Republic denied by Robinho winner

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Brazil:  Suffice to say the only predictable thing about the Republic of Ireland's latest outing was that the opposition were a quality outfit, regardless of the fact Brazil's manager Dunga denied home supporters the pleasure of watching some of his more established stars.

Robinho was one of the few Dunga left on display and it was his cool finish in the 66th minute which decided the game. The Samba connoisseurs didn't have it all their own way as the home side, although lacking any real cutting edge, put in a spirited performance, which can only be seen a positive for whoever eventually takes over from Steve Staunton.

On the left wing, and then the right, Aiden McGeady showed a clean pair of heels to Josue early on and moments later forced full-back Leonardo into a crude challenge.

The Brazilian fullbacks looked to get forward from the outset, but it was Robinho's trickery that caused the most problems.  Diego's low free kick, after Carsley's foul on the Real Madrid striker, was the first real chance of the game, but was comfortably gathered by Shay Given in the Ireland goal.

Robinho had a chance to size up a cross-field pass minutes later but his first-time volley went well over.

Ireland were afforded a break after 15 minutes when Swiss referee Rene Rogalla denied Diego, who looked to have a case for a penalty after being clipped by Richard Dunne, after he latched onto Leonardo's cross.
 
Ireland foraged for possession for much of the first half, yet twice could have breached the Brazilian defence had Damien Duff used Stephen Kelly's runs from deep to better effect.

As the half wore on, Leonardo was afforded more room on the right by McGeady and, had his deliveries been better, Ireland would been under greater pressure. As it was Dunne and John O'Shea were rarely troubled at the back.

Brazilian goalkeeper Cesar conceded a corner after pressure from Kevin Doyle in the 37th minute. And when it came back to Liam Miller, whose calm play in midfield had already drawn applause from the Croke Park crowd, saw his dangerous low cross turned away by Luisao.

Brazil were quick to find room on the right again and Given was forced into his first real save when Robinho slipped Josue in, but he was denied at a tight angle.  Fabiano's volley from Diego's chest down on the edge of the box served further warning but it was watched all the way by the Irish keeper.

Darren Potter replaced the injured Liam Miller for the second half while the visitors were unchanged after the break.

The crowd were on their feet three minutes in when Keane's reverse ball sent Duff scampering through, but it was a fraction too long for the Newcastle winger.  When the Dubliner was put through again a minute later the pass was accurate but far too late from McGeady and the flag went up.

Stephen Kelly was first into the book for his late tackle on Richarlyson.

Ireland had the visitors scrambling on the hour, first when Kelly's cross dropped to Potter who scuffed his shot and then Kevin Kilbane raced in behind Leonardo, cut back and found Doyle whose header dropped harmlessly over the bar.

As the game opened up chances arrived and Fabiano got his first real sight of goal but was denied brilliantly by Given after he neatly flicked Robinho's pass up for a volley which he struck too close to the Donegal man.

Duff tested Cesar at the other end with a low drilled shot in the 62nd minute, while the sizable Brazilian contingent on The Hill were on their feet when they thought Baptista's near post effort had crept in.

The visiting support didn't have long to wait, however, as their side capitalised on Ireland's adventure and broke with Diego.  The Werder Bremen forward found Robinho in space on the left and the Real striker coolly slotted through Carsley's legs and into the bottom right hand corner.

Don Givens moved McGeady to the right wing and sent Duff up front when he replaced Doyle with his Reading team mate Stephen Hunt in the 72nd minute.

The move worked well for the Celtic man and he was quick to cause problems, forcing a free-kick within shooting range after some neat interchanges with Duff. Carsley's strike, though, failed to beat the wall.

Dunga's introduction of Manchester United's Anderson and Liverpool's Lucas for Diego and Josue took some of the sting out the Brazilian attack and Ireland pressed for an equaliser. They almost made the breakthrough after some tidy interplay in the box between McGeady, Kilbane and Keane, only for the latter to be beaten to it by Cesar's safe hands.

A minute later the final whistle went.

Elsewhere Northern Ireland lost 1-0 at home to Bulgaria while Wales beat Norway 3-0 in Wrexham with Jason Koumas supplying two of the goals.

England beat Switzerland 2-1 at Wembley in Fabio Capello's first game in charge. Goals from Jermaine Jenas and substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips, either side of a strike from Eren Derdiyok, secured a victory which was acceptable but by no means overwhelming.

Republic of Ireland:Shay Given, Stephen Kelly, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Kevin Kilbane, Lee Carsley, Aiden McGeady, Liam Miller (Potter 45), Kevin Doyle (Hunt 72), Robbie Keane (C), Damien Duff.

Substitutes: Joe Murphy, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Foley, Shane Long, Paul McShane, Alex Bruce, Daryl Murphy, Glenn Whelan, Darren Potter

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Leonardo Moura, Alex Costa, Anderson Silva, Josue Oliveira (Leiva 83), Richarlyson Felisbino, Julio Baptista, Silva Gilberto (C), Luis Fabiano (Sobis 80), Diego (Anderson 78), Robinho

Substitutes: Renan Soures, Marcio Souza, Breno Borges, Ronaldo Rodrigues, Marcelo Silva, Anderson Lima, Lucas Leiva, Anderson Oliveira, Thiago Neves, Devyison Silva, Rafael Sobis