TO THE delight of a passionate crowd of 4,000 hockey Tifosi (admitted without charge), Italy kept their World Cup hopes alive by beating stout-hearted Scotland 1-0 through a goal by Massimo Lanzano with eight minutes to spare in Cagliari yesterday.
So, Ireland - though holding the only 100 per cent record in this preliminary tournament but facing their toughest two matches - are not yet assured of their place in the second phase of the competition in Kuala Lumpur next March.
Just a draw against fellow pace setters Poland this morning would no longer leave the issue in doubt. But with skipper Alan Dowd suffering from back trouble, if a first defeat were to be conceded, a point would be needed against the Italians tomorrow to prevent the host team from snatching second spot in Pool B.
If such a traumatic scenario were to happen, Ireland would then find themselves struggling to finish fifth overall in the play-offs for the remaining qualifying place in Malaysia.
But that's enough pessimism on this island of sunshine and beautiful people as Ireland showed their composure in fighting back admirably in Saturday's 3-2 defeat of Kenya to make it four wins out of four.
Incurring deficits of 0-1 at halftime, and then 1-2, there were several stages when a lack of gusto in attack, as well as some slowness in midfield, allowed the sharper Kenyans to threaten an upset.
Cliff Odendo pounced on a misplaced hit-out in the 17th minute to open the scoring against the pattern of play, for Ireland - with Galahad Goulet weaving about earnestly - had forced five short corners without reward.
Two changes at the interval, however, increased the tempo as Robert Ryan came on at right midfield and David McAnulty, showing little sign of ankle trouble, returned to inject pace up front. Straight away, Julian Stevenson, a most industrious and troublesome forager, broke the defence on the right to deliver a centre to the top of the circle for Ryan to unleash the equaliser.
But within two minutes, Kenya were ahead again when Odendo hit a brilliant second goal with the reverse stick following a solo thrust.
"We gave away that goal too quickly," admitted Cees Koppelaar - the coach was a trifle concerned.
Nevertheless, with Alistair Dunne beginning to assert himself in the pivotal role in place of the injured Dowd, Ireland managed to resume the offensive and were back on terms on the quarter-hour. A well-directed free by Colm Hade yielded a goal-mouth scramble for McAnulty to direct the ball home.
Right back Neil Cooke, one of the side's strongest figures in the tournament, incurred a yellow card but Ryan dropped back resourcefully in his absence and when Cooke returned, a full and decisive press was reactivated. Another free from Hade yielded the only corner of the half and Robbie Taylor scored with a direct ground shot 12 minutes from the end.
The Kenyans, though, might still have snatched a draw but for an alert charge from his line by Ivan Bateman to foil Matharu Singh who had been put through on a clear run by Odendo.
Errol Lutton had also cleared valuably in other anxious moments when Dowd was missed in front of the back four.
Dowd, who damaged his back in the match against the US, will probably miss today's demanding summit tussle with Poland. If however, Ryan, Dunne and Taylor can establish a robust grip in midfield, chances for menacing strikers Karol Podzorski (who plays professionally in Italy) and Krzystof Wybieralski, can be cut to a minimum.
Conversely, the Irish attackers - though without Chris Jackson (injured) to broaden the options - should again have sufficient opportunities to find the target.
It was 4-3 in the last meeting in Dublin 14 months ago to give Ireland fifth place in the European Championships. With Ger Burns, Martin Sloan, Jimmy Kirkwood and Liam Canning now retired, it would be an extra boost to the reconstructed side if victory could be achieved. While a draw might be agreeable to both teams, a win, to gain top position in the table, remains Ireland's primary objective.
Fairly predictably, the top two berths in Pool A have been clinched by Canada and New Zealand so they are off to Malaysia in the spring.
