Good evening everyone. Well, Dundalk have a mountain to climb but they’re still in with a chance.

Welcome to our coverage of tonight’s massive clash in Warsaw. Stephen Kenny has insisted his side will ‘give it a real go’ but they don’t have much of a choice. It’s all about balance – risk too much too soon and conceding another goal becomes an inevitability.

The teams are in. Here’s how we can expect both teams to line up.

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So, Kenny decides to stick with Paddy Barrett and Andy Boyle as his central-defensive pairing with Brian Gartland having to make do with a place on the bench. No Ciaran Kilduff because of injury and Stephen O’Donnell is suspended.

Legia should be really fresh for this. Coach Besnik Hasi rested his preferred starting XI for their league game at the weekend.

Nemanja Nikolic continues up front while the other goalscorer from the first leg - Aleksandar Prijovic – starts from the bench again.

“We’re capable of scoring goals”, Kenny tells TV3 pre-game.

“If we score the first goal, we’ll see what happens’”.

It promises to be an intimidating atmosphere for the Dundalk players this evening. Ben Blake is there for us and we’ll get his thoughts imminently.

TV3′s formation has Daryl Horgan closer to David McMillan – a front two, essentially. We’ll see if that comes to fruition.

As much as this is a crucial night for Dundalk, important to mention how important an occasion it is for Legia. It’s their centenary year and they have won the Polish championship and cup in 2016 already. And they’re seeking to reach the group stages of this tournament for the first time in a long time.

It’s worth reminding ourselves of what this means for Dundalk. The club is guaranteed a place in the Europa League group-stages while they can expect €6 million too. If they stage a remarkable comeback and progress, it’s a cool €12 million before they kick another ball.

From our man in Warsaw, Ben Blake:

10 minutes from kick-off and the Stadion Legia Warsaw – aka the Polish Army Stadium – is filling up nicely. It’s likely to be a hostile atmosphere for Dundalk as the couple of hundred Lilywhites fans who made the trip will be well-outnumbered by the home support. Overturning a two-goal deficit is a huge ask, but if they can nick an early first goal, who never know. We live in hope…

Atmosphere looks electric in Warsaw. Here’s hoping the Dundalk players are in the mood to irritate and frustrate the home support.

We’re almost underway here. How are the nerves?

KICK-OFF! 

And the flares mean the pitch has been swathed in a white cloud. Dundalk in all black, by the way. Nice contrast.

Early free-kick for Dundalk here after Horgan is up-ended. It does look like he’s playing centrally, supporting McMillan.

Poor delivery from McEleney, though, and the set-piece floats harmlessly over the end line.

BOOKING! Superb run from Robbie Benson and Odjidja brings him down cynically on the edge of the area. Great chance here now.

Horgan gets it up and over the wall but it’s straight at Malarz, who saves comfortably.

But a great positive run by Benson – founds space in his own half and backed himself to exploit a gap.

A warning for Dundalk as they just dropped off for a second and Legia found a way through in the right channel of the area. At the other end, McMillan on the end of a crunching challenge from Pazdan.

Another nervy moment. Dundalk forced a corner but made a meal of it and when Horgan’s attempted cross was blocked down, Nikolic was straight up the left side but his pass inside was just behind his strike partner. Dundalk were outnumbered and it was a major let-off.

Reliably informed that legendary former Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski is in the stands. He was famously branded ‘a clown’ by Brian Clough…before he did this.

GOAL! Benson! 

Oh. My. Word. That is astounding! Robbie Benson. Good Lord. What a strike. A dream goal and Dundalk are right back in this. The cross from the right is knocked back across goal from McMillan and Benson arrives to crack home a thunderous volley straight to the top corner. He almost broke the net. Outrageous stuff.

VERY CLOSE! Superb from Gary Rogers. Wonderful effort from Hloušek, who jabs it with the outside of his left foot. It’s heading towards the top corner but the Dundalk keeper gets across and tips it behind. Brilliant stop.

Oh. Massey just gets caught as Legia hit Dundalk with the overlap on the right side. The low cross is intercepted and it goes out for a corner. When it comes in, there’s another important block and the guests can breathe again.

An astonishing strike. He catches this so perfectly. A firm handshake to Robbie Benson.

Some good possession for Dundalk and they’re in front on the half hour. Keep it like this until the break, regroup and go again.

There has been some pressure from the hosts in the last few minutes. But Dundalk have kept their shape well. Legia are creating problems down the Lilywhites’ left side so Kenny may want to address that.

Legia have forced a number of corners and Dundalk have to stand firm here for the final few minutes of the opening period.

HALF-TIME! 

