FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday February 11, 2009 Finished Croke Park

2 - 1

Republic of Ireland

  • Keane 73’ (pen.), 78’

Georgia

  • Iashvili 1’

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  1. World Cup qual. - Keane and referee rescue Ireland

    World Cup qual. - Keane and referee rescue Ireland

    Two Robbie Keane goals, one a highly controversial penalty, saw the Republic of Ireland come from behind to earn a 2-1 victory over Georgia. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Georgia
    • FT AND THERE IS THE FINAL WHISTLE - A big result for Ireland but they needed a lot of help from their captain and the Finnish referee - the Georgian players are furious and you can't blame. MASSIVE games for Ireland coming up against Bulgaria (home) and Italy (away) next.
    • 90+3 Given with a good grab after a ball was put into the mixer.
    • 90+3 Ireland nearly there as Georgia fail to get things going.
    • 90' Some nervy moments still to come for Ireland - there will be four extra minutes.
    • 87' Kilbane with a poor header and Aleksidze tries a bicycle kick but that goes nowhere.
    • 86' Hunt with a decent hit from the edge of the box but it was too straight.
    • 85' The game has got scrappy but Ireland won't mind that too much now.
    • 82' Georgia are struggling to change their game-plan here - Ireland can smell the victory.
    • 80' Ireland make their first change - Stephen Hunt on for Duff - like for like.
    • 78' AND KEANE HAS SCORED FROM THE CORNER - He gets down low to head home as Georgia fail to deal with the ball in - WHAT A TURNAROUND
    • 77' GREAT HEADER FROM DOYLE - Lomala saves well to push it out for a corner.
    • 76' Georgia make their final change as Alexsidze comes on for Siradze.
    • 73' Khizanishvili was booked for appealing the penalty - can you blame him?
    • 73' AND KEANE SCORES - but really that was NEVER a penalty - it looks like they have given it because it brushed against the shoulder of Lobjanidze but really there was nothing in that - Georgia feel robbed and they have a right too.
    • 72' Ireland have been awarded a penalty and nobody seems to know why????
    • 71' Duff tries a dummy in the box when he really should have taken the ball on himself.
    • 70' Another change from the visitors - Menteshashvili off and Khmalaze on.
    • 69' Ireland camped in the Georgian half now but there is not much space for them to create things.
    • 68' Georgia make their first change Gotsiridze off and Merebashvilli on.
    • 67' Georgia just throw bodies at a free-kick from Whelan - the ball goes over for another corner and then from that Kilbane can't quite get his head on a ball at the back post.
    • 66' Keane now has a shot blocked as Ireland really start to turn the screw.
    • 65' And AGAIN IT'S MCGEADY he cuts once more from the right and gets a shot away - it hits the side netting though - some fans thought it was in.
    • 64' Good tricky wing play again from McGeady and again he gets a shot away but Lomala saves again.
    • 62' Ireland just can't create chances - they have upped the tempo but nothing is failling for them in the box. Trappatoni must be tempted to change things.
    • 59' Georgia now have a goal disallowed. Koblashvili has a shot deflected and it hits the post - Iashvili is there to tap home but he was in an offside position when the initial shot was made and he became active when he touched the ball - Ireland then look dangerous on the break but Georgia defend.
    • 58' Andrews loses possession on the edge of the area and then brings down Iashvili with a yellow card his reward.
    • 56' More Ireland pressure - Georgia defend a couple of balls in the box and then Kelly takes too long to get another cross in after being set up by Duff.
    • 53' Georgia still looking comfortable but they are getting a few too many bookings - Kvirkvelia the latest in the book.
    • 49' Koblashvili turns and produces a sort of half-shot/half-cross but it goes wide to Shay Given's relief.
    • 47' Bright start to the half from Ireland - however, Dunne and O'Shea both fail to get their heads on an attacking corner despite jumping for the same ball.
    • 46' Back underway - no changes at either end but Ireland need a quick start you feel.
    • HT And there is the half-time whistle. Ireland have not recovered from their nightmare start although Andrews goal should have stood. They have options on the bench though most notably the Hunt brothers.
    • 45' Tame finish to this half from Ireland - they will have one extra minute.
    • 43' Superb save from Given - Again Ireland can't clear - O'Shea the guilty party this time - Gotsiridze fires a fine shot after a one-two with Iashvili but the City keeper saves.
    • 42' Brilliant from McGeady - he skips past two players and runs from his own half to just outside the box - he delivers a good low shot too but Lomala makes a smart save.
    • 40' Andrews tries to slice open the defence but there is just too much pace on his ball to Keane - nice idea though and Andrews has been one of the better Irish players.
    • 39' Ireland try and be fancy with a short corner and yet all then end up doing is wasting possession.
    • 36' Doyle now with a decent shout for a penalty as Kaladze appears to take him out just inside the box - nothing given.
    • 35' Lobjanidze is the second Georgian player in the book for a foul on Duff.
    • 34' Dunne is lucky as he goes lunging in on Siradze in the box - he didn't get much of the ball there to be honest.
    • 33' A little spell of Georgian possession has silenced the crowd once again.
    • 30' Well worked free from Ireland - Whelan chips to Kilbane who peeled away to the beyond the back post - he heads across for Keane and then his header just does not quite have enough loop to catch out Lomaia.
    • 29' Menteshashvili booked for a foul on Andrews.
    • 27' Ireland finally getting on top of this game - they have got a few balls into the box - but they need a goal to calm the nerves.
    • 25' Ireland have the ball in the net but the ball is chalked off. Very controversial too. The ball was checked back to Keith Andrews from Damien Duff - Andrews shot is deflected into the net but ruled out for offside. The linesman must have thought Kevin Doyle - who was coming back from an offside position - got the flick but it was a Georgian defender who flicked it and the goal should have stood.
    • 24' McGeady wins a corner after being able to attack down the right wing.
    • 22' Whelan's deflected shot nearly falls for Keane. Better from Ireland. Duff and McGeady have switched wings and that seems to have helped.
    • 20' Very quiet in Croke Park but in truth there is nothing for the home fans to cheer about. Awful display so far from the Irish.
    • 18' Ireland have a little spell in the Georgian half but Hector Cuper has this side well organised.
    • 16' McGeady links up well with Doyle but again he has to check back onto his right boot and his cross is poor.
    • 14' Georgia are very comfortable at the moment and if anything are having more of the play than the Irish.
    • 11' More good tricks from Iashvili down the left and Andrews has to put his low cross out for another corner. Ireland defend the corner though.
    • 8' Ireland starting to press now - after two poor crosses McGeady finally gets a good one in from the left but there is no green shirt there to turn it in.
    • 8' Keane almost finds McGeady with a little flick but a Georgian head gets on it to clear the danger.
    • 6' McGeady with his first chance to put in a good cross but it is straight at Lomaia in the Georgia goal.
    • 4' More problems for Kelly has he can't head the ball clear which allows Iashvili to get another shot on target - Given bats it away for a corner that Ireland deal with but an awful start from the Stoke defender.
    • 1' GEORGIA TAKE A SHOCK LEAD - Awful defending from Ireland as they fail to deal with a little flick on from Siradze and Stephen Kelly lets Iashvili in behind him to score.
    • 1' And we are underway with Ireland attacking the Hill 16 end of Croke Park in this first half.
    • - A minutes applause for former international Joe Haverty before the match begins.
    • - The teams are out now as we get ready for the anthems.
    • - Georgia with a bit of boost - Milan defender Kaka Kaladze starts despite having not played for the Italians in two months.
    • - Welcome to Croke Park for this World Cup qualifier between Ireland and Gerogia. The big team news is that Paul McShane has failed in his bid to be fit for Stephen Kelly starts at right back.

