Dundalk have made history by becoming the first Irish team to earn a point in the group stages of a European football competition,
10 man Dundalk draw 1-1 with AZ Alkmaar.
Manchester United can't score past Brad Jones and lose 1-0 to Feyenoord pic.twitter.com/uPQQfmUf2r— SportsJOE.ie (@SportsJOEdotie) September 15, 2016
It all looked highly unlikely with the League of Ireland Premier Division leaders going down to 10 men with 20 minutes left.
But after a late substitution, they managed to haul themselves level.
Super sub! Only on the pitch five minutes, Kilduff has equalised for 10-man Dundalk! #UEL
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 15, 2016
People refused to get carried away, however. There was to be a sizeable chunk of injury time awarded.
9 minutes of Dundalk to hang on for a point and â¬120,000
— Neil O'Riordan (@noriordan) September 15, 2016
AZ 1 Dundalk (with 10 men) 1 – Ciaran Kilduff heads home in the 89th minute. Unbelievable. But there will be loads of injury time.
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) September 15, 2016
But Dundalk held on for a magnificent result.
Full-time: 1-1. Dundalk get a point in the Netherlands!
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 15, 2016
The result, however, offered more than just pride – â¬120,000 is on offer for any team who draws a game in the Europa League, and fans were quick to put it into perspective.
If they hang on here, that goal will be worth â¬20,000 more to Dundalk than winning the league.
— emmet malone (@emmetmalone) September 15, 2016
Dundalk hold on here and they pocket â¬120,000. Pretty amazing for one game when you consider LOI winners walk away with just â¬100,000.
— Rachel Lynch (@Rachel_Lynchx) September 15, 2016
We can’t wait to see them compete throughout the rest of the competition – on the evidence of tonight, they'll give any team a run for their money.
Dundalk are not lucky, they have dominated Irish football for 3 years and are now just getting a chance to show their capabilities in europe
— Jake O'Donnell (@Jakeodg) September 15, 2016
