Ireland U-21 draw with Italy in Sligo

Rep of Ireland U-21 2 Italy U-21 2:The Republic of Ireland came from 2-0 down to force a draw with a star studded Italy in their UEFA Under-21 qualifier at the Showgrounds this afternoon, preserving their unbeaten record at the Sligo venue to boot.

Noel King’s charges had won three of their four matches to date in the qualifiers and showed tremendous character to eke out a draw. They got off to the worst possible start when falling behind to a Shane Duffy own goal after just three minutes. The Italians increased that advantage on 56 minutes through Ciro Immobile before Ireland produced a memorable finish.

Robbie Brady reduced the deficit on 67 minutes when he converted a penalty after Destro handled in the area and just four minutes later Greg Cunningham got his head to a Brady free-kick to get Ireland back on level terms.

Italy, who went into the game with a 100 per cent record, also saw Marco Verratti handed a straight red card in injury time for tripping Aidan White. The draw sees Ireland move to within two points of second-placed Turkey, with King’s men having two games in hand.

It also means Ireland are unbeaten at the Showgrounds in these qualifiers, but that record was under threat after the hosts made the worst possible start as Duffy sliced Alessandro Flore’s curl free-kick into his own net in only the third minute.

The visitors were putting the home defence under severe pressure. Mattia Destro was played in but a less-than-perfect touch allowed goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin to smother the ball while Immobile squandered a glorious chance.

The hosts started to inch their way into the match, Eunan O’Kane sending a shot wide from distance. Good interplay from O’Kane and Murphy looked promising but the former’s ball from the left was poor and any chance had gone with Duffy putting a header straight into keeper Francesco Bardi’s arms from close range as the Italians ended the first half untroubled.

Jeff Hendrick burst into the box but was dispossessed by Alessandro Crescenzi and moments later Destro drilled a shot from 25 yards which went just wide of McLoughlin’s post with the keeper stranded. However, the Italians extended their lead 11 minutes into the second half, Immobile dribbling along the edge of the area before turning and shooting into the corner of the net.

Ireland’s task got harder when O’Loughlin was replaced by Aaron McCarey because of injury but against the odds they pulled a goal back in the 66th minute from the spot. Destro handled in the area and Brady hit the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with the keeper going the wrong way.

McCarey saved from Destro but Ireland drew level in the 71st minute and again Brady was involved. His free-kick from the right found Cunningham whose header, although weak, trickled into the corner of the net, although there was some confusion it may be an own goal.

There were no further openings for either side, but Italy’s disappointment was compounded when Verratti was given a straight red card in injury time.