  • Summary

    • 78' AND KEANE HAS SCORED FROM THE CORNER - He gets down low to head home as Georgia fail to deal with the ball in - WHAT A TURNAROUND
    • 77' GREAT HEADER FROM DOYLE - Lomala saves well to push it out for a corner.
    • 73' AND KEANE SCORES - but really that was NEVER a penalty - it looks like they have given it because it brushed against the shoulder of Lobjanidze but really there was nothing in that - Georgia feel robbed and they have a right too.
    • 72' Ireland have been awarded a penalty and nobody seems to know why????
    • 65' And AGAIN IT'S MCGEADY he cuts once more from the right and gets a shot away - it hits the side netting though - some fans thought it was in.
    • 64' Good tricky wing play again from McGeady and again he gets a shot away but Lomala saves again.
    • 59' Georgia now have a goal disallowed. Koblashvili has a shot deflected and it hits the post - Iashvili is there to tap home but he was in an offside position when the initial shot was made and he became active when he touched the ball - Ireland then look dangerous on the break but Georgia defend.
    • 43' Superb save from Given - Again Ireland can't clear - O'Shea the guilty party this time - Gotsiridze fires a fine shot after a one-two with Iashvili but the City keeper saves.
    • 42' Brilliant from McGeady - he skips past two players and runs from his own half to just outside the box - he delivers a good low shot too but Lomala makes a smart save.
    • 36' Doyle now with a decent shout for a penalty as Kaladze appears to take him out just inside the box - nothing given.
    • 30' Well worked free from Ireland - Whelan chips to Kilbane who peeled away to the beyond the back post - he heads across for Keane and then his header just does not quite have enough loop to catch out Lomaia.
    • 25' Ireland have the ball in the net but the ball is chalked off. Very controversial too. The ball was checked back to Keith Andrews from Damien Duff - Andrews shot is deflected into the net but ruled out for offside. The linesman must have thought Kevin Doyle - who was coming back from an offside position - got the flick but it was a Georgian defender who flicked it and the goal should have stood.
    • 1' GEORGIA TAKE A SHOCK LEAD - Awful defending from Ireland as they fail to deal with a little flick on from Siradze and Stephen Kelly lets Iashvili in behind him to score.

Live Team Line-Up

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