In the end it was something as ordinary and mundane as superior fitness that ended this European fantasy, nothing else. Full-timers 2 Part-Timers 0.
Stephen Kenny’s team from the League of Ireland matched their Polish opponents for ability, appetite and desire. They couldn’t match them for legs, though, and after failing to score when they were dominant in the opening half an hour, they faded and saw their dream of Champions League football fade with them.
There will be some who argue that Kenny’s players are full-time, that they commit their lives to this game. But half of them have other jobs, none get paid in the off-season and they all train at night. There is a world of difference between that and the lives led by the professionals of the Polish top division.
Nemanja Nikolic scored the first goal for Legia Warsaw from the penalty spot
Nikolic made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Gary Rogers the wrong way
A second from substitute Aleksandar Prijovic surely ended their hopes of progression
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny can't hide his disappointment after the final whistle
Here on Wednesday night that told but only after Dundalk had drawn their tens of thousands of followers in to believing that something incredible really may be possible at the Dublin Arena.
As the rain teemed down during the afternoon, so the roads from Dundalk to Dublin clogged up.
It meant that many were late for kick-off and that was shame because it was in the first 25 minutes that the Irish champions played their best football.
Those who saw Dundalk beat BATE Borisov in the last round were impressed by manner of their football. Kenny, rated highly in Ireland long before this run began, has assembled a team that knows how to look after the ball and for a substantial period they were too good for Legia.
Sadly, they didn’t score in this period of ascendancy.
Stephen Kenny's team matched their Polish opponents for ability, appetite and desire
A club record crowd of more than 30,000 watched the Champions League play-off tie
Polish champions Legia were roared on by their small but vocal travelling support
Patrick McEleney headed a good chance over in the second minute before a cross from Daryl Horgan worried Polish goalkeeper Arkadiusz Malarz. Later in the half the best bit of football of the opening period saw McEleney play Horgan in only for Igor Lewczuk to intervene with a long leg.
At this point it would have been impossible for the uneducated to work out which was the recognised European team and which was the side from the back of nowhere. The confidence Dundalk had taken from their progression to this stage of qualifying was clear.
Sadly, though, a harsh lesson was soon to be learned. Legia had improved towards the end of the first half and after Dundalk emerged for the second period to threaten through Sean Gannon and Daryl Horgan, the Poles slowly took control.
Patrick McEleney headed a good chance over in the second minute for the home side
Dundalk could have been heading to Poland with two or three more goals to make up
The opening goal was scored from the penalty spot by Nemanja Nikolic after Andy Boyle had handled. It was a tough call but the right call, despite Kenny’s subsequent complaints. After that, Legia could have buried their opponents who had started to run in sand on a big pitch.
Kenny’s team did rally late on and had substitute Ciaran Kilduff managed to keep an 89th minute volley down then Dundalk would had had a goal, a draw and some hope.
As it was Legia broke in the final minute of added time to score a beautiful goal through substitute Aleksandar Prijovic. Next week’s second leg in Warsaw could be a very long night indeed.
Daryl Horgan (left) of Dundalk takes on Steeven Langil (right) of Legia Warsaw
Legia were able to draw Dundalk's sting and wait for them to tire in play-off clash
MATCH FACTS
Dundalk: Rogers, Gannon, Barrett, Boyle, Massey, O'Donnell, Shields (Benson 77),Mountney (Finn 64), McEleney, Horgan, McMillan (Kilduff 80).
Subs Not Used: Sava, Gartland, Grimes, Meenan.
Booked: O'Donnell, Boyle.
Legia Warsaw: Malarz, Broz, Pazdan, Lewczuk, Hlousek, Langil (Alexandrov 88), Odjidja-Ofoe (Kopczynski 76), Jodlowiec, Moulin, Kucharczyk,Nikolic (Prijovic 83).
Subs Not Used: Cierzniak, Brzyski, Hamalainen, Rzezniczak.
Booked: Odjidja-Ofoe, Hlousek.
Goals: Nikolic 56 pen, Prijovic 90.
Ref: Deniz Aytekin (Germany).
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