Thursday 18 August 2016 07:09, UK
Dundalk's dreams of the Champions League group stages were left hanging by a thread after a fortunate penalty award set Legia Warsaw on the way to a 2-0 victory in Dublin.
Hungarian striker Nemanja Nikolic's spot-kick broke the Lilywhites' brave resistance in the 55th minute and a second from substitute Aleksandar Prijovic, only seconds from the final whistle, surely ended their hopes of progression.
Andy Boyle was unlucky to give away the crucial penalty when a drive from Legia winger Steeven Langil flashed past the defender's onrushing frame and cannoned into his trailing right arm.
Nikolic made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Gary Rogers the wrong way as he slotted the ball low into the left corner.
A sustained period of Legia pressure followed the goal, but Stephen Kenny's Dundalk players held firm.
However, as the final whistle approached, they were punished for pushing for an equaliser as Prijovic broke free to lift the ball over the oncoming Rogers and send the Polish champions to the brink of the group stages.
Last year's Europa League semi-finalists Villarreal must overturn a one-goal deficit in Monaco if they are to reach the group stages having fallen to a 2-1 defeat at home.
It took just three minutes for 2004 runners-up Monaco to lead through a penalty from rumoured Manchester United target Fabinho.
Alexandre Pato, a loanee with Chelsea last term, equalised for the Yellow Submarines but Bernardo Silva claimed a winner for Monaco, who had Benjamin Mendy sent off.
The tie between European heavyweights Porto and Roma is finely poised at 1-1 after their first leg in Portugal.
Felipe's own goal put the Italians ahead yet ex-Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen was sent off before half-time on his debut.
Andre Silva's penalty pulled it back to 1-1, yet Porto were unable to make their one-man advantage count ahead of the return fixture in the Italian capital.
Elsewhere, Ludogorets are in charge of their tie with Plzen thanks to a 2-0 victory given to them by second-half goals from Cosmin Moti and Virgil Misidjan.
