- Alan Dooley
- Sat, Mar 28 2009
Kevin Kilbane's own goal 16 minutes from time saw Bulgaria claim a point from an absorbing World Cup qualifying Group 8 contest at Croke Park. The Irish in the process maintained their unbeaten record against the Eastern Europeans, but could well have removed Stanimir Stoilov's side from the qualifying equation had they held on to Richard Dunne's opening minute goal.
As stifling as Georgia's first minute goal proved for the atmosphere in Ireland's last encounter, the early goal this time was in the Irish column and the 60,000 crowd reacted with a barrage of noise not heard in quite some time.
The catalyst for this outburst was late addition to the starting line-up, Stephen Hunt, an abrasive presence throughout. Hunt won a free on the left flank from the first passage of play, and his own cross brushed the head of John O'Shea before Richard Dunne, sneaking in at the back post, stooped to head in his sixth international goal to joyous acclaim.
The scene was now set for a comfortable win with the minimum of fuss. Three points wrapped up and off to Bari we go. But Irish football teams are not the most trustworthy of sides, and Bulgaria were quickly onto the front foot and Aston Villa's Stilian Petrov forced Shay Given into a diving save to his right.
Stanislav Manolev then won a corner on the right which Zhivko Milanov nodded over. Milanov, who was to only last 24 minutes, was then involved in the most controversial moment of the half. Blagoy Georgiev took the ball down the left wing and Aiden McGeady got sucked into helping out Paul McShane.
A perfectly timed pass set Milanov away and Keith Andrews came in to challenge. Milanov checked back and was clearly impeded by Andrews, but Croat ref Ivan Bebek thought differently, booking the full back who later retired injured. It was a let off for Ireland.
Robbie Keane relieved the pressure by winning a corner on 19, from which Glenn Whelan drove in a shot that Dimitar Ivankov dealt with comfortably. Another galloping run forward by Manolev saw him cut back for Georgiev but he shot straight at Given. Kilbane was looking increasingly uneasy and was again exposed on 35 when Stanislav Angelov got in behind him and squared for Petrov who couldn't find the target.
Kilbane's ball over the top for Kevin Doyle, as always a willing workhorse and ball winner, which drifted through to the keeper was as close as Ireland would come to increasing their lead before the break. Joyous acclamation had been replaced once more by nervous tension.
Tension that wasn't dissipated by a purposeful and attacking start to the second half by Stanimir Stoilov's side. Whelan and Andrews were chasing shadows as Bulgaria weaved neat patterns around them. Petrov's influence on the game was increasing by the minute, but their rhythm was upset by a couple of crude challenges; the first by Manolev earned a yellow before Khishishev thundered in recklessly on McGeady.
The resultant free kick saw Keane denied by Ivankov when Doyle pinpointed a header into his path. Doyle was again involved when he headed Dunne's crossfield ball into the path of Hunt on 67. Hunt should have cut back for McGeady, elected to cross into the six yard box, but Ivankov punched straight to the Celtic man and then got up to block the winger's shot smartly. McGeady should have been celebrating his first international goal.
As is often the case in International matches, wasted chances come back to haunt you and, yet again, this proved to be the case. Seven minutes later Petrov, again nipping in behind Kilbane, latched on to a floated ball and volleyed first time across goal. Kilbane, holding off instead of going to his man, attempted to clear the danger but could only watch in horror as the ball flew past Given off his left leg. A helping hand for the Bulgarians that they gleefully accepted.
McGeady had a golden opportunity to make amends for his miss within two minutes when presented with a chance to cross from the byline on the right. A feeble effort rolled into the 'keeper's arms was the outcome. Long balls bypassing midfield were looking Ireland's best bet, as when Keane got on the end of a diagonal ball and cut in from the left before curling wide.
Keane was once more involved when he couldn't find Doyle in the area. A huge roar went up when four minutes of added time was announced, during which Kevin Doyle should have capped a fine performance with the clinching goal. Andrews, for the first time in the game, galloped forward into the area and dug out a great ball for the Reading striker. A firm header in either corner would have led to mass hysteria but instead a tame effort landed in Ivankov's arms. With it went the final chance and Ireland now travel to Bari in second place to face the World Champions.
Republic of Ireland: Shay Given; Paul McShane, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Kevin Kilbane; Stephen Hunt, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady(Andy Keogh, 90); Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane.
Subs not used: Dean Kiely, Damien Delaney, Stephen Kelly, Darron Gibson, Noel Hunt, Caleb Folan.
Bulgaria: Dimitar Ivankov; Stanislav Manolev, Igor Tomasic,Ilyan Stoyanov, Zhivko Milanov(Radostin Kishishev, 24); Dimitar Telkiyski, Stilian Petrov, Ivelin Popov(Velizar Dimitrov, 46), Stanislav Angolev, Blagoy Georgiev(Dimitar Makriev, 66); Dimitar Rangelov.
Subs not used: Georgi Petkov, Chavdar Yankov, Yordan Todorov, Elin Topuzakov.
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia).
Attendance: 60,002
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Kevin Doyle.
