World Cup qual - Ireland grind out point

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Jun 12:53:00 2009

Republic of Ireland earned a hard fought 1-1 draw against Bulgaria in Sofia to massively boost their chances of finishing at least second in World Cup Qualification Group 8.

FOOTBALL Ireland's Richard Dunne heads the ball to score against Bulgaria during their World Cup 2010 qualifying match - 0

Richard Dunne was the hero for the Irish as he scored the opening goal of the game and then played magnificently well at the heart of the Irish defence.

Dunne's opener came in the 24th minute but was cancelled out four minutes later when Dimitar Telkiyski pounced on a Kevin Kilbane error.

Bulgaria then dominated possession in the second-half but struggled to create chances against a well-oiled Irish defence led superbly by Dunne.

The result means that Ireland maintain a five point gap over Bulgaria in third and move to within one point of group leaders Italy. However, both the Italians and the Bulgarians do have one game in hand over Giovanni Trapattoni's side.

Ireland enjoyed a really bright start to the match with Stephen Hunt and Caleb Folan both getting early attempts on target.

Robbie Keane nearly got on the end of a Dunne flick on too but Dimitar Berbatov flashed a header just over the bar in the 19th minute to give Ireland a little warning sign.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 24th minute when Hunt won a free kick down the left after some good work by Folan.

The Reading man then dusted himself off to take the free kick himself and he found the head of Dunne who was left inexplicably free inside the box to power a header home (pictured).

Ireland nearly surrendered that lead moments later when a defensive mix-up allowed Martin Petrov to fire over but the hosts were level just four minutes later as Kilbane misread the flight of a ball and let it drop behind him; Telkiyski then took full advantage to storm clear before slotting past Shay Given with ease to level the match.

After Bulgaria levelled matters Ireland's tactics were pure catenaccio as they willing surrendered the battle for possession and instead decided to put two walls of four behind the ball.

It wasn't pretty but its effectiveness cannot be disputed given the fact that Shay Given barely had a save to make.

Bulgaria just could not unlock the Irish defence, their long range shooting was poor, and the one time Berbatov did get behind the Irish defence in the second half his control let him down.

With 15 minutes to go Ireland took off captain and record goalscorer Robbie Keane for the more physical Leon Best, and another substitute, Aiden McGeady, nearly nicked an unlikely winner in stoppage time as he flashed a long range effort from distance just wide.

However, in the second-half Ireland were never really looking for that win; they were clearly happy to take a point and strong organisation at the back ensured they went home with the prize they sought.

Cyprus 2-2 Montenegro

Cyprus were held to a 2-2 draw by Montenegro in the group's other game after second half substitute Dejan Damjanovic struck twice for the visitors.

Cyprus opened the scoring with a header by Michael Konstantinou in the 13th minute and made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime through Chrysostomos Michail.

But Damjanovic, brought on as a sub for Nikola Drincic, scored after a scramble outside the Cypriots' goal in the 65th minute and equalised 12 minutes later with a well-placed shot.

Montenegro captain Mirko Vucinic should have secured all three points in the 75th minute but his penalty bounced off goalkeeper Michael Morphis.

Both teams continue to struggle near the foot of the group with Cyprus on five points and Montenegro on four.

Seán Fay & / Reuters

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. jnstev545
    I think you'll find it all started with­ one s,h,1,t stirring idiot called laler99.

    From Gearoid, on Mon 8 Jun 3:18AM

  2. laler99
    Great Britain is in no way attached to Ireland.­ Even the six counties in Ulster are not part of Great­ Britain. Great Britain is an island divided into the­ countries of England, Scotland and Wales. Other than­ that there is a country called the United Kingdom of­ Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Republic of­ Ireland is not even part of that.
    It must be depressing­ to need correction on your own country's physical­ and political geography from a foreigner.
    Go back to­ school idiot.

    From Gearoid, on Mon 8 Jun 3:09AM

  3. Why you all getting nationalistic for? Englandistan­ how could you be proud of that Sh~thole, and Irelandski­ full of pykies and Poles scrounged Billions off Europe­ then stabbed it in the back when its support was­ required. This is the sports section when they put a­ @#$% board up you can spout away

    From jnstev545, on Sun 7 Jun 8:15PM

  4. what a comment ireland a county in the gb?just goes to­ show some people in england does not know their own­ geography.get a bloody education!! and stop drinking­ alcohol and sucking on nicotine idiot!

