Drogheda United 1 - 2 Dynamo Kiev

Dalymount Park On Tuesday night was as full as it has been for years, for the clash of reigning eircom League Premier Division champions,Drogheda United, versus Dynamo Kiev of the Ukraine, in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

The opening twenty five minutes were explosive, with both sides having chances to take the lead. Kiev's Ismael Bangoura was first to try his luck, but his shot from outside the box after three minutes went high and wide. Milos Ninkovic and Artem Milevskyk were then afforded time and space - but Milevskyk could only fire wide of Jamie Ewings upright.

Drogheda had the first of two first half penalty appeals turned down when Kievs Andrii Nesmachny lunged to clear a cross from his right - the ball seemed to hit his trailing hand, but Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen wasn't interested.

Undeterred, the home side, went on to have their best chance of the first half a few minutes later. Ollie Cahill, in fine form of late, and scorer of a crucial goal against Levadia in the first round, dispossessed Kievs Oleksandr Aliev in midfield and burst forward with intent. The former Shels man let fly , but Kievs keeper saved well, pushing it around the post for a corner.

Milevskyk caused trouble for Drogheda again after fifteen minutes, but Ewings made a great save. Midfielder Aliev hit the side netting with a free kick from range.

A gifted goal gave Levadia a first half lead earlier in the month - and history nearly repeated itself after twenty minutes. Graham Gartlands back pass was short, and Ewings needed to be quick to clear.

Tiberiu Ghioane was next to try and create an opening for the visitors. He drifted from right to left, before playing it simple to Ninkovic. Ninkovic layed it back, but Ognjen Vukojenic wasn't able to beat Ewings either.

Midway through the half, the Kiev goal that had looked on the cards arrived. Ewings came to deal with a free kick that was delivered from beside the corner flag, but only punched it six or eight yards. Taras Mykhalyr picked it up and shot quickly into the net - with Ewings out of position.

Drogheda reacted well and went on to create a number of half chances in the following ten minutes. Cahill had a curling shot saved, and Richie Baker nearly got on the end of a clever Eamon Zayed flick on. The warning signs for Drogheda were again visible as Kiev moved from defence to attack seamlessly, immediately after Baker failed to get in at the back post. Aliev was again the danger man, but he again shot wide when he should have done better

Ten minutes before the break Drogheda had their second penalty appeal of the night. Stuart Byrne, again playing at right back, drifted a free kick down the channel for Faz Kuduzovic to run on to. The Bosnian pulled it back just before it ran out of play, and the ball hit the arm of Nesmachny - but once again the officials were not interested.

Three minutes after the restart Drogheda were on level terms. Kudozovic had all the time in the world on the left to pick out the unmarked Hughes in the box. Hughes met the cross with his back to goal and flicked it goalwards. The Kiev keeper got his hands to the Aussies header, but didn't do enough to prevent the goal. Hughes followed it up just to be sure.

The "home" goal did greats things for the athmosphere, Kiev still looked dangerous when in possession. Aliev again came close and Vukojenic hit the post with Ewings looking on in hope. Bangoura also fired wide.

Milevskyk was again denied by a good save by Ewings, but with the game nearing a close Kiev took the lead that their performance deserved. Aleiv chanced his luck from twenty five yards - and Ewings was beaten at his front post - by a shot he probably should have routinely saved.

Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Stuart Byrne, Graham Gartland, Shaun Maher, Joe Kendrick; Richie Baker (Declan O'Brien 90), Adam Hughes, Paul Keegan (Brian Shelley 71), Olloie Cahill; Eamon Zayed, Fahrudin Kuduzovic (Shane Barrett 63).
Subs not used: Mikko Vilmunen, John Tambouras, Ibrahim Thiam, Guy Bates.

Dynamo Kiev: Oleksandr Shovkovsky; Ebert Willian Betao, Tiberiu Ghioane (Maksim Shatskikh 80), Ognjen Vukojevic, Oleksandr Aliev; ismael Bangoura (Artem Kravets 71), Pape Diakhate, Taras Mykhalyk, Artem Milevsky (Badr El Khaddouri 89), Andriy Nesmachny, Milos Ninkovic.
Subs not used: Taras Lutsenko, Goran Sablic, Mykola Moroziuk, Oleksandr Romanchuk.

Referee: Svein Oddmar Moen (Norway).

Attendance: 2,000 (estimate).