Wednesday October 14, 2009 1st Round: Group 8 Finished Croke Park
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Ireland unbeaten after draw
Republic of Ireland finished their Group 8 qualification campaign unbeaten as they were held 0-0 by Montenegro. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Republic of Ireland
- Montenegro
FT And there is the final whistle. Ireland have ended Group 8 unbeaten but this match was one to forget. Bring on the play-offs.- 90' Two added minutes shown - I think everyone is ready to go home though.
88' A rather pointless looking late sub for Ireland - Keogh on Hunt.- 88' Gilardino likes his late goals as Ireland found out at the weekend. He has scored two against Cyprus and that match is now level. LIVE SCORING.
- 87' For a moment it looks like Duff is going to check back for Keane who was just eight yards out but the ball just goes behind Ireland's record goal scorer.
- 86' Another highly optimistic effort from distance - this time from Vukcevic but again it flies well over.
- 84' Hunt now has a shot from the edge of the area but it is deflected out for a corner that Montenegro deal with.
- 83' Hunt checks it back for Miller who has a better angle but his cross is woeful.
- 82' Hunt fouled down the right where he is now working and Jovanovic is booked for the tackle. Chance for a free to be whipped in here.
- 81' Montenegro make their final change with Kascelan coming on for Boskovic.
- 79' Miller with a very poor free-kick into the box. Poleksic comes out and gathers and Jovanovic and Dunne both get hurt in the process. Looks like everyone is okay though.
- 78' Pekovic with a poor tackle on Duff - he is lucky not to get a second yellow card.
- 77' Duff puts in another cross but it is once again dealt with by Montenegro.
- 76' Kilbane's cross from the left is a little too high for Best who was the only man in the box.
- 75' Ireland were poor in the first half and have been awful in the second - good thing this match does not mean anything.
- 73' Pekovic with a very ambitious effort from distance and that goes well over the bar. Montenegro have been arguably the better side tonight.
- 71' Jovanovic has a chance to whip in a cross from the left but it goes wide and over - awful cross.
- 70' Dunne - the last man - gives the ball straight to Damjanovic who tries to lob Given straight away from 40 yards out but he makes a hash of it.
- 68' Both sides make a change. Best on for Noel Hunt and Damjanovic comes on for Delibasic for Montenegro.
- 67' Replays show that it WAS McShane's hand that blocked it. That should have been a penalty and maybe even a red card.
66' Vukcevic cuts into the box and shapes for shot - he gets away a shot and Given and McShane both dive for it. The Montenegro players are convinced that McShane stopped with his hand but the referee waves it away.- 65' Noel Hunt's low cross cannot beat the first man Basa and the Reading man could be coming off soon with Leon Best ready to come on.
- 64' Miller's chipped ball behind the defence is overhit for Keane.
- 63' Ireland don't really deal with that corner and Novakovic sticks his leg out and gets a shot away that clips the bar and goes over.
- 61' Vukcevic is given a bit too much space and is allowed to fire a shot from just outside the box but it hits Dunne and goes out for corner.
- 60' Ireland have a shot on target. Miller and Noel Hunt work well to put in Keane and he fires a shot away from a tight angle. Poleksic dives to save and in truth it was pretty straightforward.
- 58' A stat has just come up on screen - there has been ONE ATTEMPT on target from EITHER SIDE - it was a Montengro effort too.
- 57' Drincic tries a long range effort and it is not too bad. It goes wide though and it looked like Shay Given had to covered too.
- 56' Clear sign that the match is dreadful to watch - the dreaded mexican wave has made an appearance.
- 55' Keane takes a ball down well from a long throw - he manages to turn and shoot but his shot is blocked by Pekovic
- 53' Basa has to make a good defensive header to stop St. Ledger's chipped ball finding its way to Keane.
- 51' Well Ireland could be left to think about what might have been after tonight because Cyprus have gone 2-0 IN FRONT against Italy. LIVE SCORING
- 50' There does not seem to be any post-half-time spark added to this game. Very dull stuff to be honest.
- 48' St Ledger fails to deal with a long ball and it falls to Vukcevic but his control then lets him down.
47' Pekovic booked for tripping up Duff. Pekovic has played seven qualifiers now and has been booked in every single one.- 46' No changes at half-time as Ireland get us back underway.
- HT And there is the half-time whistle - not great stuff and an injury to Martin Rowlands.
- 45+1 We will have two extra minutes.
