Ireland win as McAteer and Kilbane injured
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Rep of Ireland
JASON McAteer was stretchered off with his head in hands after shipping a heavy knock in the 38th minutes of this friendly in Izumo.
The Sunderland winger, one of the most experienced players in the Irish squad, was about to send over a cross when he was floored by big defender Bilong's trailing leg as he was challenged.
Before Steven Reid was brought on to replace McAteer, the J-League side were ahead. Fujimoto's cross was headed home by Oki.
However Ireland restored parity three minutes later when Reid's corner was headed on by Kevin Kilbane and Robbie Keane nodded in.
Ireland began brightly but failed to break the deadlock, despite efforts by Kilbane, Duff and Keane, but they lacked aerial presence in the area to take advantage of some decent crosses.
Ireland dominated in the opening stages, but then Sanfrecce came into the game more as the game went on - and then took the lead as Ireland were shell-shocked by the injury to McAteer.
After the break it emerged that McAteer had suffered kneee damage and is out of the the opening Group E game against Cameroon.
Another Andy Reid corner almost put sub Gary Breen in minutes into the seconfd half but the centre half headed wide from close range.
Reid then went close with a low drive on 55 minutes before kevin Kilbane hobbled off with a bruised ankle.
Robbie Keane should have scored with 19 minutes remaining but he somehow missed with the goal at his mercy.
But Keane made amends with 12 to go when Mark Kinsella's long ball was headed down by Niall Quinn into the strikers path and he slotted home.
Republic of Ireland; Given (Newcastle United); Kelly (Leeds United), Dunne (Manchester City), Staunton (Aston Villa capt), Harte (Leeds) United; McAteer (Sunderland), Kinsella (Charlton Ath), Holland (Ipswich Tn), Kilbane (Sunderland); Keane (Leeds United), Duff (Blackburn Rvrs).
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Rep of Ireland
JASON McAteer was stretchered off with his head in hands after shipping a heavy knock in the 38th minutes of this friendly in Izumo.
The Sunderland winger, one of the most experienced players in the Irish squad, was about to send over a cross when he was floored by big defender Bilong's trailing leg as he was challenged.
Before Steven Reid was brought on to replace McAteer, the J-League side were ahead. Fujimoto's cross was headed home by Oki.
However Ireland restored parity three minutes later when Reid's corner was headed on by Kevin Kilbane and Robbie Keane nodded in.
Ireland began brightly but failed to break the deadlock, despite efforts by Kilbane, Duff and Keane, but they lacked aerial presence in the area to take advantage of some decent crosses.
Ireland dominated in the opening stages, but then Sanfrecce came into the game more as the game went on - and then took the lead as Ireland were shell-shocked by the injury to McAteer.
After the break it emerged that McAteer had suffered kneee damage and is out of the the opening Group E game against Cameroon.
Another Andy Reid corner almost put sub Gary Breen in minutes into the seconfd half but the centre half headed wide from close range.
Reid then went close with a low drive on 55 minutes before kevin Kilbane hobbled off with a bruised ankle.
Robbie Keane should have scored with 19 minutes remaining but he somehow missed with the goal at his mercy.
But Keane made amends with 12 to go when Mark Kinsella's long ball was headed down by Niall Quinn into the strikers path and he slotted home.
Republic of Ireland; Given (Newcastle United); Kelly (Leeds United), Dunne (Manchester City), Staunton (Aston Villa capt), Harte (Leeds) United; McAteer (Sunderland), Kinsella (Charlton Ath), Holland (Ipswich Tn), Kilbane (Sunderland); Keane (Leeds United), Duff (Blackburn Rvrs).