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06.02.2013 at 13:00 Tallaght Stadium
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Attendance: |
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Under 21 |
3 - 0
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Netherlands
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Referee: Mervyn Smith (IFA). |
Friendly-match |
Noel Kings Republic of Ireland U21 team produced an impressive display to beat the Netherlands 3-0 in a friendly at Tallaght Stadium.
Millwall striker Aiden O Brien marked his debut at this level with a first half double before Anthony Forde wrapped up the scoring with a second half spot-kick.
The Dutch gave the Irish defence plenty to think about early on and home keeper Aaron McCarey made a stunning save to keep out a misdirected header by defender Derrick Williams in the third minute and Dutch captain Alex Schalk hit the post with a deflected shot.
O Brien gave Ireland the opener when he steered home from Fordes cross in the tenth minute and might have made it two in the 22nd minute when he outstripped the Dutch defence but pulled his shot wide.
Forde was the provider once more for the second goal eight minutes before the break with a wide free-kick that Shane Duffy headed on and O Brien swept to the net with is.
Wolves midfielder Forde wrapped up the scoring when he expertly fired home from a 57th-minute penalty to seal a memorable win after he was fouled by Stefano Denswil to earn the penalty.
Substitute keeper Sean McDermott made a late save to deny Joel Veltman as the home side held on for the victory.
The Irish U21s had beaten Italy in their previous fixture and meet Portugal in another home friendly on March 25 while their opening competitive game in the next UEFA Championships qualifying tournament is away to the Faroe Islands on August 14.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Aaron McCarey (Sean McDermott 46); Matt Doherty (Joe Shaughnessy 46), Derrick Williams (Anthony O’Connor 46), Shane Duffy, Sean McGinty (Carl McHugh 46); Anthony Forde, Kane Ferdinand (John O’Sullivan 35), Samir Carruthers (Frankie Sutherland 46), Callum Reilly (Cian Bolger 64), Sean Murray; Aiden O’Brien (Chris Forrester 56).
NETHERLANDS: Stefan van der Lei (Hobie Verhulst 46); Mike te Wierik, Timo Letschert (Joel Veltman 46), Ted van de Pavert (Stefano Denswil 46), Nick Bakker (Peter van Ooijen 46); Luciano Slagveer (Jodu Lukoki 46), Jesper Drost, Kevin Jansen, Stanley Elbers; Alex Schalk (Arsenio Valpoort 46), Hakim Ziyech.
Referee: Mervyn Smith (IFA).
Debutant Aiden O Brien scored twice as the Republic of Ireland Under-21s enjoyed an impressive 3-0 friendly victory over the Netherlands.
The 19-year-old Millwall striker scored twice before the break, firing his side ahead after 10 minutes and then increasing their advantage eight minutes before half-time.
Wolves midfielder Anthony Forde completed the job when he converted a 57th-minute penalty to cap a second successive victory for Noel Kings side, who ended the qualifying campaign for the 2013 European Championship with a 4-2 win in Italy in September last year.
The Republic got off to a shaky start, with keeper Aaron McCarey having to keep out a miscued third-minute header by team-mate Derrick Williams before Dutch skipper Alex Schalk hit the post with a deflected shot.
But O Brien set them on their way when he tapped home from Fordes cross after it eluded the entire Netherlands defence.
The teenager might have claimed a second with 22 minutes gone, but dragged his shot wide.
However, he did not have to wait long to extend Irelands lead, turning home Everton defender Shane Duffys flick-on from a Forde free-kick.
O Brien hobbled off 11 minutes after the restart after falling awkwardly as he challenged for a high ball, but the game was effectively over seconds later when Forde was fouled by Stefano Denswil and picked himself up to convert the resulting penalty.
Substitute keeper Sean McDermott had to make an important save at the death to deny Joel Veltman a consolation goal but Ireland were worthy winners over a Dutch side who qualified for this summer s Euro 2013 finals as group winners.
The victory will give Kings men a massive boost in confidence as they prepare for the new qualifying campaign, which gets underway in the Faroe Islands in August. |
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