- 45' Duff with a corner finds Noel Hunt but the ball is a little high for him and he heads high and wide.
- 44' Ireland spending the final moments of this half deep in the Montenegro half but can they find a goal?
- 42' Duff and Keane then have half-chances in quick succession as Ireland enjoy a good spell.
- 41' Hunt witha free on the left finds Dunne WHO HEADS OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CROSSBAR!
- 39' Rowlands goes off in a stretcher and it is John O'Shea who comes on. The Manchester United man has played in midfield in the past but worrying to see Rowlands go off in that manner. Could be another centre midfielder lost. A certain Mr. A. Reid might be watching with interest.
37' Martin Rowlands has gone down in agony after an awkward turn - this looks serious.- 36' Bulgaria have underperformed in this group but they are going out with a bang. They lead 5-1 against Georgia already with Berbatov scoring a hat-trick. LIVE SCORING
- 35' Rowlands is given a yellow card for sliding in on Vukcevic.
- 34' Montenegro are doing better now and if anything have been the better side in the last 10 minutes.
- 33' This game may not get too many pulses racing but there are some big game on out there. Check out all the goals as they go in via our World Cup scorecentre
- 32' Good tracking back for Rowlands who pinches the ball and then gives it quickly to a green shirt.
- 31' The visitors have to make a change with Dzudovic coming on for Batak who limps off.
- 30' MONTENEGRO MISS A GREAT CHANCE - it was a good cross from Jovanovic and Boskovic has a FREE HEADER in the box but he heads it wide. Terrible defending from the Irish.
- 29' Keane looks like he might be able to force his way through for a moment but Batak defends well.
- 28' Drincic tries a long range effort and it flicks off the head of St Ledger but Given has it watched all the way.
- 27' Stephen Hunt skips past a couple of players and then plays in Duff - a great chance but it is on his right foot and he scuffs it into the side-netting - best chance of the match so far.
- 25' "Uhhh Ahhh Paul McGrath" chants from the fans as the legend is shown on the big screen - not the same love for Curtis Fleming though who was beside him. I wonder why?
- 23' Vukcevic is meant to be one of the visitors' star men but he has just failed to control a straightforward cross field ball as he kicked nothing but fresh air.
- 22' Hunt manages to turn his man down the left and then is tugged back. Free in a decent area here but Hunt goes for it himself rather than crossing and that goes well over.
- 21' When Ireland have the ball Montenegro plant all 11 of their men in their own half.
- 20' Ireland with a decent spell of pressure before Rowlands gives the ball away. But Kilbane then wins a throw in an attacking area.
- 19' Very much a friendly feel to this contest at Croke Park. Maybe one of the fringe players can make a name for themselves though.
- 17' Well now here is one for the watch if brigade. Cyprus have TAKEN THE LEAD against Italy. What must our Milan office be making of that? Well you can find out by popping over to them if you can speak the lingo. Italia v Cipro (in Italian)
- 16' The ball falls to Keane just outside the area but he is quickly crowded off the ball.
- 15' Zverotic cuts in from the right and tries to drill a long shot towards goal - a decent effort but wide of the target.
- 14' For those of you who like to bounce "what if" scenarios around your head you can follow LIVE scoring for the Italy v Cyprus game right here
- 13' Kilbane with a rather aimless ball down the left. Noel Hunt was the target but he was never going to get that.
- 12' Rather tame start to this match - Montenegro are sitting very deep. The fans amuse themselves by "standing up for the boys in green."
- 11 Vukcevic moves forward with intent but Dunne comes in with a good tackle.
- 10' Great long pass from Miller finds Duff down the right - the Fulham man should have done a little better but he did win a corner. From that Noel Hunt heads well over the bar.
- 9' First cry of "Come on you Boys in Green" from the Irish fans as they try and get into this essentially meaningless game.
- 7' Duff wins a corner down the right - he looks to be quite sprightly for somebody just back from injury. Duff then takes the corner and McShane heads just over the bar - first chance of the match.
- 6' Montenegro get their first meaningful ball into the box but McShane heads clear.
- 5' Big round of applause for Shay Given as he gets his first touch of the match.
- 4' Good ball from the left from Stephen Hunt - in between the goalkeeper and the defence but Keane just can't quite get on the end of it.
- 3' Keane dummys a ball for Noel Hunt but the Reading man cannot return it to his strike partner.
- 2' Early days but a bright start from Ireland who are controlling the possession - Montenegro have lots of men behind the ball and are cramming the midfield.
