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15.10.2013 at 19:45 Aviva Stadium
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Attendance: |
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Republic of Ireland |
3 - 1
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Kazakhstan
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Referee: Vadims Direktorenko (LVA) |
World Cup Qualifier / PROG-match |
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None. |
Aleksandr Kislitsyn 16 mins, |
Republic of Ireland 3 Kazakhstan 1
The Republic of Ireland finished their World Cup qualifying campaign with a win over Kazakhstan at the Aviva Stadium to end up fourth in Group C behind Germany, Sweden and Austria.
It was a proud moment for interim manager Noel King as Ireland came from behind to win thanks to goals from Robbie Keane, John O'Shea and an own goal by Dmitriy Shomko, who had put Kazakhstan into a 13th minute lead.
King had made four changes to the side which lost to Germany last Friday night in Cologne with Richard Dunne and John O'Shea returning from suspension in place of Ciaran Clarke and Damien Delaney in defence with Andy Reid and Robbie Keane replacing Glenn Whelan and Stephen Kelly in what was much more attacked-minded team and formation.
Both sides had early chances with Sidelnikov saving Robbie Keane's flick while at the other end Baizhanov headed over after nipping in front of Forde to meet a cross from the left.
Kazakhstan took the lead against the run of play after just 11 minutes when Seamus Coleman made a hash of an attempted clearance and the ball fell to left back Dimitriy Shomko who met it first time and sent a creaming left footed drive into the top corner, giving David Forde absolutely no chance.
The goal stunned the Aviva but the visitors only held the lead for four minutes before surrendering their advantage following a deliberate handball by Alexander Kislitsyn as he rose with Richard Dunne to meet an Andy Reid free-kick from the left. Skipper Robbie Keane stepped up to take the kick and sent the keeper the wrong way to record his 61st goal in 130 appearances.
Nine minutes later Ireland went ahead when goalkeeper Andrey Sidelnikov failed to hold a Richard Dunne downward header from an Andy Reid corner and John O'Shea reacted quickest to drive the loose ball to the net from six yards for only his second goal in 93 appearances.
Ireland lost midfielder Darron Gibson after 37 minutes when he was stretchered off with a suspected knee ligament injury. He will return to his club and undergo a scan tomorrow.
Glenn Whelan almost added to Ireland's taly on 59 minutes when he flashed a long range shot wide while Sidelnikov saved well from Andy Reid after a patient Irish build-up. At the other end substitute Igor Yurin drove a low shot wide of Forde minutes after his introduction.
The arrival of Aidan McGeady for Reid in the 75th minute reaped a dividend just two minutes later when Anthony Stokes kept the ball in play with a clever back heel and McGeady cut along the bye-line before hitting a low cross which the keeper and was turned into his own net by Shomko under severe pressure from Kevin Doyle.
Republic of Ireland: David Forde; Seamus Coleman, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Marc Wilson; Andy Reid (Aidan McGeady 75); Darron Gibson (Glenn Whelan 37), James McCarthy; Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane, Anthony Stokes (Hoolahan 87).
Kazakhstan: Sidelnikov; Engel, Gurman, Dmitrenko, Kislitsyn (Finonchenko 32); Korobkin, Karpovich (Shabalin 84); Chshyotkin (Yurin 61), Baizhanov, Shonko; Khizhnichenko. |
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