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Saturday November 17, 2007 Finished

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Wales

  • Koumas 22’, 88’ (pen.)

Rep. Ireland

  • Keane 30’
  • Doyle 60’
  1. Euro 2008 qual. - Koumas saves a point for Wales

    Euro 2008 qual. - Koumas saves a point for Wales

    Jason Koumas converted a controversial late penalty to earn Wales a 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland in the sides' Euro 2008 dead-rubber qualifying tie at the Millennium Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Wales
    • Rep. Ireland
    • 90' It's all over now as the referee blows for full time. Wales rode their luck to gain a point in this match but it was a marked improvement on the debacles against Cyprus and San Marino in their previous two qualifiers. Ireland will be kicking themselves for not picking up all the points in a game they controlled for large parts.
    • 90' And Doyle heads McGeady's corner narrowly wide of the near post. Very close to the winner there.
    • 90' Ireland win a corner.
    • 90' We've got two minutes of injury time to come.
    • 89' Replays show that the foul by McShane on Cotterill was outside the area. Poor decision by the Ukrainian ref.
    • 88' Koumas steps up to take the spot-kick... and he sends it to left as Given dives to the right to level the score. Two all now.
    • 87' Penalty to Wales! McShane hauls down Cotterill inside the area!
    • 85' But before it can be taken Darren Potter is going to come on for Andy Reid in the Irish midfield. The Wolves man comes on to win his fourth cap.
    • 85' Stephen Hunt shows his trademark determination to win another corner for Ireland.
    • 84' Hennessey makes a vital save to tip a low drive from McGeady wide of the post.
    • 82' Keane skies a shot over the crossbar after being set up in space inside the area by Hunt. Should have scored there.
    • 80' Final change for Wales. Cotterill is coming on for Eardley. An attacker on for a defender - John Toshack is going for the equaliser.
    • 79' Now Finnan heads an Eardley cross clear.
    • 78' O'Shea heads a Koumas cross clear. Can Wales make the breakthrough?
    • 77' It comes to nothing. But Wales are piling on some pressure here.
    • 76' Great cross from Eardley from the right wing. Wales scramble it clear for a corner.
    • 74' Koumas drives the free-kick on target from all of 40 yards, but again Given parries the ball away. The Irish keeper is having a stormer.
    • 73' But Wales have a free kick in a good area after a foul by Lee Carsley. What can Koumas do with this?
    • 72 ' Easter is caught offside after the ball is hoofed towards him from defence. Not great football to say the least.
    • 71' Andy Reid pings a left-footed effort over the defensive wall... but it drops just wide of Hennessey's right-hand post for a goal kick to Wales.
    • 70' Hunt wins another free kick for Ireland in a dangerous position. It's within shooting range just to the right outside the area.
    • 69' Good save again by Given as he parries a powerful Koumas shot behind for a corner.
    • 68 McGeady - now playing wide right after Hunt's introduction - delivers a teasing cross into the Welsh six-yard box. There's no one there to finish though allowing Hennessey to collect.
    • 66' Apparently not... he's off on another run down the left. But he eventually runs the ball into touch.
    • 65' But it comes to nothing. Stephen Hunt must need a bit of a breather now...
    • 64' After some penalty-area pinball Hunt wins a free kick in a dangerous area wide on the right wing.
    • 63' Hunt with great work to harry Eardley into conceding a corner on the left.
    • 60' GOAL FOR IRELAND! Stephen Hunt makes an immediate impact as he charges down the left wing before crossing for Doyle, who bundles the ball over the line from close range. 2-1 Ireland!
    • 59' Ireland make a change too - Hunt on for Liam Miller.
    • 58' Easter is coming on but its for Eastwood, meaning that Wales stick with one up front.
    • 55' But the ref gives Koumas a booking for diving. Very harsh on the Wigan man - there was definitely contact with Finnan. Koumas will miss Wednesday's match with Germany now.
    • 55' Penalty shout for Wales as Koumas falls under a Steve Finnan challenge just inside the penalty area.
    • 54' Jermaine Easter looks set to come on for Wales. They know a two-goal win will guarantee that they finish above Ireland in the group so they may as well go for it.
    • 53' But McShane heads the delivery safely into the hands of Shay Given.
    • 52' Simon Davies' long-range drive deflects off Kilbane floats wide. Corner to Wales.
    • 51' Koumas makes a lively run down the left wing but he can only knock his cross into touch. Disappointing.
    • 49' Freddy Eastwood almost steals the ball from McShane as they both chase a long ball. The Wolves man would have been in then, but the Irishman just got to the ball in time.
