- Conor Martin
- Thu, Nov 12 2020
Conor Martin reports from Wembley
England recorded their first win over Ireland in 35 years they beat a wasteful Republic of Ireland 3-0 at Wembley on Thursday evening with goals from Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
After failing to qualify for the European Championships and a poor UEFA Nations League campaign, it was a chance for Stephen Kenny to experiment against one of the best national sides in the world. But it was ultimately a disappointing evening for Ireland.
The hosts were almost in front after five minutes when John Egan dealt with a dangerous corner from Chelsea’s Mason Mount, putting the ball out for another English corner before Tyrone Mings was able to find himself with space but headed over the bar.
Ireland threatened in attack themselves and within the first ten minutes they had chances to take the lead in the English capital. Daryl Horgan and Alan Browne combined well to provide Ireland with their first real chance of the match.
Conor Hourihane followed that with the first free-kick of the match but he saw his whipped cross punched and cleared by Nick Pope who was making his case for the English number one spot.
Stephen Kenny was forced to make a sub just before the 15 minute mark when Egan came off worse after a duel with Michael Keane and was replaced by Dubliner Dara O’Shea.
England were knocking on the door and the Three Lions were doing what Ireland weren't, creating chances and putting their opponents under pressure.
Harry Winks whipped in the ball and Harry Maguire rose highest over his marker Shane Duffy who really should have dealt with the danger and England finally made their pressure on the Irish net count as they took the lead on 18 minutes.
Ireland appeared to be rattled after the goal but Duffy made up for his role in the first England goal by stopping a goal-bound shout from Everton’s in-form forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
England then had their fair share of corners and Calvert-Lewin was causing Kenny’s backline problems again. Duffy was pickpocketed by the forward but the Celtic man recovered and put the ball out for another England corner.
In the first half the English corner count was ten times more than Ireland had amassed and at times it looked like the likes of Maguire and Mings would hurt Ireland to full effect.
England were able to celebrate a second goal mostly due to Ireland’s failure to clear from a corner. The ball fell to Grealish who picked out Jadon Sancho with ease who fired his shot low across the goal past Randolph in the Irish net.
England started the second-half as they finished the first and they almost had a third when Saka hit the side netting when he really should have made it three after being played in by Grealish.
The former Ireland youth player was tormenting the Irish defence and the Aston Villa starlet really made a statement of intent as he came back to haunt Ireland.
Things went from bad to worse for the Irish when Cyrus Christie fouled Bukayo Saka and Calvert-Lewin confidently buried the penalty.
Maguire had the chance to grab a fourth for England but couldn’t connect with Sakas’s free-kick and English substitute Tammy Abraham passed up a great chance to add to his England tally but did not trouble with his effort.
Inside the final 20 minutes Ireland went to the bench as Hourihane made way for Ronan Curtis and Adam Idah, who was one of Ireland’s stand out players, was replaced by Jayson Molumby.
Curtis almost made an instant bench from the bench as he found himself through on goal but saw his shot well stopped by the England substitute goal-keeper Dean Henderson. The effort from Curtis was only the second shot on target from the Irish forwards.
Ireland were the makers of their own downfall as the match played out throughout the match they only managed four shots compared to England’s 20 and when Curtis came on and looked lively in attack it was too little too late for Ireland to salvage anything from the match.
His impact would have had many Ireland fans question why the Portsmouth player didn’t start in attack and despite coming on from the bench, there will be calls to start Curtis against Wales.
In the last few seconds of injury-time Ireland had the chance to grab a consolation goal but Brady’s corner came to nothing and that pretty much summed Ireland’s evening as England recorded their first win over Ireland since 1985.
England: Nick Pope (Dean Henderson h/t); Reece James, Bukayo Saka, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire ©, Tyrone Mings (Ainsley Maitland-Niles 61), Mason Mount (Jude Bellingham 73), Harry Winks, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Tammy Abraham 63), Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish (Phil Foden 61).
Subs not used: Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Ben Chilwell, Jordan Henderson.
Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph; Cyrus Christie (Kevin Long 61), Shane Duffy ©, John Egan (Dara O’Shea 14), Matt Doherty; Conor Hourihane (Jayson Molumby 71), Alan Browne, Jeff Hendrick, Daryl Horgan (Robbie Brady 61), Adam Idah (Ronan Curtis 71), Callum O’Dowda (James McClean 60).
Subs not used: Mark Travers, Caoimhin Kelleher, James Collins, Seán Maguire
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Extratime.com Player of the Match: Jack Grealish (England)
