22.03.2012 at 17:00 Sportpark Zuideinderpark, Schijndel (NED)
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Attendance: |
Serbia |
1 - 0
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Rep of Ireland |
Referee: Ádám Németh (HUN) |
EC Elite Round / PROG-match |
Bajic 33 mins, Jaksic 52 mins, Jokic 64 mins, |
None. |
Republic of Ireland 0 Serbia 1
The Republic of Ireland Under-17s suffered a set-back to their European Championship ambitions when they lost the opening game of their UEFA elite stage qualifiers against Serbia in RKSV Schijndel FC.
A tight game appeared destined to end in stalemate until fourteen minutes from the finish when Milan Jokic ghosted in six yards out to convert a low cross by Filip Jankovic.
Ireland were handed a possible route back into the tie two minutes from the end after Jack Grealish was fouled inside the box but the resultant penalty kick by Jonathan Leddy was excellently saved.
The Netherlands beat Albania 4-0 in the other Group 5 game played today, meaning victory over the Dutch in their next game on Saturday is imperative for the Irish. The team which ends on top of the four-nation group next Thursday earns a place in the Slovenia-hosted EURO finals in May.
In a first half of few chances, Gary O Neill dragged his shot wide on 11 minutes after good work by Sam Byrne and Dylan Hayes would have connected with Grealishs searching left-wing delivery but for a last-ditch clearance by Serbia defender Milosevic.
A clearance by Ireland was required too close to the interval when Milan Spremo poked his volley towards goal as Eric Grimes was called off his line but defender Sean Coyne raced back to prevent the ball crossing the line.
The game opened up slightly more in the second half with Serbias danger-man Filip Jankovic more prominent.
Still, it was the Irish that had the best opportunity to open the scoring when, on the hour, Thomas Mulroney cross found Grealish in space at the back post but the Aston Villa winger could not keep his volley from eight yards below the crossbar.
There followed the telling moment of the game on 66 minutes. Filip Jankovic made inroads from the left towards the end-line and his cut-back enabled the arriving Jokic to guide the ball home despite Irish goalkeeper Eric Grimes getting a hand to the effort.
Ireland responded with urgency, utilising the pace of Byrne in attack and trickery of Grealish on the flank.
Grealish had the Serbian defence in a tangle close to the finish, as he evaded two markers before falling under the challenge of Nemanja Jakšić as he bombed into the box. Up stepped Leddy but Predrag Rajkovic in the Serbia goal was equal to the attempt which he guessed right for and turned the ball around the post.
REP OF IRELAND: E. Grimes (Leeds United); S. Long (Cherry Orchard), K. McFadden (Norwich City), R. O Reilly (Stoke City), S. Coyne (Cherry Orchard); T. Mulroney (Crumlin United), G. O Neill (Wolves), J. Leddy (Ipswich Town); D. Hayes (Derby County), S. Byrne (Manchester United), J. Grealish (Aston Villa).
Subs: C. Wilkinson (Millwall) for O Neill, D. McGlade (Middlesbrough) for Hayes (both 73 mins).
SERBIA: Rajkovic; Jaksic, Zdjelar, Veljkovic, Milosevic; Spremo, Jokic, Sakic, Simic; Jankovic; Bajic.
Subs: Zivkovic for Bajic (51 mins), Lekovic for Spremo (78 mins)
REFEREE: Á. Németh (Hungary). |
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