DUNDALK'S Champions League dream is over after a 1-1 draw against Legia Warsaw in the play-off tie at the Polish Army Stadium saw the Lilywhites exit the competition on a 3-1 aggregate.
For over an hour of the game Dundalk had dared to dream, after a cracking 19th minute volley from Robbie Benson halved the two-goal lead that their opponents took away from the first leg in Dublin last week.
And when Legia were reduced to ten men at the midway point of the second half as Adam Hlousek was red carded, the pendulum appeared to be swinging ever more in favour of the Lilywhites.
But Dundalk failed to break down the well organised Polish side for the second goal they needed, and for the second week in a row, Legia struck a devastating blow in stoppage time when a fine goal on the counter-attack from Michal Kucharczyk ensured they became the first Polish side in 20 years to play in the Champions League group stages.
Before the game Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny spoke about the need for his side to give it real go from the start, and the Lilywhites boss underlined his intentions when he picked an attacking line-up with Ronan Finn and Robbie Benson replacing John Mountney and the suspended captain Stephen O'Donnell.
Dundalk's attack-minded approach was soon in evidence when a storming run through the middle by Benson ended with him having his heels clipped 25 yards from goal. From the ensuing free kick, Darryl Horgan got his shot on target but it was comfortably collected by Legia keeper Malarz.
Despite the promising start, there were signs of edginess in the Dundalk ranks in the early stages, with the ball being given away cheaply several times, but nerves were soon settled when Robbie Benson struck a wonder goal in the 19th minute to put his side ahead on the night and give them a lifeline in the tie.
A cross from Sean Gannon found David McMillan at the far post and he cushioned a header into the path of Benson, who struck the goal of his life with an unstoppable volley into the top corner of the net.
Within four minutes, Legia hit back and a terrific shot from Adam Hlousek with the outside of his foot was heading for the top corner before Dundalk keeper Gary Rogers reacted well to push the ball clear.
.@DundalkFC are back in the tie in Poland! An incredible Robbie Benson volley makes halves their deficit.? #UCL https://t.co/4ZxAlvETdr
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) August 23, 2016
For the remainder of the half Legia always looked menacing, but although the home side enjoyed plenty of possession they never troubled Rogers as his defence in front of him held firm.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half was equally bereft of goalscoring opportunities, but Dundalk were always looking for an opening, and a fine move almost brought Benson his second goal of the night just after the hour.
A Darryl Horgan cross found David McMillan in space, and although his header back across goal went behind Benson, the striker did well to adjust and deliver an overhead kick that flew over the bar.
Dundalk were handed another boost four minutes later as Legia were reduced to ten men when Adam Hlousek was shown his second yellow card of the game for a foul on Robbie Benson.
Legia coach Beznik Hasl responded by withdrawing striker Nemanja Nikolic, and replacing him with a defender Bartosz Bereszynski, in a clear attempt to close the game off.
It was a tactic that worked well, and although Dundalk enjoyed a good share of possession as they desperately pushed forward late on, the massed ranks of white shirts proved tough to break down and always looked dangerous on the break.
As the game moved into the second minute of stoppage time, Dundalk's spirited fightback was finally ended when an attack broke down and one searching pass gave Michal Kucharczyk the chance to advance forward, cut inside the covering Andy Boyle, and fire an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net to restore his side's two goal aggregate lead that they held to the end.
It was a bitter end to a night that for a long time had promised to be a memorable one for Dundalk, but they have the consolation of knowing they can look forward to taking their place in the draw for the group stages of the Europa League on Friday.
Speaking on TV3 afterwards, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny said:
"I thought in the last 20 minutes we probably didn't create enough, but I thought we were magnificent the way the players wanted the ball under pressure.
"Overall I have to commend the players, they have been nothing short of magnificent in this Champions League run. We have acquitted ourselves brilliantly and we can only learn from that experience.
"We've qualified for the Europa League which was beyond our wildest dreams really a few seasons ago, but we are disappointed we didn't qualify for the Champions League.
"That was our ambition coming into these two games, but we have to accept that. Now that is the reality, it does give us six games to play in the groups stages of a European competition.
"We still have a lot of big European games to play, and it's no disgrace for how the players have performed, they have done very well overall."
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