    • 47' And Shay Given is forced into a desperate save after the free kick was quickly taken and deflected goalwards off Paul McShane.
    • 47' O'Shea concedes a free-kick just outside the area.
    • 46' We're under way again in the Millennium Stadium.
    • 45' But as soon as the set piece is headed clear the referee blows his whistle for half time. It's all square at the break.
    • 45' Now Ireland win a corner.
    • 45' Two minutes of added time to come after that injury to Robinson.
    • 44' Ireland's defence deals easily enough with the cross though.
    • 44' Simon Davies wins a corner for the home side as Kilbane makes a crucial tackle on the Fulham man inside the penalty area.
    • 43' McGeady runs the ball out of play wide on the left. After skinning Eardley a couple of times early in the match, he's found things more difficult as the game has gone on.
    • 41' The ball is getting stuck in midfield at the moment with neither team able to string more than a couple of passes together.
    • 37' McGeady curls a right-footed effort tantalisingly wide of Hennessey's far post. Ireland are on top again now.
    • 36' Luton's David Edwards comes on to win his first cap in place of Robinson. Another youngster on for Wales.
    • 35' The game stops for Carl Robinson to get some treatment. He's being stretchered off.
    • 32' John O'Shea picks up a caution for something he said to the ref.
    • 31' Wales come straight back at Ireland. They win a corner but it's headed wide for a goal kick.
    • 30' GOAL FOR IRELAND! It's Robbie Keane with a dinked finish over Hennessey after being put clean through on goal by Doyle. Lovely finish by Keane to score his 32nd international goal.
    • 26' Now Kevin Doyle is in on the left of the Welsh area. He tries to square the ball for Keane in the middle of the penalty area, but Gunter makes a timely interception. Great play by the 18-year-old defender.
    • 25' Carl Fletcher skies a shot over the crossbar after the ball sat up beautifully for him inside the Irish area. Wales are full of confidence now.
    • 22' GOAL FOR WALES! Joe Ledley leaves Steve Finnan for dead with a neat trick down the left wing before crossing for Koumas to power home with a pin-point header. Great goal.
    • 21' Robbie Keane finds himself in acres of space outside the Welsh area but the Spurs man gives the ball away cheaply.
    • 19' Doyle is caught offside as McGeady tries to pick him out with a slide-rule pass.
    • 16' Koumas blasts over after a beautiful move saw Gunter tee up Ledley with the goal gaping only for the Cardiff man to swing and miss with his shot. The ball then fell to Koumas, but the Wigan midfielder got underneath his shot.
    • 14' Ireland break quickly, but Doyle overhits his pass to Keane. A lucky escape for Wales who had committed men forward.
    • 13' Wales win another corner as Finnan heads a dangerous Davies cross behind.
    • 12' McShane concedes a corner after clearing a cross from Koumas into the Irish area.
    • 11' Robinson winces but eventually gets up. He took one for the team there!
    • 10' Andy Reid sees a drive charged down by Robinson just outside the area. I think the Toronto man took the ball full in the 'groin' there. Ouch.
    • 9' Wayne Hennessey drops the ball trying to collect another McGeady cross from the left. The Wales keeper is lucky to be awarded a free kick - there was no Irish player near him! Robbie Keane would have been in then.
    • 8' Now Eastwood takes a tumble just outside the Irish penalty area. He appeals for a free kick but the ref waves play on.
    • 7' Good chance for Keane as he powers a header goalwards from a McGeady cross. But it's straight at Hennessey, who holds comfortably.
    • 4' Wales are enjoying a decent spell of possession. Good early signs for the home side.
    • 1' Robbie Keane with a sighter from the edge of the area. It's collected well by Hennessey in the Welsh goal.
    • 1' Doyle and Keane get the game going from kick-off after Ukrainian ref Oleh Oriekhov blows for the start of the match.
    • 0' The national anthems are belted out with typical patriotic pride. We're all set for kick-off now.
    • 0' The teams walk out to a decent reception considering the game is a dead rubber in terms of Euro 2008 qualification. There are 5,000 Irish fans inside the stadium apparently but it's still far from full.
    • 0' Team news. For Wales, Earnshaw misses out completely through illness, meaning Koumas will support Freddy Eastwood up front. For Ireland, Shay Given makes a surprise return from injury in goal. But they're still missing a host of leading players, with the likes of Damien Duff and Stephen Reid missing through injury.
    • 0' Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's LIVE minute-by-minute coverage of Wales against Republic of Ireland from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Join us for kick-off in ten minutes.