Well, how perfectly-poised is this? Dundalk seemed to be on the ropes just before Benson lashed one to the top corner. But it’s changed the complexion of this tie. Legia will surely hear some home truths at the break but Kenny will be urging his players to do the exact same in the second half. Control and composure are the order of the day.

If this keeps up, I wonder what the headlines will be tomorrow? ‘Benson Burner’ has been offered up by Tommy Martin on TV3. I’ll go for ‘Mercedes Bens’.

SECOND HALF! 

What will the response be like from the home side? Will they be rattled? Or patient? This is a massive half of football here.

Legia don’t seem too concerned with being a goal behind. They’ve been pretty patient, knowing Dundalk still need one more to force extra-time. And just as I type, an injection of pace from Legia down the left and only a superb block at the near post cuts out a really dangerous cross.

It was Andy Boyle – who captains the side tonight – with that last interception I mentioned. Magnificent from the skipper.

Meanwhile, just to update you on events in Israel…Celtic are 2-0 down away to Hapoel Beer Sheva and that tie is now 5-4 on aggregate. Barmy stuff.

BOOKING! Hloušek brings down Barrett and becomes the second Legia player to get a yellow.

Dundalk content to sit back and keep their shape. Still plenty of time left to go through the gears and try and grab a second. For now it’s all about keeping Legia out.

That’s superb work from McEleney to race down the left. He didn’t have much support and had to wait. He got the cross in to the far stick and McMillan was able to force the corner. More of that will do very nicely.

VERY CLOSE! Well, Benson conjures another moment. Again, it comes from McMillan pulling to the far post and nodding back across goal. Benson is turned the wrong way so he flings himself in the air for the overhead kick and it’s just over the bar. Brilliant effort.

SUBSTITUTION! Guilherme (in) – Langil (out)

Legia are the first to make a switch and it comes at a time when Dundalk are growing into the game. They’re creating chances and their opponents haven’t caused them any major concern in this half.

RED CARD! This is interesting now. Legia down to 10 men after Hloušek clatters into Finn having been booked ten minutes earlier. Big chance here for Dundalk.

About 25 minutes left here and Legia are getting a little tetchy. Dundalk are being aggressive and the home side don’t like it.

PENALTY CLAIM! Well, that’s a big moment. Barrett goes in, despairingly, in the area and there’s contact but the Legia player stays on his feet before flicking the ball across goal. But there’s no team-mate there and Dundalk get it clear. A big let-off for the visitors.

BOOKING! Benson picks up the yellow after going in on Kucharczyk on the right side. Challenges flying in in the last minutes.

You’d expect Stephen Kenny to make a change shortly. There’s been a bit of a lull and they’ll need to pick up the energy for the last 10 minutes.

Is there another magic moment in the offing for Dundalk? It seems like a goal will have to come from individual inspiration because they look pretty jaded out there and it’ll be difficult for them to craft something from deep. Maybe a set-piece? McMillan hasn’t seen much of the ball in the last 10 minutes which is a problem. Just some relentless sprint work for him.

There was a brief moment when Dundalk were through there. Horgan attacked the space and knocked it right to McEleney. He was faced with one defender and did the hard part – jinking to make space – but the shot was really tame and straight at Malarz.

This is on a knife-edge here. Just one slip could have such devastating consequences for both sides. Lots of tension out there.

SUBSTITUTION! Meenan (in) – Shields (out)

First change of the night for Dundalk and they are trying to stretch things a bit. But they’re a little sapped of energy. Fresh legs will certainly help.

Offside for Legia but Kucharczyk looks level at worst…again, that’s a decision that’s gone in Dundalk’s favour. After the first leg, they’ll certainly take that.

Time ticking by here. Can there be a late, late show from Dundalk?

SUBSTITUTION! M. O’Connor (in) – P. McEleney (out)

Another switch and it’s in attack. They need another moment of inspiration. And fast.

CLOSE! Rasping drive from Guilherme after Legia break down the right side but it’s straight at Rogers and Dundalk get it clear.

GOAL! Kucharczyk! 

And that’s that. On the break. Cruel.

FULL-TIME! 

You don’t want to be pushing the moral victory narrative but Dundalk were excellent tonight. They flagged with about 20 minutes to go – and struggled with Legia’s experience of this calibre of tie. The hosts managed the game superbly after being reduced to 10 men – tactically it was a seamless transition and coincided with Dundalk probably feeling a little jaded.

It meant that they couldn’t properly take the game by the scruff of the neck with 10/15 minutes left and that was a problem.

Still, they can look forward to the Europa League (still very surreal typing that) and gaining more experience.

That’s what’s required for Dundalk now and this sort of fixture and level should become their new normal.

Thanks for staying with us tonight. Plenty more reaction on its way from Warsaw.