- 1' Early chance for Ireland to whip in a free from the right as McShane is blocked out of things. Duff curls it in but it is headed away.
1' And the visitors - attacking the Canal End of Croke Park - have got us underway.- - We've had the anthems so we are just watching for kick-off now. Not a full house in Croke Park but a decent crowd nonetheless around the 50,000 mark.
- - Montenegro are without star man Stevan Jovetic of Fiorentina who tore apart Liverpool recently - he is suspended. Simon Vukcevic of Sporting Lisbon will be one to watch.
- - Teams are out now and Kevin Kilbane and Shay Given have stood forward and got a great reception from the Irish fans - well deserved.
- - Montenegro team: Poleksic, Basa, Batak, Jovanovic, Zverotic, Simon Vukcevic, Boskovic, Novakovic, Drincic, Pekovic, Delibasic. Subs: Mladen Bozovic, Dzudovic, Kascelan, Delic, Gluscevic, Damjanovic, Nikola Vukcevic
- - These sides met in Podgorica way back in September 2008 and played out a 0-0 draw. Why not check out our match report from that game
- - While waiting for the kick-off why not check out how this group has developed? Group 8 details
- - Given has to be careful tonight as he is on a yellow card and suspensions carry into the play-offs. Keith Andrews and Aiden McGeady are in a similar situation but they have been left out. With Glenn Whelan suspended that means that Martin Rowlands and Liam Miller make a make-shift centre midfield partnership. The Hunt brothers Stephen and Noel also come into the team. It is Noel first start in a competitive match.
- - To celebrate his 100th game - Shay Given has been given the captain's armband tonight and he is already looking ahead to the play-offs. Given ready for decider
- - The Irish team for tonight's game: Given; McShane, St Ledger, Dunne, Kilbane; Duff, Rowlands, Miller, Stephen Hunt; Noel Hunt, Robbie Keane
- - This match does not actually mean anything in terms of qualification as Ireland are already in the play-offs but it is a big night for Shay Given and Kevin Kilbane who both win their 100 caps for Ireland tonight.
- - Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Republic of Ireland's final World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.
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Summary
- 66' Vukcevic cuts into the box and shapes for shot - he gets away a shot and Given and McShane both dive for it. The Montenegro players are convinced that McShane stopped with his hand but the referee waves it away.
- 63' Ireland don't really deal with that corner and Novakovic sticks his leg out and gets a shot away that clips the bar and goes over.
- 60' Ireland have a shot on target. Miller and Noel Hunt work well to put in Keane and he fires a shot away from a tight angle. Poleksic dives to save and in truth it was pretty straightforward.
- 42' Duff and Keane then have half-chances in quick succession as Ireland enjoy a good spell.
- 41' Hunt witha free on the left finds Dunne WHO HEADS OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CROSSBAR!
- 30' MONTENEGRO MISS A GREAT CHANCE - it was a good cross from Jovanovic and Boskovic has a FREE HEADER in the box but he heads it wide. Terrible defending from the Irish.
- 27' Stephen Hunt skips past a couple of players and then plays in Duff - a great chance but it is on his right foot and he scuffs it into the side-netting - best chance of the match so far.
- 15' Zverotic cuts in from the right and tries to drill a long shot towards goal - a decent effort but wide of the target.
- 7' Duff wins a corner down the right - he looks to be quite sprightly for somebody just back from injury. Duff then takes the corner and McShane heads just over the bar - first chance of the match.
Team Line-up & Ratings
Republic of IrelandManager: Giovanni Trapattoni
Captain: Shay Given
MontenegroManager: Zoran Filipovic
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- S. Given
- S. St Ledger
- P. McShane
- R. Dunne
- K. Kilbane
- L. Miller
- M. Rowlands
- D. Duff
- S. Hunt
- R. Keane
- N. Hunt
Subs
- J. O'Shea
40′ - S. Kelly
- L. Best 68′
- L. Lawrence
- K. Doyle
- A. Keogh 88′
- K. Westwood
Starting line-up
- V. Poleksic
- E. Zverotic
- M. Basa
- R. Batak
- M. Jovanovic
- N. Drincic
- M. Pekovic
- S. Vukcevic
- M. Novakovic
- B. Boskovic
- A. Delibasic
Subs
- M. Kascelan 81′
- M. Bozovic
- M. Dzudovic 31′
- D. Damjanovic 69′
- I. Delic
- N. Vukcevic
- V. Glušcevic
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