Andorra 0 Ireland 3
An Ian Harte penalty, two goals from Kevin Kilbane and Matt Holland, and ambition were all that separated Ireland from modest Andorra in Barcelona’s Mini Estadie this afternoon.
The game settled into the expected pattern, with Ireland penning their hosts in their own half, probing for ways through the entrenched Andorran defence.
It seemed inevitable Ireland would score, particularly as David Connolly, kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff were probing, and Roy Keane was leading the Irish attacks in his usual imperious fashion. After 26 minutes, Gary Doherty was thrust into the fray in place of the injured Connolly. The introduction of the Tottenham man, whilst depriving Ireland of the Connolly’s mobility, gave a new dimension the Irish game - an aerial presence in the style of Niall Quinn.
As the game reached the half-hour mark, Irish frustration at not being able to breach the blanket Andorran defence was mounting, however, and the Andorrans proved brazen enough to take two fine strikes on goal themselves.
Their resistance was finally overcome in the 32nd minute. Doherty slipped the ball through to Roy Keane, who burst into the Andorran box only to be upended by Sanchez as he tried to round the goalkeeper. Harte picked up the ball and, as in Nicosia on Saturday, scored the penalty with ease.
The second half begun just as the first had ended, with Ireland streaming forward as 11 Andorrans tried to erect a human dam in front of their goal.
In the 69th minute, more inspirational play by Roy Keane gave Robbie Keane a terrific chance to score his first goal for Ireland since in Amsterdam.
The Corkman robbed Andorran playmaker Justo Ruiz near the half-way line, stormed forward, and knocked the ball through to his namesake, who only had to beat the keeper and find the net from eight yards out. But the striker ballooned the ball into the throngs of the Irish fans behind the goal.
Robbie did play a role in the second Irish goal. Roy Keane sent a cross from the left wing to the far post, and Robbie aimed a low header towards goal. Sanchez tipped it away - but only as far as the in-rushing Kilbane, who buried it into the net.
Two minutes later, Holland grabbed the third goal. After dribbling elegantly past a defender, he placed an unstoppable drive past Sanchez.
Ireland held possession efficiently for the rest of the match giving the Andorrans no chance for a consolation goal.