Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Italy
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Ireland may be sure of a Word Cup play off spot, but this Irish side's inability to hold on to a lead and close out games has cost them dear over the course of the qualifying campaign. Twice the Italians clawed themselves back into the game, without having to do anything remotely spectacular to book their place in South Africa next summer.
Glenn Whelan's well struck shot into the roof of the net was a dream start, but eighteen minutes later the Azzurri were on level terms courtesy of some slack marking in the penalty area at a corner kick.
The second half saw Trappatoni's troops put in a decent if unremarkable performance, to the extent that one wasn't too sure where another goal could come from. To the surprise of many it did come - from the head of Sean St Ledger three minutes from time, substitute Stephen Hunt providing a fine delivery from a free kick just outside the box on the left.
But just three minutes later Vincenzo Iaquinta strode free into yards of space on the left. He had time to shift inside before supplying substitute Alberto Gilardino with the simple task of stroking the ball past Shay Given from seven yards.
Conceding goals from a winning position has become an all to often occurrence. A late goal was needed to defeat Cyprus in Nicosia after the Cypriot's cancelled out Kevin Doyle's early opener. Bulgaria hit back within five minutes when we took the lead in Sofia, and they then earned a point from their visit to Croke Park in March coming from behind and scoring sixteen minutes from time. Georgia were gifted a late goal in Mainz also - but Ireland had the luxury of being two goals to the good that night and still came away with maximum points.
Whelan's thumped shot seven minutes in was the game's first chance of note. Robbie Keane ran the channel well and was unceremoniously knocked to the ground by Nicola Legrottaglie.
Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence presided over the set piece and opted to drag the ball behind the mass of players who had assembled around the penalty spot. Whelan struck it first time from nearly 25 yards and with Gianluigi Buffon's vision obstructed by both Irish and Italian players, he stood little chance of being able to react quick enough to prevent the goal.
Ten minutes later Ireland could have been two up. Aiden McGeady jinked past a lacklustre challenge from Mauro Camoranesi but his right footed shot flew wide of the far post. Shay Given then held a volley from Fabio Grosso.
A well-timed tackle by St Ledger denied Iaquinta midway through the half, but from the resulting corner Camoranesi was left unattended, and ran unchallenged between Kevin Doyle and John O'Shea before heading powerfully past Given. The Manchester City 'keeper probably could have done a lot better.
Iaquinta was denied a goal early in the second half when an offside flag chalked out his neat finish. At the other end John O'Shea should have done much better with a free header at the back post.
O'Shea redeemed himself somewhat on the hour mark as he cleared a dangerous Iaquinta cross when Antonio Di Natale was lucking behind. Given then had to be on his toes twenty minutes from time to save a low shot from Gianluca Zambrotta.
It looked as if the Irish had pulled off an unlikely win when with three minutes left on the clock St Ledger stooped to head past Buffon from close range - the crescendo of noise in celebration was unlike anything previously heard at the Jones' Road amphitheatre for an Irish soccer international, but it was shortlived.
Instead of protecting what they had Ireland foolishly pushed on in the dying moments only to be caught on the counter attack. The Italians were afforded all the room they needed on the left. Keith Andrews did his best to shift across when he saw the run of Iaquinta but ultimately had too much ground to cover. The tall striker picked out Gilardino and the Fiorentina man ensured Marcello Lippi's side top the group, leaving Trappatoni to plan for potential play-off dates with the likes of Russia, Portugal, and France.
Ireland: Given, St. Ledger, Kilbane, O'Shea, Dunne, Whelan (Rowlands 70), McGeady (S. Hunt 78), Andrews, Doyle (Best 67), Keane, Lawrence.
Subs not used: Westwood, McShane, Nolan, N. Hunt.
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Grosso (Gilardino 76), Chiellini, Legrottaglie, De Rossi, Camoranesi, Palombo (Pepe 89), Iaquinta, Pirlo, Di Natale (Bochetti 76).
