DUNDALK HAVE ALREADY caused some major upsets in Europe this season, but getting a result against this talented Zenit St Petersburg would surely be their greatest yet.
The five-time Russian champions, who won the Europa League (under its previous guise the Uefa Cup) just eight years ago, come to Tallaght Stadium unbeaten all season.
Mircea Lucescu’s side are joint-top of their domestic league table with Spartak Moscow and sitting pretty in Group D after wins over Maccabi Tel Aviv and AZ Alkmaar.
The Lilywhites have their sights on a place in the knockout stages and are currently second thanks to one win and a draw. Avoiding defeat tonight is a huge ask, but Stephen Kenny’s men have continued to surprise us.
Kick-off is 8.05pm.
20 Oct 2016
7:51PM
Team news… Dundalk captain Stephen O’Donnell is ruled out through injury, while John Mountney is fit enough for a place on the bench and Chris Shields will play through the pain.
The two changes from Monday’s win over Longford Town sees Sean Gannon come in for Alan Keane at full-back, and Robbie Benson replace Mountney.
Zenit make one change with Slovakian schemer Robert Mak in for Aleksandr Kokorin.
“We know Zenit St Petersburg have a great tradition — they’ve won the competition and they have a great history in Europe. We haven’t got a history at this level, but we’re certainly looking forward to it. It’s a great occasion for us.”
That was Stephen Kenny speaking at yesterday’s press conference. Read the rest of what he had to say about tonight’s opponents here.
20 Oct 2016
7:57PM
Tonight’s game is a sell-out so there will hopefully be a cracking atmosphere. The teams will be out momentarily…
KICK-OFF – We’re off and running. Zenit, wearing all blue, tip off and play into the goal over-looking The Square. Dundalk are in their traditional white and black.
20 Oct 2016
8:11PM
Zenit have had the lion’s share of the ball in the opening minutes, but Dundalk very nearly caught them on the break just there.
Massey intercepts to start the move. McMillan turns in the midfield and sends Benson away, but Neto recovers well to make a vital challenge.
20 Oct 2016
8:14PM
WHAT. A. CHANCE! McMillan feeds Finn with his first touch, and the Dubliner out-sprints Lombaerts but shoots inches wide of the far post. Super move.
20 Oct 2016
8:19PM
The ball falls to Giulano 25 yards out and the former Gremio man shoots high and wide. Dundalk will take that all night.
President Michael D Higgins is in attendance tonight. Loves his football.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
20 Oct 2016
8:27PM
Zenit with plenty of possession in the opposing half but they haven’t been able to create anything of real substance yet. Anyukov’s cross is headed away, then Sava comes out to collect a high ball into the box.
20 Oct 2016
8:37PM
BOOKING – And it’s the first of the night. Oleg Shatav goes on a mazy run and throws himself to the ground as Gannon steps out to make the challenge.
Referee Miroslav Zelinka isn’t having any of it and yellow cards the Russian winger.
20 Oct 2016
8:46PM
POSITIVE FROM DUNDALK – The Lilywhites are enjoying a good spell. Massey heads just over and Lodygin looks to have got his fingers to it but a goal-kick is awarded.
Zenit captain Javi Garcia, once of Manchester City, then concedes a free-kick and picks up a yellow card. Gartland gets his head to the set-piece and sends it straight into the keeper’s hand.
The linesman’s flag was raised so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
20 Oct 2016
8:49PM
That wasn’t far away from Anyukov, who drives the ball across Sava’s goalmouth. The full-back seemed to be in two minds as it was neither a shot nor a cross.
SECOND HALF – They’re back from the break. No substitutes on either side so we’re as you were.
20 Oct 2016
9:15PM
THAT’S A LET-OFF – Shatov finds some space to run into down the right flank and plays the ball to the back post but there’s no team-mate on-hand to capitalise.
The away team have turned the game on its head. Witsel does brilliantly to get himself into the box and cut the ball back for Guiliano, who finishes past Sava.
20 Oct 2016
9:54PM
PENALTY SAVED! Sava guesses right and keeps Mauricio out after a long run up.
Gartland had obstructed the Zenit substitute to give away the spot-kick.
As it happened: Dundalk v Zenit St Petersburg, Europa League
DUNDALK HAVE ALREADY caused some major upsets in Europe this season, but getting a result against this talented Zenit St Petersburg would surely be their greatest yet.
The five-time Russian champions, who won the Europa League (under its previous guise the Uefa Cup) just eight years ago, come to Tallaght Stadium unbeaten all season.
