Dinamo Minsk (3) 1-2 (2) Derry City
Derry exited the Europa League despite an excellent away performance where they defeated Dinamo Minsk on the day but lost on aggregate.
The day was set for Minsk’s competitive return to the national stadium after the Dinamo’s renovations until an early goal from a determined and assured Ally Roy following a one-two with Aaron McEneff.
Twenty minutes later, Sachivko levelled for the hosts with a scrappy goal after a free-kick led to confusion in the City box.
Minsk looked comfortable going in at the break having restored their two goal cushion.
Derry weren’t to give up just yet though as Ally Roy turned provider by holding the ball up and laying it to substitute Ronan Hale who made no mistake getting City’s second goal.
Knowing that Derry now just needed one goal to progress, Dinamo piled on the pressure but a combination of wasteful finishing, good goalkeeping from Ger Doherty and a goalmouth clearance from Darren Cole kept them at bay.
The Candystripes’ best chance to grab that decisive goal was an acrobatic effort from Ronan Hale but it wasn’t to be as he failed to connect with the ball.
That was to be it from Derry in Europe for another season, the side can go home with their heads held high whilst ruing what could have been.
Dinamo Minsk: Sergei Ignatovich; Maksim Shvetsov, Aleksandr Sachivko, Roman Begunov, Maksim Zhavnerchik, Uros Nikolic, Artem Gurenko, Artem Bykov, Seidu Yahaya, Anton Saroka (Filipp Ivanov 68), Artem Solovei (Vladimir Khvaschinski 68)
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Darren Cole, Jamie McDonagh, Gavin Peers, Danny Seaborne, Rory Hale, Aaron McEneff, Dean Shiels (Ronan Hale 72), Ben Fisk (Ben Doherty 89), Alistair Roy, Aaron Splaine
Absolutely gutted to be knocked out the Europa League tonight but Buzzing to have scored my first goal and assist in European competition 💙⚽️ https://t.co/imyhplXlhs
— Alistair Roy (@alistairroy9) July 19, 2018
Some shift to get a 2-1 away win in Minsk! Well done @alistairroy9 and @ronanhale9 on the goals lads! Disappointed to lose the tie overall but time to focus on the season again and kick on 🔴⚪️ #RAWA #DCFC
— Aaron McEneff (@amceneff) July 19, 2018