  • Summary

    • 90' And Doyle heads McGeady's corner narrowly wide of the near post. Very close to the winner there.
    • 88' Koumas steps up to take the spot-kick... and he sends it to left as Given dives to the right to level the score. Two all now.
    • 87' Penalty to Wales! McShane hauls down Cotterill inside the area!
    • 82' Keane skies a shot over the crossbar after being set up in space inside the area by Hunt. Should have scored there.
    • 71' Andy Reid pings a left-footed effort over the defensive wall... but it drops just wide of Hennessey's right-hand post for a goal kick to Wales.
    • 60' GOAL FOR IRELAND! Stephen Hunt makes an immediate impact as he charges down the left wing before crossing for Doyle, who bundles the ball over the line from close range. 2-1 Ireland!
    • 55' Penalty shout for Wales as Koumas falls under a Steve Finnan challenge just inside the penalty area.
    • 52' Simon Davies' long-range drive deflects off Kilbane floats wide. Corner to Wales.
    • 37' McGeady curls a right-footed effort tantalisingly wide of Hennessey's far post. Ireland are on top again now.
    • 30' GOAL FOR IRELAND! It's Robbie Keane with a dinked finish over Hennessey after being put clean through on goal by Doyle. Lovely finish by Keane to score his 32nd international goal.
    • 26' Now Kevin Doyle is in on the left of the Welsh area. He tries to square the ball for Keane in the middle of the penalty area, but Gunter makes a timely interception. Great play by the 18-year-old defender.
    • 25' Carl Fletcher skies a shot over the crossbar after the ball sat up beautifully for him inside the Irish area. Wales are full of confidence now.
    • 22' GOAL FOR WALES! Joe Ledley leaves Steve Finnan for dead with a neat trick down the left wing before crossing for Koumas to power home with a pin-point header. Great goal.
    • 16' Koumas blasts over after a beautiful move saw Gunter tee up Ledley with the goal gaping only for the Cardiff man to swing and miss with his shot. The ball then fell to Koumas, but the Wigan midfielder got underneath his shot.
    • 9' Wayne Hennessey drops the ball trying to collect another McGeady cross from the left. The Wales keeper is lucky to be awarded a free kick - there was no Irish player near him! Robbie Keane would have been in then.
    • 7' Good chance for Keane as he powers a header goalwards from a McGeady cross. But it's straight at Hennessey, who holds comfortably.
    • 1' Robbie Keane with a sighter from the edge of the area. It's collected well by Hennessey in the Welsh goal.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Oriel Oriekhov

  • Wales

    Manager: John Toshack

    Captain: Simon Davies

    Starting line-up

    • W. Hennessey
    • N. Eardley Substitution Out (80′)
    • J. Collins
    • D. Gabbidon
    • C. Gunter
    • J. Koumas Goal Yellow Card
    • C. Fletcher
    • C. Robinson Substitution Out (36′)
    • J. Ledley
    • S. Davies
    • F. Eastwood Substitution Out (58′)

    Subs

    • C. Edwards Substitution In36′
    • J. Cotterill Substitution In80′
    • S. Evans
    • J. Easter Substitution In58′
    • .. Crofts
    • L. Price
    • C. Morgan

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Rep. Ireland

    Manager: Don Givens

    Captain: Shay Given

    Starting line-up

    • S. Given
    • S. Finnan
    • P. McShane
    • J. O'Shea Yellow Card
    • K. Kilbane
    • L. Miller Substitution Out (59′)
    • A. Reid Substitution Out (85′)
    • L. Carsley
    • A. McGeady
    • R. Keane Goal
    • K. Doyle Goal

    Subs

    • S. Hunt Substitution In59′
    • J. Murphy
    • D. Potter Substitution In85′
    • A. Bruce
    • D. Murphy
    • D. O'Dea
    • A. Stokes

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None