    From theonebehindthewheel, on Sun 7 Jun 7:51PM

  5. What is laler99? Answer: An Idiot

    From jake.hennon, on Sun 7 Jun 7:25PM

  6. IRELAND ARE DOING WELL WITH THE PLAYERS WEVE GOT­ ,BULGARIA HAVE FAR MORE "STAR QUALITY" BUT­ OUR BOYS GROUND OUT THE DRAW OUR MAIN WORRY MIGHT BE­ WILL WE FINISH WITH ENOUGH POINTS IN SECOND AS ONLY 8­ 0F THE NINE GROUPS GO THROUGH WITH THE HIGHEST POINTS­ TOTAL SORTING IT OUT ,BUT GO ON THE BOYS IN GREEN­ ,ENJOY THE HOLS LADS

    From paddypgreenstreet, on Sun 7 Jun 7:20PM

  7. laler99, geography and history are obviously not your­ strong points, you were outgunned by the Irish, hence­ the Republic, but then, you probably think you won two­ world wars, try reading a history book or two.

    From inverkenny, on Sun 7 Jun 6:40PM

  8. the republic of ireland is NOT a country in great­ britain, it is completely independent..learn your facts­ before posting.

    From Martha, on Sun 7 Jun 6:37PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Where is ireland? answer a county in Great Britain

    From laler99, on Sun 7 Jun 6:22PM

  10. Good Job Ireland the drunken retarded Bulgarian are no­ match...hope u go through to the world cup finals :)

    From First L, on Sun 7 Jun 5:06PM

  11. bobliko85
    "as for that gimp kilbane, an o.g in­ the first game then gifts another one to them tonight,­ if he starts against cyrprus im gonna hide behind the­ couch,"
    What the hell is your problem? Kilbane­ deserves as much respect as any member of the Irish­ squad in the last ten years. I include the great Keano­ in that. This man has come and done exactly what has­ been requested of him for every game. He has his­ limitations but if there was anyone who could do the­ job better then maybe Mick McCarthy or Brian Kerr or­ Steven Staunton or Don Givens or Trappatoni would have­ picked them. This player may be limited but he­ continually gives 100% and deserves the respect of­ every Irish football fan around the world.
    Hide behind­ the couch. Don't show the ugly face of the band­ wagon jumper. You won't be missed.

    From Gearoid, on Sun 7 Jun 10:21AM

  12. Nearly there my @#$%, berbie looked like he had the­ mother of hangovers, and as for that gimp kilbane, an­ o.g in the first game then gifts another one to them­ tonight, if he starts against cyrprus im gonna hide­ behind the couch, this group is far from over and i­ mean that as in ireland i think will need to beat the­ itaians even for second place, good luck to the lads i­ hope they make it the senior players deserve a world­ cup before its too late, well done england aswell 4-0­ was a pretty good result for the preformance, now­ soderling can spoil federers dream today and prove he­ cant win on clay, will win wimbledon though cos he will­ be annoyed lol, oh let there be light!!!

    From Robbie, on Sun 7 Jun 9:53AM

  13. Delighted with the result,sat back as awaful lot in the­ second hlaf and our central midfield was non­ existant"Will have to do better against Pirlo and­ company but a great day for Irish fans!Were nearly­ there.....

    From MichealS, on Sun 7 Jun 9:24AM

  14. Bob K, sterile analysis. You make the possibility to­ beat Italy an easy one. Wake up, it won't happen.

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 7 Jun 8:47AM

  15. We played much better tacticly in both Dublin and­ Sofia.The only reason Ireland won is that they have­ great manager.Even the Irish comentators agree that we­ played mucg better.

    From valentin_pk, on Sun 7 Jun 8:16AM

  16. Trappatoni is a results rather than a performance­ manager. The run in for Ireland is better than Italy­ who have to come to Dublin. If they can only manage a­ draw in Italy they may well lose or draw in Dublin and­ then we stand as good a chance as any to make South­ Africa. Sorry Salvatore..

    From Bob K, on Sun 7 Jun 6:36AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    irland stand no chance italia goig 2 south­ africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From salvatore, on Sun 7 Jun 6:22AM

  18. we can beat italy ! we will beat italy ! in dublin ,­ will the credit union support a trip to south africa­ though , for the fans

    From GABRIEL, on Sun 7 Jun 5:09AM

  19. we played better in both matches, but still we`ll­ finish third, this is football:(

    From reaver, on Sun 7 Jun 4:53AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ireland played nothing tonight, hure error from the­ Bulgarians in the mid twenties gave the Irish the lead­ and then they defended till the end in a well known­ Italian style. Bulgaria could not score more than one­ goal so they are to blame themselves for the already­ lost chances for a second place overall. However,­ Ireland should be grateful to the referees - a dubious­ penalty in Dublin for the victory against Georgia and­ even more dubious red card for the Italians in the­ beginning of the match for the draw. Italian connection­ works perfectly.

    From Pavel, on Sun 7 Jun 4:49AM
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