|
14.11.2011 at 19:30 Showgrounds
|
Attendance: 2108 |
|
Under 21 |
2 - 0
|
Liechtenstein
|
|
Referee: Edvin Hoxha (ALB) |
European Qualifier-match |
REP OF IRELAND 2-0 LIECHTENSTEIN
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 made it back to back wins against Liechtenstein tonight at the Showgrounds to maintain their quest to reach the 2013 European Championships.
Ireland boss Noel King stuck with the same starting line-up which beat Liechtenstein 4-1 away from home last month and they did not let him down in front of another bumper attendance in Sligo.
Robbie Brady fired Ireland ahead on 13 minutes from the spot before Aidan White added a second shortly before the break.
The Irish created a stack of chances but the lack of a clinical edge thankfully did not cost them.
Within twelve seconds of kick-off, only a late intervention by Liechtenstein defender Fabian Eberle prevented Conor Clifford tapping the ball home from close range.
Irelands dominance had the opposition floundering and from Olcay Gür dragged James Collins to the ground on 13 minutes as the pair challenged for an Aidan White cross.
Up stepped Manchester United Robbie Brady to send Caluori the wrong way with his spot-kick.
The Irish sensed more goals and continued to press home their territorial advantage.
Eight minutes before the break, Brady embarked on a mazy dribble through the middle before the Hull City loanee teed up winger Aidan White to score his first international goal for Ireland.
After the break, senior cap Cunningham scuffed his shot wide on the hour before Barton was similarly wasteful with an effort he sent a yard off-target.
It did not matter in the end as Ireland stayed professional to see out the contest for their third win from four qualifiers so far.
Ireland now have an eight month break from competitive action until next summer when they host joint-leaders Italy and Turkey in the space of two months.
REP OF IRELAND: I. McLoughlin (MK Dons); M. Connolly (Bolton Wanderers), S. Duffy (Scunthorpe), R. Kiernan (Wigan Athletic) - capt, G. Cunningham (Manchester City); R. Towell (Hibernian), C. Clifford (Yeovil Town), A. Barton (Preston North End); R. Brady (Hull City), J. Collins (Shrewsbury Town), A. White (Leeds United).
Subs: Sheppard (Shamrock Rovers) for Collins (72 mins), Hendrick (Derby County) for Barton (81 mins), Greene (Sligo Rovers) for Clifford (86 mins)
Not used: McCarey (Wolves), Oyebanjo (York City), Kearns (Peterborough United), Gunning (Dundee United),
Booked: Clifford 31, Collins 39
LIECHTENSTEIN: Caluori; Hanselmann, Gur, Flatz, F Eberle; Kieber, L Eberle, Ospelt, Hasler; Wieser, Pirker.
Sub: Brandle for Ospelt (86 mins)
Booked: Gür 13, Hanselmann 26.
REFEREE: Edvin Hoxha (ALB)
ATT: 2108. |
|
|
