FOOTBALL Live

Saturday March 28, 2009 Finished Croke Park

1 - 1

Republic of Ireland

  • Dunne 1’

Bulgaria

  • Kilbane 74’ (o.g.)

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  1. World Cup qual. - Ireland held by Bulgaria

    World Cup qual. - Ireland held by Bulgaria

    The Republic of Ireland were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Bulgaria in their World Cup Group 8 qualifier at Croke Park. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Bulgaria
    • - Thanks for joining us tonight... until Wednesday.
    • 90'+3 There it is! All over in Dublin! And Ireland miss the chance to keep up the pressure on leaders Italy.
    • 90'+2 DOYLE! GOLDEN CHANCE TO NICK A WINNER! Andrews centres to the Reading striker, but his effort is weak and straight at Ivankov! Oh dear...
    • 90' Kishishev gets booked for dissent before McGeady is replaced by Keogh...
    • 87' Time running out for the Irish to grab a later winner... at least they're the team who are pressing as full-time approaches.
    • 85' McGeady plays a lovely ball through to Keane... he's still got it all to do... and he nearly does it! He cuts inside and tries to bend it round the keeper but the ball bounces wide of the mark!
    • 75' More bad news for Italy... Italy have made it 2-0 against Montenegro, Pazzini adding to Pirlo's earlier strike...
    • 74' GOAL! BULGARIA DRAW LEVEL! And it's a horror show for Kilbane, who puts past his own keeper! It's Petrov who fires back across the face of goal from Kishishev's deep cross... Kilbane sticks out a foot but only succeeds in knocking it past Given!
    • 67' McGeady! Oh, that should have been a second after Ivankov only parries a cross into his path! The Ireland winger fires instinctively towards goal, but the keeper reacts quick enough to make the save!
    • 66'' Bulgaria make a change now as Georgiev is replaced by Makriev, who is making his international debut.
    • 60' KEANE! Oooh! The Spurs striker latches onto Doyle's flick on, takes it on his chest before turning and firing towards goal! Ivankov does really well to block his effort though!
    • 58' Hunt bursts clear for Ireland now though! Oh that's cynical by Manolev! He hacks Hunt down just as he looked like getting away... and that's the most deserved yellow card you'll see all night.
    • 55' It's been all Bulgaria since the start of the second half... and there are murmours of discontent in the crowd...
    • 54' Kishishev connects sweetly with a loose ball on the edge of the Ireland box! It comes off his own player and bounces just wide of the upright!
    • 52' Angelov takes on McShane... he gets down to the by-line before pulling the ball back... but there's no one there in a white shirt and a green one makes the clearance!
    • 50' Andrews looks to flick on to Doyle... but it's just overhit and the Bulgarian keeper is able to come out and claim...
    • 46' Bulgaria have made a change at the break... Dimitrov has replaced Popov...
    • 46' Back underway in Dublin!
    • 45'+2 There's the half-time whistle! And Ireland go in ahead thanks to Dunne's opener after just 35 seconds!
    • 45'+1 Popov hits one from the edge of the D... but he drags his shot wide of the mark!
    • 45' Two minutes to be added at the end of the first half...
    • 42' Keane looks like he's through on goal! But the flag is up...
    • 35' Rangelov! Ooh! It's teed up nicely for him after Kilbane allows the ball to reach Angelov... but his effort whistles over the bar!
    • 34' No there's not... it's headed clear at the near post and the chance goes begging.
    • 33' McGeady does well to get to the by-line... his centre towards the near post is turned behind for a corner... danger here.
    • 32' Hunt wins a header wide on the left and Whelan takes it on the volley! But it would have to be the greatest goal of all time to beat Ivankov from there... it bounces well wide of the goal...
    • 30' Keane is flagged offside as he comes back into play... and the brief excitement which rippled through the crowd quickly fades.
    • 29' Bulgaria have responded very well to the goal... they've enjoyed far more possession since it went in...
    • 28' Oooh! Lovely approach play from the Bulgarians which ends with Manolev centring for Georgiev! But his shot is well saved by Given!
    • 23' Milanov drops to the ground again and he'll have to come off... Kishishev comes on to replace him...
    • 22' Petrov brings a few jeers now as he completely miskicks! Wahey!
    • 21' Milanov comes back on, to a chorus of jeers....
    • 20' Keane wins a corner off Manolev... it's played short by McGeady... the ball finds its way to Whelan, 25 yards out... he lets fly! Straight at Ivankov...
    • 19' Milanov looks in a bad way on the touchline... he's trying to walk but he's doing so very gingerly...
    • 18' Bulgaria down to 10 men for the time being...
    • 17' Milanov goes over Andrews's challenge in the box! Penalty shout! No, the ref is going to book the Bulgarian instead, even though he's clearly injured... he's stretchered off and is shown a yellow on his way off! Bizarre...
    • 10' O'Shea marshalls Rangelov well as Bulgaria look to hit back... in fairness to the visitors, they haven't been rocked by conceding such an early goal.
    • 8' Rangelov makes his way forward... he manages to get a shot off on goal, but the offside flag is up and it wouldn't have counted even if it hadn't ballooned wide.
    • 4' Oooh! Petrov lines up an effort from 25 yards out! Given flies across to make the save!
    • 2' What a start! Bulgaria look shell-shocked!
    • 1' GOAL! INCREDIBLE! DUNNE HEADS HOME TO GIVE IRELAND THE LEAD AFTER 30 SECONDS! Hunt wins a free-kick, before taking it himself from ... it's flicked on for Dunne who powers a header past Ivankov!
    • 1' Here we go! Underway at Croke Park!
    • - Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
    • - Bulgaria: Ivankov, Stoyanov, Tomasic, Manolev, Milanov, Angelov, Petrov, Popov, Georgiev, Telkiyski, Rangelov - Subs: G, Petkov, Kishishev, Todorov, Dimitrov, Yankov, Makriev, Topuzakov
    • - Rep of Ireland: Given, McShane, O'Shea, Dunne, Kilbane, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, S, Hunt, Keane, Doyle - Subs: Kiely, Delaney, Kelly, N, Hunt, Gibson, Keogh, Folan
    • - Victory over Bulgaria in Dublin could see the Republic of Ireland go top of Group 8, should current leaders Italy slip up against Montenegro.

