Keane salvages dramatic point against Ten man Italy
The Republic of Ireland snatched a dramatic draw from the jaws of defeat in Bari tonight, revitalising a World Cup qualifying campaign that seemed to be drifting off track following Saturday’s disappointing draw. Ireland remain two points behind Italy following tonight’s draw. A very early and controversial sending off saw Italy drop back and although they seemed set to hang on for a gritty win, Robbie Keane fired home in the closing minutes to give Ireland their first ever draw with Italy.
Italy 1-1 Republic of Ireland (Iaquinta 10 – Keane 86)
Although Kevin Kilbane clattered into Simone Pepe after less than sixty seconds and was possibly lucky to escape a booking, there was still no hint of the early drama which would mark the game.
The Italians’ game plans seemed to have been dealt a fatal blow after only 150 seconds when Gianpaolo Pazzini was shown a straight red card for an elbow on John O’Shea. One wonders if German referee Wolfgang Stark took the action after seeing the badly bloodied face of O’Shea while TV replays did not clearly show any intent from the Italian striker.
However, despite being a man down and expected to sit back for a bit, Italy broke the deadlock on 10 minutes. Vincenzo Iaquinta – the only blue shirt in a crowded Irish box – slotted home after Fabio Grosso got in behind Paul McShane and Andy Keogh, his squared ball picking out the goalscorer to give Shay Given no chance.
Stephen Hunt seemed more interested in trying to win a penalty than hold up the ball and wait for support after he surged through the Italian defence on 18 minutes but Giorgio Chiellini only made minimal contact with the Reading midfielder.
Giovanni Trapattoni changed his game plan midway through the half – obviously taking it out on his scape-goat Andy Keogh, replacing the midfielder with Caleb Folan.
Irish skipper Robbie Keane shot well over on 25 minutes in what was Ireland’s first real effort on goal.
Keith Andrews scuffed his shot wide after Keane pushed the ball into his path from McShane’s cross just after the half hour.
Hunt showed shades of Ray Houghton in 1994, and his dipping shot from the edge of the box forced Gianluigi Buffon to push the ball over five minutes before the break.
Breaking from his usual pattern, Trapattoni used all three substitutions and used them all before the hour had elapsed. Darron Gibson and Noel Hunt brought in to liven things up in favour of Andrews and Kevin Doyle.
Despite having plenty of second half possession though, Ireland rarely caused a well organised deep Italian defence many problems. In fact it wasn’t until the 72nd minute that either side threatened on goal.
Kevin Kilbane’s dangerous low cross caused problems in the Italian penalty area but Folan couldn’t connect.
Stephen Hunt was still looking for soft free kicks and penalties any time he felt contact and might have been more likely to get something had he not over elaborated on each venture to the ground – notably when he flicked a ball past Buffon in the area.
Paul McShane talked himself into a booking in the closing twenty minutes and continued his arguments with the referee until he was dragged away by a couple of team-mates. It was a period of rare danger for Ireland in the second half and Iaquinta almost snuck in for his second after Dunne missed his header in the centre of the box.
Kilbane forced a save from Buffon in the closing ten minutes as Keane laid the ball into his path but the dramatic equaliser followed shortly after.
Reminiscent of goals from the Jack Charlton era, Keane stole into the box to drive home low and make it 1-1 after 86 minutes. Shay Given’s long ball forward found the head of Folan and Keane got in for his thirty-eighth international goal.
Sparked on by the goal, Ireland almost went on to grab a winner and Keane almost grabbed a second in stoppage time after he mis-kicked from Folan’s knock on.
Rep of Ireland : Shay Given, Paul McShane, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne, Kevin Kilbane, Andy Keogh, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Stephen Hunt, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle.
Substitutes: Caleb Folan for Keogh 22, Darron Gibson for Andrews 55, Noel Hunt for Doyle 63, Dean Kiely, Damien Delaney, Liam Miller.
Elsewhere in Ireland’s qualifying group, Bulgaria picked up their first win – beating Cyprus 2-0, while Montenegro drew 0-0 with Georgia in Tbilisi.
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