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WATCH: Dundalk go down swinging with spirited display against Arsenal

Ten months after it began, Dundalk brought their season came to a close with a fighting display a...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

20.14 10 Dec 2020


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WATCH: Dundalk go down swingin...

WATCH: Dundalk go down swinging with spirited display against Arsenal

Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

20.14 10 Dec 2020


Share this article


Ten months after it began, Dundalk brought their season came to a close with a fighting display against Arsenal. 

Jordan Flores and Sean Hoare both found the net in a 4-2 defeat to the Premier League side at the Aviva Stadium.

Dundalk finish bottom of Group B without a point to their name.

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Arsenal were in front inside twelve minutes at the Aviva. Eddie Nketiah pounced on a failed Andy Boyle clearance before clipping the ball over Gary Rogers.

If Dundalk felt hard-done-by by the opener, they could likely only applaud the goal that doubled Arsenal's lead.

Emile Smith-Rowe cut inside from the left to feed Mohamed Elneny, whose right-footed thunderbolt flew into the corner of the net.

But the hosts' heads never dropped, and they found a lifeline back into the game just five-minutes after Elneny's strike.

Jordan Flores added to his collection of fine goals - this time with his right foot - to make it 2-1.

The Lilywhites could count themselves unlucky not to be level going in at the break.

The ball broke for Darragh Leahy just six-yards from goal but his shot was deflected wide and to Arsenal safety.

Arsenal were lucky not to concede just the other side of the break when a Michael Duffy break didn't produce the pass required by Dave McMillan's run.

Midway through the second half, the game was beyond the Cup-winners.

Dundalk failed to adequately clear their lines from an Arsenal throw-in in an advanced position. Joe Willock managed to get a shot away that squirmed under the body of Rogers.

Teenager Folarin Balogun made it 4-1 with ten minutes to go with a cool finish.

But Dundalk weren't done themselves.

A Flores free-kick from the left was met beautifully by the head of defender Sean Hoare.

He managed to direct the ball past Runar Runarsson in the Arsenal goal to offer a respectability to the scoreline that the hosts more than deserved.

Dundalk's travails were put into context by the side joining Arsenal in the last-32.

A 2-2 draw away to Rapid Vienna was enough to see Molde progress to the knockout phase at the Austrians' expense.

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Arsenal Dundalk Eddie Nketiah Europa League Jordan Flores Sean Hoare UEFA Europa League

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