Mircea Lucescu’s side are joint-top of their domestic league table with Spartak Moscow and sitting pretty in Group D after wins over Maccabi Tel Aviv and AZ Alkmaar.
The Lilywhites have their sights on a place in the knockout stages and are currently second thanks to one win and a draw. Avoiding defeat tonight is a huge ask, but Stephen Kenny’s men have continued to surprise us.
Kick-off is 8.05pm.
Team news… Dundalk captain Stephen O’Donnell is ruled out through injury, while John Mountney is fit enough for a place on the bench and Chris Shields will play through the pain.
The two changes from Monday’s win over Longford Town sees Sean Gannon come in for Alan Keane at full-back, and Robbie Benson replace Mountney.
Zenit make one change with Slovakian schemer Robert Mak in for Aleksandr Kokorin.
“We know Zenit St Petersburg have a great tradition — they’ve won the competition and they have a great history in Europe. We haven’t got a history at this level, but we’re certainly looking forward to it. It’s a great occasion for us.”
That was Stephen Kenny speaking at yesterday’s press conference. Read the rest of what he had to say about tonight’s opponents here.
Tonight’s game is a sell-out so there will hopefully be a cracking atmosphere. The teams will be out momentarily…
KICK-OFF – We’re off and running. Zenit, wearing all blue, tip off and play into the goal over-looking The Square. Dundalk are in their traditional white and black.
Zenit have had the lion’s share of the ball in the opening minutes, but Dundalk very nearly caught them on the break just there.
Massey intercepts to start the move. McMillan turns in the midfield and sends Benson away, but Neto recovers well to make a vital challenge.
WHAT. A. CHANCE! McMillan feeds Finn with his first touch, and the Dubliner out-sprints Lombaerts but shoots inches wide of the far post. Super move.
The ball falls to Giulano 25 yards out and the former Gremio man shoots high and wide. Dundalk will take that all night.
President Michael D Higgins is in attendance tonight. Loves his football.
Zenit with plenty of possession in the opposing half but they haven’t been able to create anything of real substance yet. Anyukov’s cross is headed away, then Sava comes out to collect a high ball into the box.
BOOKING – And it’s the first of the night. Oleg Shatav goes on a mazy run and throws himself to the ground as Gannon steps out to make the challenge.
Referee Miroslav Zelinka isn’t having any of it and yellow cards the Russian winger.
POSITIVE FROM DUNDALK – The Lilywhites are enjoying a good spell. Massey heads just over and Lodygin looks to have got his fingers to it but a goal-kick is awarded.
Zenit captain Javi Garcia, once of Manchester City, then concedes a free-kick and picks up a yellow card. Gartland gets his head to the set-piece and sends it straight into the keeper’s hand.
The linesman’s flag was raised so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
That wasn’t far away from Anyukov, who drives the ball across Sava’s goalmouth. The full-back seemed to be in two minds as it was neither a shot nor a cross.
Half-time: Dundalk 0-0 Zenit St Petersburg
SECOND HALF – They’re back from the break. No substitutes on either side so we’re as you were.
THAT’S A LET-OFF – Shatov finds some space to run into down the right flank and plays the ball to the back post but there’s no team-mate on-hand to capitalise.
GOAL! Dundalk 1-0 Zenit St Petersburg (Robbie Benson)
Oh. My. Word. Dundalk lead. You’re reading that correctly. Benson is allowed the room to run into and decides to let fly.
Lodygin gets it all wrong and fails to make the save. It will go down as a goalkeeping error but who cares!
YELLOW CARD – Neto brings down McMillan and is booked.
Zenit had gone close seconds earlier after another Giuliano ball into the box.
SUBSTITUTION – Russian striker Aleksandr Kokorin is on for Shatov, while Anyukov is the latest Zenit player into the book.
OFF THE POST! Dane Massey strikes the upright with a header. So close.
GOAL! Dundalk 1-1 Zenit St Petersburg (Robert Mak)
The Russians are level. Sava’s clearance is a poor one and it’s recycled by Giulano before Mak side-foots home. Sloppy goal to concede.
McMillan is off for Ciaran Kilduff, meanwhile.
GOAL! Dundalk 1-2 Zenit St Petersburg (Guiliano)
The away team have turned the game on its head. Witsel does brilliantly to get himself into the box and cut the ball back for Guiliano, who finishes past Sava.
PENALTY SAVED! Sava guesses right and keeps Mauricio out after a long run up.
Gartland had obstructed the Zenit substitute to give away the spot-kick.
Full-time: Dundalk 1-2 Zenit St Petersburg
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All you need to know about Dundalk’s opponents tonight
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