SOCCER Uefa Cup second qualifying round, first leg/Drogheda United 1 Helsingborgs IF 1:Paul Doolin's suggestion in advance of this match that a nil-all draw might leave his side with a bit too much to do in two weeks' time seemed entirely reasonable given the experiences this summer of both St Patrick's Athletic and Derry City, writes Emmet Maloneat Dalymount Park.
Still, having seen his side come from behind after conceding an uncharacteristically soft away goal at Dalymount Park last night the thought of resuming battle with a completely clean slate must strike the United boss as a great deal more attractive.
The home side kept themselves in the hunt for a place in the first round proper thanks to a spirited display and a fine second-half strike by Eamon Zayed but Henrik Larsson's strike has given the Swedes an advantage that is hard to overturn at this level.
"It is hard to be disappointed with the result after going a goal down," remarked Shane Robinson afterwards, "although it is a bit of a blow to come in behind at half-time after the number of chances we'd created ourselves.
"We'll go over there believing that we can still win this tie, though. We have to score again to go through but when we pushed them there tonight we found a few weaknesses and maybe the mistake we made was showing them a bit too much respect early on."
The game started brightly with both sides moving the ball about well and creating a couple of early chances. United rather easily held their own through the opening exchanges, moving the ball about well in midfield where Stuart Byrne and Robinson looked comfortable and repeatedly opened up the Swedes with darting moves forward.
Zayed was particularly impressive, showing both pace, strength and determination around the box while Richie Baker did well down the right hand flank.
As the visitors struggled to find their rhythm at the back a quick succession of early chances were created with Zayed narrowly failing to convert the best of them when Daniel Andersson parried Robinson's long-range effort and the striker headed the rebound just over.
Where the home side experienced real difficulties was in what has traditionally been their strongest department, defence. The return of Jason Gavin for John Tambouras after five months out due to injury should have added additional stability but Brian Shelley and Graham Gartland each got away with potentially costly errors over the course of the first half hour, the latter being especially fortunate to see Razak Omotoyossi fire wide from close range after a careless back pass allowed Larsson to send his team-mate racing clear into the box and past the lunging dive of Dan Connor.
It was a very considerable let off for Doolin's men and they weren't to be so fortunate when Simon Webb gave away possession out on the left 11 minutes before the break.
This time Erik Wahlstedt released Omotoyossi whose low cross to Larsson might not have been so menacing had Shelley not lost his footing.
The slip left the former Celtic striker with more time and space than he needed and Connor barely moved as the shot soared past him into the top corner.
Sami Ristila made way for Tony Grant at half-time with Ollie Cahill replacing James Keddy shortly afterwards. Both changes were like for like but each had a positive effect on United's search for an equaliser which ended 10 minutes into the second period.
Grant and Zayed almost collided as they rushed to meet Baker's cross ahead of three defenders and the ball dropped nicely for the latter whose left footed shot reached the bottom right corner.
After that things got a little tighter although United continually pushed hard for the winner they knew would significantly alter the balance of the tie ahead of the second leg.
The closest the home side came to snatching that precious second goal was midway through the half when Baker and Zayed linked up well to work the ball into the area after which the ball was deflected into the path of Robinson whose low shot flew narrowly wide.
Shortly before the end Omotoyossi went close too with a similar sort of effort. The African may well enjoy better luck in two weeks' time in the event that United are obliged to throw caution to the wind but, as things stand, his side need only hold what they have in order to progress.
DROGHEDA UNITED:Connor; Shelley, Gavin, Gartland, Webb; Baker (Keegan, 78 mins), Robinson, Byrne, Keddy (Cahill, 51 mins); Zayed, Ristila (Grant, half-time).
HELSINGBORGS:D Andersson; Wahlstedt, Jakobsson, Runninberg, Tamboura; C Andersson, Mariga, Dahl, Svanback; Larsson, Omotoyossi.
Referee:S Kaldma (Estonia).
