Down but not out, Dundalk will travel to Tel Aviv next month with qualification for the knock-out stage still possible but now not so straightforward, after this 0-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar made it a three-cornered contest between Stephen Kenny’s team, the Dutch side and Maccabi in the race to follow Zenit St Petersburg into the final 32.

Stephen Kenny believes Dundalk qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League would eclipse Leicester’s shock Premier League title win.