Subs not used: Marchetti, Gamberini,Gattuso, D'Agostino.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).
Attendance: 70640.
Glenn Whelan's well struck shot into the roof of the net was a dream start, but eighteen minutes later the Azzurri were on level terms courtesy of some slack marking in the penalty area at a corner kick.
The second half saw Trappatoni's troops put in a decent if unremarkable performance, to the extent that one wasn't too sure where another goal could come from. To the surprise of many it did come - from the head of Sean St Ledger three minutes from time, substitute Stephen Hunt providing a fine delivery from a free kick just outside the box on the left.
But just three minutes later Vincenzo Iaquinta strode free into yards of space on the left. He had time to shift inside before supplying substitute Alberto Gilardino with the simple task of stroking the ball past Shay Given from seven yards.
Conceding goals from a winning position has become an all to often occurrence. A late goal was needed to defeat Cyprus in Nicosia after the Cypriot's cancelled out Kevin Doyle's early opener. Bulgaria hit back within five minutes when we took the lead in Sofia, and they then earned a point from their visit to Croke Park in March coming from behind and scoring sixteen minutes from time. Georgia were gifted a late goal in Mainz also - but Ireland had the luxury of being two goals to the good that night and still came away with maximum points.
Whelan's thumped shot seven minutes in was the game's first chance of note. Robbie Keane ran the channel well and was unceremoniously knocked to the ground by Nicola Legrottaglie.
Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence presided over the set piece and opted to drag the ball behind the mass of players who had assembled around the penalty spot. Whelan struck it first time from nearly 25 yards and with Gianluigi Buffon's vision obstructed by both Irish and Italian players, he stood little chance of being able to react quick enough to prevent the goal.
Ten minutes later Ireland could have been two up. Aiden McGeady jinked past a lacklustre challenge from Mauro Camoranesi but his right footed shot flew wide of the far post. Shay Given then held a volley from Fabio Grosso.
A well-timed tackle by St Ledger denied Iaquinta midway through the half, but from the resulting corner Camoranesi was left unattended, and ran unchallenged between Kevin Doyle and John O'Shea before heading powerfully past Given. The Manchester City 'keeper probably could have done a lot better.
Iaquinta was denied a goal early in the second half when an offside flag chalked out his neat finish. At the other end John O'Shea should have done much better with a free header at the back post.
O'Shea redeemed himself somewhat on the hour mark as he cleared a dangerous Iaquinta cross when Antonio Di Natale was lucking behind. Given then had to be on his toes twenty minutes from time to save a low shot from Gianluca Zambrotta.
It looked as if the Irish had pulled off an unlikely win when with three minutes left on the clock St Ledger stooped to head past Buffon from close range - the crescendo of noise in celebration was unlike anything previously heard at the Jones' Road amphitheatre for an Irish soccer international, but it was shortlived.
Instead of protecting what they had Ireland foolishly pushed on in the dying moments only to be caught on the counter attack. The Italians were afforded all the room they needed on the left. Keith Andrews did his best to shift across when he saw the run of Iaquinta but ultimately had too much ground to cover. The tall striker picked out Gilardino and the Fiorentina man ensured Marcello Lippi's side top the group, leaving Trappatoni to plan for potential play-off dates with the likes of Russia, Portugal, and France.
Ireland: Given, St. Ledger, Kilbane, O'Shea, Dunne, Whelan (Rowlands 70), McGeady (S. Hunt 78), Andrews, Doyle (Best 67), Keane, Lawrence.
Subs not used: Westwood, McShane, Nolan, N. Hunt.
Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Grosso (Gilardino 76), Chiellini, Legrottaglie, De Rossi, Camoranesi, Palombo (Pepe 89), Iaquinta, Pirlo, Di Natale (Bochetti 76).
Subs not used: Marchetti, Gamberini,Gattuso, D'Agostino.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).
Attendance: 70640.
