Estonia 0-2 Republic of Ireland
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| The Irish goalscorers, Matt Holland (left) and Richard Dunne, celebrate Dunne's opening strike (© Inpho) |
No Roy Keane but no problem for Ireland in Estonia this afternoon.One of the rosiest Irish away performances of recent years was gilded by two precious goals, the first from Richard Dunne, and the second an exquisite strike from Keane’s stand-in, Matt Holland.
Already short of one Keane, Mick McCarthy decided Robbie Keane’s lack of fitness meant he couldn’t start either, so elected to field Damien Duff in his place.Duff justified the move in the very first minute, when his trickery won Ireland a free-kick.Ian Harte, who else, stepped up to whip the ball around the wall from 25 yards but straight into Martin Kaalma’s arms.
Ireland chased every ball, adamant that no Estonian would have time to settle on the ball, though the fissured surface already made that a near impossibility anyway.
Then Duff won a corner, and curled it into the centre of the box himself. Andrei Stepanov completely missed his header at the backpost, allowing Harte to cut it back into the centre where the unmarked Dunne scrambled the ball past the defenders on the line and into the net.Ireland were in the lead and lording it, the home-side having failed to cobble togethera single coherent move.
The goal must have brought particular joy to Dunne after he had been lambasted for his shoddy performance against Portugal last Saturday.But just moments later, his lapse in concentration forced Shay Given to come hurtling off his line to clear from the feet of an Estonian attacker.
Ireland, though, were well on top and all the pre-match merchants of doom were looking decidedly foolish. Duff, in particular, was excellent.After 17 minutes, he set off on a fabulous run that brought him easily past Erko Saviuk and Martin Reim and twisting into the box.His subsequent shot from 10 yards deserved a goal, but Kaalma managed to bat it away, and then saved the rebound aswell.
Estonia’s first moment of menace came after 26 minutes, when a Marko Kristal pile-driver from 30 yards flew only inches wide.Two minutes later, a miskick in the box by captain Steve Staunton gave Andrei Oper a sight of goal.Fortunately for the Irish, Dunne dived in to divert the ball out for a corner.
Niall Quinn’s back injury seemed to flare up again in the 38th minute, forcing Ireland into a substitution.This time, unlike last Saturday, manager McCarthy opted to replace like with like and entrusted the role of target man to Tottenham’s Gary Doherty.
Just one minute later, Ireland grabbed the assurance they needed.Harte whacked one with his right foot from some 30 yards, it was blocked but rebounded to Holland who, on the half-volley and from almost as far, rifled low into the bottom corner.When the half-time whistle blew 6 minutes later, Irish fans were convinced the second half would be all about enhancing Irelands 'goals for' column.
And Ireland certainly dominated the second period.Mark Kinsella had three decent efforts, the first two off just off target and the third blocked by a brave defender.Steven Carr was brilliant down the right, where he combined well with Gary Kelly, and Kevin Kilbane was dogged and dangerous on the left.
The goals weren’t coming but Ireland racked up a massive corner count, one of which was almost headed home by Harte.Holland and Kilbane also went close to extending Ireland’s lead, but their shots failed to live up to the fine moves that had preceded them.
Four minutes from time, Estonia created their first real opening of the match.Zelinski slipped substitute Gritski through, and he crashed one at Given from seven yards.But the Donegal man reacted brilliantly to beat the ball away.
That chance prompted Mick McCarthy to eliminate any chance of a home goal by withdrawing the tremendous Duff, and throwing on Andy O’Brien to buffer the defence and win his first full cap in the process.And there can be no better way for any one to begin their international career than featuring in an away display as steely and skilfull as this one.