Daly on double as Irish open with win

Republic of Ireland ... 2 Belgium ... 1: Stockport County striker Jonathan Daly scored twice as manager Brian Kerr relished the UEFA Championship start he wanted. Paul Buttner reports from Drammen

Neither of Daly's goals - a first-half penalty and a second about which there was some debate - were of the goal-of-the-month variety, but the Dubliner wore a broad smile afterwards as he celebrated a crucial win in Group B.

With Germany scoring twice in stoppage time to salvage a dramatic 3-3 draw against England in the section's other game, Ireland now top the pool ahead of Wednesday's meeting with the Germans in Moss.

"We're delighted with the result," said Daly. "It was the start we wanted. We are focusing on the week, taking it game by game. It's a great start, but we still have two very tough games against Germany and England to come."

Ireland started shakily and had a real let-off on the double as early as 90 seconds.

Tottenham Hotspur's new €4 million recruit Jonathan Blondel's ball put Kevin Vandenbergh in on goal, forcing Irish goalkeeper Brian Murphy into making a terrific stop with his feet.

The danger remained, however, as Sebastian Hermans tried to chip Murphy, who again did very well to get a hand to the ball, but it still looped over him and Stephen Paisley headed off the line.

Belgium grew in confidence from that and Murphy was in action again on five minutes, parrying away a free kick from Vandenbergh. The Genk striker was a real threat.

Ireland settled down, though, and created several useful openings, with Sean Thornton central to the them all, before taking the lead from a fortuitous source on 26 minutes.

Adrian Deane's cross in from the right following a short corner struck the raised left arm of Jelle Van Damme. Daly's spot kick lacked venom but had enough bite to finish in the corner of the net, despite goalkeeper Bram Verbist getting a hand to it.

Murphy made another good stop from Blondel minutes before half time, before the Belgian playmaker finally beat him six minutes into the second half.

Played in by Stijn Janssens, Blondel held his nerve to shoot into the far corner from a tight angle.

Ireland battled to regain the initiative, with Daly bringing a fine save from Verbist on 61 minutes; Michael Foley's shot from the rebound hit a post.

Eight minutes later the soft winner arrived. Foley floated his 69th-minute free into the area, Verbist came but didn't collect and the ball sailed over him and into the net, though Daly insists he got the final touch, however slight.

"It's a great start to the group," beamed Kerr. "We created the better chances and deserved the breaks we got.

"The first goal was a mad one. The second one was a replica of the ones Jonathan got against Latvia and Croatia in qualifying."

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Manchester City); Brennan (Newcastle United), McCarthy (Manchester City), Paisley (Manchester City), Capper (Sunderland); Foley (Liverpool), Thornton (Sunderland), Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kearney (Nottingham Forest); Daly (Stockport County), Deane (Chartlon Athletic). Subs: Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur) for Deane (half-time), Elliott (Manchester City) for Kearney (74 mins), Gilroy (Middlesbrough) for Foley (83 mins).

BELGIUM: Verbist (Beerschot); Chen (Anderlecht), Van Hoevelen (Westerlo), Vangeffelen (St. Truidense), Monteyne (Beerschot), Dasoul (Genk), Hermans (Brugge), Van Damme (Ajax), Vendenbergh (Genk), Blondel (Tottenham Hotpsur), Janssens (Lierse). Subs: Van Der Hayden (Waalwijk) for Hermans (72 mins), Hegelmeers (Mechelen) for Chen (76 mins), Asselborn (Standard Liege) for Van Hoevelen (85 mins).

Referee: S Kaldma (Estonia).