Dundalk come away empty-handed after Rapid first-half blitz

DUNDALK 1 RAPID WIEN 3

EVERY Irish club seeks the financial oxygen that flows from the UEFA coffers, even if reaching the group phase of the Europa League comes at a price. While banking more than €4million for advancing deep into European competition for the second time since 2016, Dundalk are struggling to leave an imprint ahead of their December exit. And that’s not encouraging for either their credibility or the League of Ireland. Dundalk’s four games have yielded four defeats, with 12 goals conceded. Across the 12 groups, they are one of only four teams without a point. With a trip to Molde next Thursday before Arsenal come to the Aviva on December 10, Dundalk will be desperate to extract something tangible from their Euro experience. After scoring three times in Vienna, Dundalk’s hopes at Aviva Stadium last night were all but punctured by half-time. Goals from Christoph Knasmullner, who rifled a 30-yarder past Gary Rogers in the 11th minute, and a firm header by Ercan Kara in the 37th minute, left Dundalk behind the eight-ball. The goals didn’t make pleasant viewing for Dundalk defender Sean Hoare who lost the ball twice in the build-up to the first, and then appeared to drift in front of Kara, allowing him a free header. Filippo Giovagnoli made three changes at the break with Hoare coming off as Dundalk reverted to a flat back four. Within minutes of the restart, one of the substitutes, Daniel Kelly, won a penalty which another, Nathan Oduwa, insisted on taking. Having headed over the crossbar a few moments earlier, Oduwa got his way only to drag the spot-kick wide. When Kara added a third for Rapid with a curling right-footer, all seemed lost for Dundalk but Oduwa won a soft penalty which Chris Shields put away smartly. Dundalk will be without Patrick Hoban (ankle) for the rest of a season that continues with Sunday’s trip to Athlone for the Extra.ie FAI Cup semi-final. DUNDALK: Rogers; Hoare (Kelly ht), Boyle, Cleary; Gannon, Shields, Sloggett (Murray 72), Dummigan (Leahy 81); Colovic (McEleney ht), McMillan (Oduwa ht), Duffy. Scorer: Shields 63 pen. RAPID VIENNA: Gartler; Stojkovic, Hofmann, Barac, Ullmann; Knasmullner (Demir 81), Grahovac; Schick, Fountas (Schuster 66), Ibrahimoglu (Arase 55); Kara (Kitagawa 66). Scorers: Knasmullner 11, Kara 37, 58. Referee: T Bognar (Hungary)