- Alan Dooley
- Wed, Feb 11 2009
Robbie Keane took his international goal-scoring tally to 37 on a night of drama in Croke Park as Ireland came from behind to pocket all three vital World Cup qualifying points. Keane's late intervention means Ireland now join Italy on top of Group 8 with ten points.
As opening minutes of World Cup qualifiers go, tonight's was up there with the worst of them as far as Ireland are concerned. Barely 50 seconds had elapsed when Kakha Kaladze's angled cross was sheperded into the path of Georgian dangerman Alexander Iashvili by Stephen Kelly, in for the injured Paul McShane, and the Karlsruhe striker cooly bagged his 13th international goal.
Georgia, far from coming to Croke Park to defend, attacked with gusto in the opening minutes. Beka Gotsiridze and Iashvili got further forward than expected on the flanks and caused havoc. Iashvili could well have doubled the pain for the home side on 4 minutes but Given denied the 31-year-old with a smart save.
Ireland, roared on by the new singing section in the Davin Stand, finally came to life in the tenth minute when Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane combined well to force a corner which came to nothing. Aiden McGeady began to get involved wide on the left flank but too often his final ball was frustratingly substandard.
Keane came agonisingly close to controlling Glen Whelan's half-blocked shot in the 22nd minute as Ireland's prospects brightened. Trappatoni, never more than a yard from the touchline throughout, gesticulated and gestured his side to better things.
A "goal" duly arrived in the 25th minute when Keith Andrews found the bottom corner from the edge of the area. It was not to be, though, as Kevin Doyle clearly obstructed Lomaia's line of sight in an offside position.
A neat free kick routine on 29 was Ireland's next opportunity as Kilbane headed across goal but Keane could only glance a header straight at the Georgian 'keeper. McGeady was next to bring the crowd to life four minutes before the break when he countered at pace and drove a shot that Lomaia did well to keep out of the bottom corner.
Not that Georgia had settled on holding out for a single goal victory. Levan Kobiashvili forced a full length diving save from Given before the interval to remind Ireland that danger was never too far away.
Appeals in vain for an early second half penalty when Doyle tumbled in the box were rightly dismissed as Damien Duff began to pepper the Georgian box with floating crosses from the right hand side to test the suspicious aerial capabilities of Lomaia.
A booking for Keith Andrews broke up the intensity of Irish pressure and another "goal" at the Hill 16 end duly followed in the 59th minute. Again the Finnish linesman earned his crust with a correct decision to rule out Iashvili's tap-in after Kobiashvili's initial effort was deflected onto the post.
A series of high-tempo Ireland attacks followed where McGeady twice went close to levelling the tie. Georgia were finally beginning to retreat into defensive mode as the crowd racheted the noise up a couple of notches and found their side respond with a sustained flow of pressure without creating a half chance of note.
Duff got his wires crossed with Keane when an opportunity did arise, stepping over the ball when it would have been more prudent to take it in his stride. Within sixty seconds, though, referee Jouni Hyytia had taken centre stage in an incident which could easily feature in a "What happened next?" segment in years to come.
Robbie Keane burst into the area but lost possession, then looked to be offside when the ball came to him again. A whistle sounded and to the delight and amazement of the majority of the crowd, a penalty was the outcome. After some aggrieved protestation from the Georgians, Keane tucked away the spot kick with commendable assurity.
The crowd urged their side to push on for a winner and Doyle's powerful header on 78 drew a world-class save from Lomaia but the Irish were not to be denied. From the inswinging corner Keane powered in a low header and victory was now within grasp.
Four minutes of added time meant it was to be a nervy end to the contest but Trappatoni's side held on and the Italian got his wish - a result whatever the performance
Republic of Ireland: Shay Given; Stephen Kelly, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Kevin Kilbane; Aiden McGeady, Keith Andrews, Damien Duff (Stephen Hunt,,80); Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle.
Subs not used: Dean Kiely, Damien Delaney, Kevin Foley, Andy Keogh, Darron Gibson, Noel Hunt
Georgia: Giorgi Lomaia; Ucha Lobjanidze, Kakha Kaladze, David Kvirkvelia, Luka Razmadze; Beka Gotsiridze (Giorgi Merebashvili, 68), Zurab Khizanishvili, Levan Kobiashvili, Zurab Menteshashvili (Levan Khmaladze,70); Alexander Iashvili, David Siradze (Rati Aleksidze, 77).
Subs not used: Roini Kvaskhvadze, Alexandre Kvakhadze, David Odikadze, Otar Martsvaladze
Referee: Jouni Hyytia (Finland).
Atendance: 45,000 (estimate).
Extratime Man of the Match: Robbie Keane.