  • Summary

    • 90'+2 DOYLE! GOLDEN CHANCE TO NICK A WINNER! Andrews centres to the Reading striker, but his effort is weak and straight at Ivankov! Oh dear...
    • 85' McGeady plays a lovely ball through to Keane... he's still got it all to do... and he nearly does it! He cuts inside and tries to bend it round the keeper but the ball bounces wide of the mark!
    • 74' GOAL! BULGARIA DRAW LEVEL! And it's a horror show for Kilbane, who puts past his own keeper! It's Petrov who fires back across the face of goal from Kishishev's deep cross... Kilbane sticks out a foot but only succeeds in knocking it past Given!
    • 67' McGeady! Oh, that should have been a second after Ivankov only parries a cross into his path! The Ireland winger fires instinctively towards goal, but the keeper reacts quick enough to make the save!
    • 60' KEANE! Oooh! The Spurs striker latches onto Doyle's flick on, takes it on his chest before turning and firing towards goal! Ivankov does really well to block his effort though!
    • 35' Rangelov! Ooh! It's teed up nicely for him after Kilbane allows the ball to reach Angelov... but his effort whistles over the bar!
    • 28' Oooh! Lovely approach play from the Bulgarians which ends with Manolev centring for Georgiev! But his shot is well saved by Given!
    • 4' Oooh! Petrov lines up an effort from 25 yards out! Given flies across to make the save!
    • 1' GOAL! INCREDIBLE! DUNNE HEADS HOME TO GIVE IRELAND THE LEAD AFTER 30 SECONDS! Hunt wins a free-kick, before taking it himself from ... it's flicked on for Dunne who powers a header past Ivankov!
    • - Victory over Bulgaria in Dublin could see the Republic of Ireland go top of Group 8, should current leaders Italy slip up against Montenegro.

Live Team Line-Up

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