the side which faced Dundalk at the AFAS Stadion back in September.

Midfielders Mats Seuntjens and Ben Rienstra came into the starting XI alongside forwards Wout Weghorst and Muamer Tankovic in a team which featured four senior internationals.

The visitors came to Dublin knowing that their European journey would be over with anything less than a victory and, buoyed by Maccabi’s defeat in Russia earlier in the day, John van den Brom’s team started with a ruthlessness which was lacking during their matchday one meeting.

On the back of several early corners, Weghorst gave the Dutchmen the lead. The striker knocked coolly past the helpless Gary Rogers from six-yards with the unfortunate Dane Massey having seen the ball ricochet off his knee and into the goalscorer’s path.

The Lilywhites settled down following the early concession, although opposing ‘keeper Sergio Rochet was left largely as a spectator. The balls played into Kilduff were poor, especially with Ron Vlaar paying him due attention, and even when he did win flick-ons there was never anybody gambling in behind.

In saying that though, Dundalk were creating good chances. Finn went on a few mesmerising runs and let one vicious shot off in the 34^th minute which sailed well wide.

Either side of that effort, Kilduff put two headers off target, both from Daryl Horgan deliveries – it looked as if that pair were going to be the key for the Lilywhites in getting back into the game

In fact, the first-half was very like the opening period in Alkmaar. Like in tonight’s game, AZ started the stronger before Dundalk took over as the half progressed. The difference on this occasion was van den Brom’s side got their early goal and took a lead into half-time.

The interval seemed to halt the offensive momentum that the League of Ireland champions were building with AZ monopolising the early second-half stages. Indeed, only for Rogers in goal, who up to that point had appeared quite nervous, the game could have been out of reach.

The ‘keeper, who recently agreed a new deal with the club, pulled off a superb stop to deny Weghorst his second following Muamer Tankovic’s defence piercing pass. Moments later he pulled off a second stunning save from Ben Rienstra with Dundalk on the ropes and their defence at sea. The Lilywhites were now struggling to breach the halfway line.

Nothing was coming off for Dundalk with their forward play being untypically predictable. In contrast AZ varied their attacks from flank-to-flank, although they were perhaps more dangerous down the right with Massey’s positioning slightly suspect.

David McMillan and Dean Shiels were introduced with Dundalk needing to add more pace and energy to their attack with AZ packing their defence stringently looking to hold onto their slender advantage. A piece of individual brilliance almost had them regretting that tactic on 83 minutes though when Finn’s genius lob deceived Rochet only for it to go inches past the post.

The Lilywhites huffed and puffed for the final minutes, seeing a call for a penalty waved away, however, it was to be AZ’s night in south-Dublin but at least Dundalk in December will have a chance to make next year’s knock out phase.

Dundalk FC: Gary Rogers; Seán Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Ronan Finn, Stephen O’Donnell (John Mountney 42), Robbie Benson; Patrick McEleney (Dean Shiels 80), Ciaran Kilduff (David McMillan 77), Daryl Horgan.

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Alan Keane, Paddy Barrett, Chris Shields.

Booked: None.

AZ: Sergio Rochet; Mattias Johansson, Ron Vlaar, Stijn Wuytens, Ridgeciano Haps; Derrick Luckassen, Mats Seuntjens, Ben Rienstra; Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dabney Dos Santos 75), Wout Weghorst (Fred Friday 87), Muamer Tankovic (Thomas Ouwejan 80).

Subs not used: Nick Olij (gk), Illiass Bel Hassani, Robert Muhren, Levi Garcia.

Booked: Stijn Wuytens (81).

Referee: István Vad (HUN).

Attendance: 5,700.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gary Rogers (Dundalk FC).

You can see pictures from the game as taken by Michael P Ryan and Eoin Smith here.