Belgium U16 (B)....3-4 Republic Ireland (A) U16
A comeback of epic proportions sealed victory for the Republic of Ireland Under-16s away to Belgium on Tuesday evening in Maasmechelen.
Sloppy play by the Irish in the first half contributed to Belgium racing into a three-goal lead but the Irish scored four times after the break, with Kealan Dillons winner during injury time giving the visitors the win.
John Morling brought a squad of 36 players on the end of the season trip and the first of todays pair of matches saw the Irish "A" squad face the home nations "B" panel.
And an under-par opening 40 minutes by Ireland allowed their opponents chalk up what looked like an unassailable lead until they regained their composure in the second half and finished the much stronger side.
Just two minutes had elapsed when Belgium forged ahead and they extended their advantage on 15 minutes with Ireland goalkeeper Joe Coll helpless to prevent a second goal hitting the back of his net.
Striker James Murphy flashed a shot wide in Irelands closest opening of the first half but they entered the break further behind as the hosts plundered a third on the stroke of the half-time whistle.
Ireland got back to basics for the second half, looking a completely different outfit and not allowing their hosts the space to cause more damage.
A minute after the restart, Jamie Smith headed over as Ireland sought a goal and their salvage mission received a stimulus two minutes later when substitute Philip Roberts followed up a rebound from Kenny McEvoys shot to convert.
The Norwich City striker almost had a second shortly after only to blaze over but they did reduce the arrears to the minimum on 58 minutes when top scorer Michael Drennan stroked home a penalty after Carel Tiofack was floored in the box.
It was one-way traffic at that point but the equaliser looked to be agonisingly eluding them as Brandon Miele and Roberts missed decent chances.
But centre-back Joe O Brien supplied the leveller with three minutes remaining, planting a header beyond the goalkeeper from Kealan Dillons corner.
The late drama continued into stoppage time when Dillon conjured a splendid moment to embark on a mazy run and beat the goalkeeper with a shot from 20 yards for the winning strike.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U16: Joe Coll (Glenea United); Eoin Hyland (Belvedere), Jamie Smith (Cherry Orchard), Joe O Brien (Salthill Devon), Shane Griffin (Carrigaline United); Ken McEvoy (Villa FC), Sami AdeOsobe (Glenmuir United), Luke Gallagher (Cherry Orchard), Michael Drennan (Evergreen); Kealan Dillon (Belvedere), James Murphy (Reading).
Substitutions: Colm Horgan (Salthill Devon) for Hyland (38 mins), Carel TioFack (Ballincollig) for AdeOsobe, Philip Roberts (Norwich City) for Murphy (both h/t), Brandon Miele (Cherry Orchard) for McEvoy (43 mins). |
