Europa Conference League Qualifying Preview : Dundalk FC v KA Akureyri

DUNDALK

Dundalk FC welcome Icelandic side KA Akureyri to Oriel Park on Thursday night looking to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg.

Despite holding the balance of possession last week in Iceland, the Lilywhites suffered at the hands of clinical finishing from their opponents- scoring with each of their efforts on target.

This week, the sides return to action at a venue where Dundalk haven't lost a European tie since 2014. The sold out home crowd will also be buoyed by the news this week of the re-signing of mercurial winger Daryl Horgan. The Galwegian won a trio of Premier Division titles with the club before departing for Preston North End at the end of the 2016 season and while he won't be eligible for the KA tie, his presence will be a lift for the home fans.

With Horgan and fellow new arrival Sam Durrant unavailable, Keith Ward, John Mountney and Robbie Benson long term injured, Head Coach Stephen O'Donnell has no new injury concerns for the encounter.

KA AKUREYRI

The Icelandic side, who currently sit seventh in their domestic league and have qualified for their national cup final, defeated Welsh outfit Connah's Quay Nomads in the previous round.

Since then, they have strengthened their squad with the signing of Joan Edmundsson. The 79 time capped Faroese international played the final ten minutes last week and could be in line to see further action at Oriel Park.

Unlike Dundalk, who had a free weekend, KA drew against HK Kopavogur with  Edmundsson making his first start for the club - one of a number of changes made by Hallgrimmur Jonasson ahead of the second leg.

Bjarni Aldalsteinsson, who scored the opening goal in the first leg, appeared as a substitute on Sunday before being replaced himself before the end of the game so may be considered a doubt for the Oriel Park fixture.

MATCH STATS

The previous time Dundalk faced Icelandic opposition in European competition heralded the start of their successful 2016 campaign which ended up with the Louth club reaching the Europa League Group Stages- the final game of which was away to Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv. That game was Daryl Horgan’s last for the club and a match in which he scored.

Prior to his strike in Iceland last week, Daniel Kelly’s last European goal for Dundalk came in the 2020 victory over KA Klaksvik as Dundalk proceeded to qualify for the 2020 Europa League Group stages once more- a feat Klaksvik themselves achieved during the week.

PREDICTION

Dundalk 3-1 KA Akureyri (Dundalk to go through on penalties)

Dundalk FC

Injured: Robbie Benson, John Mountney, Keith Ward

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

KA Akureyri

Injured: None

Doubtful: Bjarni Aldalsteinsson

Suspended: None

Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)