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25.10.2005 at 16:00 Maisons Alfort
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Attendance: 150 |
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Portugal |
1 - 1
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Ireland Under 16 |
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Referee: M Hagen (Portugal) |
Tournament / PROG-match |
Nunes,
Pinto,
Pererira,
Simoes,
Pererira,
Dias,
Viana,
Galeao,
Fonte,
Soares,
Machado: |
Kevin O'Brien
Mark Nolan
Daniel Langan
Paul Honohan
David Joyce
Dean Marshall
James O'Brien
Conor Clifford
Ian Daly
Craig Duggan
Michael Collins
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On a beautiful day with a strong wind blowing right down the pitch Ireland tipped off playing against the wind in the first half. It was Ireland who were first to show with a good football between Langan Duggan and Daly down the left side allowed Duggan to cross tamely only for the Portuguese to deal comfortably with the cross.
Portugal were already showing that their ball skills were superior to the Irish squad and at times the way they played the ball around with the inside or outside of either foot was a joy to behold.
A mistake by Daniel Langan after 7 minutes allowed Viana on the right wing through but O’Brien in goal was out smartly to save well.
O’Brien was once more to the rescue in the eleventh minute with a great save from a shot by Dias from fully thirty five yards which was dipping viciously until O’Brien got his finger tips to it to tip over the bar for a corner kick which was wasted.
Ireland were not without their moments as O’Brien and Clifford began to force their dominance in midfield and after fifteen minutes great work this time down the right wing between Nolan, Clifford and Marshall left Dean Marshall in with an opportunity and he shot weakly for Nunes to save comfortably.
Seventeen minutes saw Paul Honahan who has grown in stature break out of defence and lay the ball off to Daly who with a typical jig danced past the Portuguese right full and put in a great cross only Pereira just to get in ahead of Duggan and concede a corner.
With half time approaching and Ireland under pressure a good move involving Duggan and Daly set up Clifford but the final pass was slightly over hit and with the ball going away from goal Clifford was unable to get any real pace on his shot.
Both teams made substitutions at half time with Mc Cormack and Dole coming on for Clifford and Marshall at half time bit it was the Portuguese substitution that made the difference when Ireland were caught very static and a pass through the centre of defence allowed substitute Eduardo through to calmly place the ball to Kevin O’Brien’s left for the opening score.
For the next ten minutes Portugal owned the ball with at times the Irish chasing shadows. At this stage great defending from O’Brien, Mc Cormack and Honahan kept Ireland in the game.
On 71 minutes Daly got the ball down the left wing and with seemingly no where to go passed the full back and got to the back line where he got great cross into the twelve yard spot where the inrushing Duggan who had timed his run immaculately met the ball head on and with a bullet like header gave Nunes in the Portuguese goal no chance for the equaliser. This was Duggan’s third goal in as many games having scored against Wales, Switzerland and now Portugal.
Two minutes later Ireland found themselves three against two with Duggan Daly and Mc Cormack finding themselves against two defenders and with precision passing left Mc Cormack through on goal where Nunes earned his corn with a fine save. But to be honest to have won this game would have been a travesty of Justice.
Vincent Butler was happy with a point at the end of the game “I am delighted with the performance, yes at times Portugal owned the ball but we kept battling away and got what I think was our reward for our “never say die attitude”, You must remember we were playing a full time team their players were from Porto, Benefica, Vitoria etc and I felt that we did well. Another good lesson in the development of this squad” |
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