Greece 0 Rep of Ireland 2: The Republic of Ireland's under-21 side gave one of the best displays in their history to beat Greece in a Uefa Championships qualifier in Athens last night.
Goals by Paul McShane and Glenn Whelan in either half secured a victory that means the Irish have their best ever chance of reaching a finals at this level.
Ireland meet Belgium in Terryland Park on Friday, September 1st, knowing a positive result will send them through to a play-off for a place in next year's finals in The Netherlands.
McShane dramatically put the Irish in front when he found the net with a thumping header in the 10th minute after goalkeeper Michail Sifakis missed Michael Timlin's corner.
Sifakis atoned for the error in the 16th minute when he denied Bohemians striker Stephen Ward in a one-on-one situation after a through pass by Derry City's Kevin Deery.
Greece first threatened the Irish goal in the 34th minute when Sotirios Leontiou set up Konstantinos Kapetanos but goalkeeper Colin Doyle was alert and pushed the resulting shot around an upright.
Irish captain Willo Flood was denied by Sifakis four minutes later after running onto a Ward flick but Flood managed to get on to the loose ball and the goalkeeper almost spilled the cross into his own net.
Croatian referee Ivan Babek left the Irish bench irate four minutes before half-time when he booked Whelan for taking a free-kick too quickly.
Whelan, however, had reason to be cheerful in the 52nd minute when he took possession from a Flood lay-off to beat Sifakis with a beautifully struck effort from 25 yards.
Greece's best chance to get back in the tie came when striker Antonios Petropoulos fired narrowly wide in the 67th minute with a low strike.
Deery was booked in the 77th minute after an altercation in midfield.
Ireland further improved their position early in the second half when Sheffield Wednesday's Whelan emphasised his side's superiority with a well-taken second goal.
GREECE: Sifakis; Gkalitsios, Pagonis, Torosidis, Papadoulos, Tziolis, Pliagkas, Arampatzis, Petropoulos, Leontiou, Kapetanos. Subs: Saganas for Arampatzis (25 mins); Aravidis for Pagonis (53 mins); Kotitsas for Gkalitsios (71 mins).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Doyle (Birmingham); Foley (Luton Town), Painter (Birmingham), Bruce (Ipswich), McShane (West Bromwich Albion), Keegan (Drogheda Utd), Deery (Derry City), Whelan (Sheffield Wed), Flood (Cardiff City), Ward (Bohemians), Timlin (Fulham). Subs: Keogh (Scunthorpe) for Ward 80 mins.
Referee: I Babek (Croatia)
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