U21 EURO 2023 Qualifier Report: Republic of Ireland u21 3 - 0 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Simon O’Gorman reports from Tallaght Stadium

Two goals for Will Smalbone either side of an Ademipo Odubeko goal resulted in a comfortable win for Jim Crawford’s under-21 side and sends his team into Monday’s home game against Montenegro knowing that another three points will put them in serious contention for a place at the finals in 2023.

The first half was a pattern of alternating phases where one minute the visitors looked the better team, and then the Irish would take a turn. But after a scrappy opening it was the Bosnians that were the first to impress.

With captain Igor Savic anchoring their midfield and directing play with increasing influence, the away team also had Jasmin Osmin and Amar Memic looking full of beans on the wings.

On seven minutes Bosnia & Herzegovina created the first real chance when left-full Nenad Nikic pulled a cross to the back post where Memic headed narrowly wide from close range.

A few minutes later Ivan Basic fired a curling shot just wide and it was starting to look like a tough night lay ahead for Jim Crawford’s men.

But the Irish responded with a clearcut chance of their own on 15 minutes when Smallbone’s cross landed perfectly for Odubeko at the far post only for the striker to send a weak header disappointingly wide of the target.

One minute later Ireland went ahead and it was Smallbone who got it. This time Odubeko took the creative role, touching the ball into space for the Southampton player to run onto. He charged confidently towards goal and sent a low shot spinning into the net off Damijanovic in the Bosnian goal.

Having scored, Ireland immediately looked in charge of the game, passing the ball accurately and quickly across their back line. Conor Coventry and Gavin Kilkenny clicked in midfield with the former sitting back and commanding the heart of midfield while Kilkenny played more on the front foot.

The change was remarkable and a super bit of skill by right back Joel Bagan almost created a second on 25 minutes when he nodded a pass past Dejanovic and delivered the ball into the box only for the Bosnian defence to smother it before a shot could be fired.

Four minutes before the break and Smallbone again carved open the Bosnian defence with a touch past his marker and a driven pass to the feet of Odubeko. But the West Ham player couldn’t turn the moment into a shot on goal and the sides went into the break with Ireland leading by one.

When they came out for the second half, the Bosnians emerged with a new striker, Daniel Lukic having replaced Kahvic up top.

Ireland too were soon forced into a change when Oisin McEntee had to go off with a shoulder injury after a heavy fall and was replaced by Jake O’Brien. And while McEntee was hobbling off Smallbone and Odubeko combined again, Smallbone sending his partner into space, but Odubeko could only shoot into the defenders gathering around him.

It was time for Bosnia & Herz. to have a go and on 55 minutes Basic blasted a shot just over to serve the hosts with a reminder that they needed to keep their wits about them.

There followed a period of pressure from Bosnia and Osmic so very nearly equalised on 60 minutes only for Brian Maher to pull off a wonderful save as the ball sailed towards the top corner of the Irish net.

Three minutes later Ireland punished their profligacy, Ross Tierney sending Odubeko clear on goal, and he delivered a cool finished low past Damijanovic.

It was Odubeko’s last act with Evan Ferguson replacing him immediately after the goal and, at the same time, Oliver O’Neill replacing the provider, Ross Tierney.

Perhaps because of these changes the momentum dipped and as we moved into the final 20 minutes there was a sense that the die was now cast. The murmurs from the crowd began to owe more to conversation than encouragement, and professionalism rather than adventure became the guiding principle for the players.

Bosnia kept pushing nonetheless with Osmic particularly impressive for them, but Ireland retained control of the game and with nine minutes remaining a superb Irish move provided Smallbone with his second of the night and Ireland’s third.

Oliver O’Neill started the move, setting Lee O’Connor on a run, and he fed Wright whose cross passed through the Bosnian box before arriving at the feet of Smallbone who drove the ball home with considerable panache.

Smallbone might have sealed a hat-trick in the final minutes, hesitating to shoot in one instance and then firing high over the bar with two minutes left.

But it didn’t matter. Ireland won convincingly and move on to Monday’s encounter with Montenegro knowing that another win puts them in with a real chance of the play-off.

Republic of Ireland  u21: Brian Maher; Lee O’Connor, Oisin McEntee (Jake O’Brien 54), Mark McGuinness, Joel Bagan; Conor Coventry, Gavin Kilkenny (Dawson Devoy 78); Ross Tierney (Oliver O’Neill 64), Will Smallbone; Ademipo Odubeko (Evan Ferguson 64), Tyreik Wright.

Subs Not Used: Luke McNicholas (gk), Joshua Kayode, Conor Noss, Andy Lyons, Liam Kerrigan.

Booked: None.

Bosnia & Herzegovina u21: Luka Damijanovic; Alen Dejanovic (Belmin Mesinovic 72), Sasa Marjanovic, Tarik Muaremovic, Nenad Nikic; Igor Savic; Amar Memic, Ivan Basic, Petar Sucic (Dejan Popara 72), Jasmin Osmic; Aleksandar Kahvic (Daniel Lukic 46).

Subs Not Used: Muhamed Sahinovic (gk), Mladen Cvjetinovic, Mihailo Trkjula, Admir Bristric, Luka Marjanac, Enver Kulasin.

Booked: None.

Referee: Luca Cibelli (Switzerland)

Attendance: 3,057

Extratime Player of the Match: Will Smallbone (Republic of Ireland)

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