World Cup qualifier ROI 3 NI 0
sp...@galvia.enet.dec.com
Republic of Ireland 3 Northern Ireland 0
The Republic of Ireland crushed Northern Ireland at Lansdowne Road yesterday.
3 goals in 9 minutes during the first half were enough to earn 2 very valuable
world cup points. The republic's first half performance was one of the best
I've ever seen. Northern Ireland were just swept aside.
The Northern Ireland goal was under siege during the opening 20 minutes. Andy
Townsend shot inches wide after running at the defence. Tommy Coyne was
twice foiled by brave goalkeeping from Tommy Wright. The breakthrough finally
came on 20 minutes. A move involving Denis Irwin, Ray Houghton and Niall Quinn
was well finished by Andy Townsend. Lansdowne Road erupted into a sea of
green, white and orange. The cheers had barely subsided when Ray Houghton got
free on the right. His cross was expertly finished by a very confident Niall
Quinn. The republic were now rampant and the only surprise was that it took a
further 8 minutes before Stephen Staunton got the 3rd, direct from a corner.
Niall Quinn could have had a first half hatrick but we had to settle for
three. Chants of "Easy Easy" and "There's only one team in Ireland" piled
on the humiliation.
The second half was a different story. The republic dropped the pace. Jimmy
Quinn and Kingsley Black came on and made a difference. With space and time
to play Northern Ireland looked a different side and they could have sneaked a
consolation goal. The republic almost scored a couple too but the urgency was
gone. In the closing stages Roy Keane brought another great save out of Wright
and Paul McGrath shot wide of a gaping goal. The second half was poor and the
final whistle was welcomed by both sides.
Teams
ROI Bonner,Irwin,Phelan,Moran,McGrath,Houghton,Keane,Townsend,Staunton,
Quinn,Coyne subs Cascarino for Coyne and McGoldrick for Quinn.
NI Wright,Donaghy,Worthington,Taggart,McDonald,Morrow,O'Neill,Hughes,Magilton,
Dowie,Grey subs Quinn for Mailton, Black for Morrow.
Denmark 1 Spain 0
Denamrk defeated Spain with a 21st minute goal from Fleming Poulvsen. Spain
should have got a point as Aldana missed 2 good chances.
These results mean that only 3 countries are now in contention. The game
between Denamrk and the Republic in 4 weeks time is now crucial. We are in the
strongest position but things can change very easily.
Spain 6 3 3 1 13 1 9
ROI 5 3 2 0 9 0 8
Den 5 2 3 0 2 0 7
Next 28/4
ROI v Denamrk,Spain v NI.
Gary Spain, DEC, Galway, Ireland - sp...@galvia.enet.dec.com
On being a football fan: "I am aware of the downside to this wonderful
facility that men have: they become repressed, they fail in their
relationships with women,their conversation is trivial and boorish, they
find themselves unable to express their emotional needs, they cannot relate
to their children, and die lonely and miserable. But you know, what the hell?"
Nick Hornby
Mark Riordan
P W D L F A Pts
>
>Spain 6 3 3 1 13 1 9
^
7
>ROI 5 3 2 0 9 0 8
>Den 5 2 3 0 2 0 7
>
>Next 28/4
>
>ROI v Denamrk,Spain v NI.
>
>
>
> Gary Spain, DEC, Galway, Ireland - sp...@galvia.enet.dec.com
>
> On being a football fan: "I am aware of the downside to this wonderful
> facility that men have: they become repressed, they fail in their
> relationships with women,their conversation is trivial and boorish, they
> find themselves unable to express their emotional needs, they cannot relate
> to their children, and die lonely and miserable. But you know, what the hell?"
> Nick Hornby
--
| rior...@cs.tcd.ie Mark Riordan, MIPS Project |
| Computer Science Dept. Trinity College |
| +353-(0)1-702 1335 Dublin 2, Ireland |