Late goal wins it for Ireland - 18/04/2002
A late Gary Doherty goal earned Ireland a 2-1 victory over the USA at a rain sodden Lansdowne Road on Wednesday night.
The Tottenham defender headed home Steve Staunton's free kick after 83 minutes to send the 39,000 fans home happy, as they saw Ireland notch up their third successive victory of 2002.
Heavy rain on Wednesday meant that the Lansdowne Road surface was in poor condition. With the ball often getting held up in puddles, the match was never going to be a classic, but both teams acquitted themselves well after a cagey opening. Ireland dominated possession in the opening few minutes while getting to grips with the soggy surface.
Rory Delap's tame effort was easily saved by Brad Friedel after three minutes, but the American goalkeeper was helpless three minutes later when Mark Kinsella started and finished a fine move to give Ireland the lead. The Charlton midfielder set Delap free on the right and he then fed the overlapping Steve Finnan to send over a perfect cross for Kinsella to volley past Friedel.
It was the Dubliner's third Ireland goal and his best yet. The USA could have been level moments later when Shay Given was forced to turn away Clint Mathis' 25-yard pile driver. At the other end, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff were causing the visitors plenty of problems and they were repeatedly fouled, though Ireland failed to test Friedel from any of the free kicks that they won.
Despite their difficulties with handling Duff and Keane, the USA were also causing problems of their own. In midfield, Claudio Reyna was finding plenty of space to weave his magic and it came as no surprise when Bruce Arena's men drew level, though the nature of the goal would have annoyed **** McCarthy. John O'Brien swung over a corner and Eddie Pope rose above Delap to head past Given.
Ireland pressed forward, but yet again, found no way past Gregg Berhalter and Pope, and it was the visitors who had the final chance of the first half when Mathis fired wide from the edge of the area when unmarked. Both sides made a spate of substitutions at half time, but rather than dilute the action, it only intensified it as both sides pressed for a winning goal.
Ireland almost took the lead after just one minute when Rory Delap saw his powerful header saved by Kasey Keller after David Connolly had flicked on Robbie Keane's cross. As the half wore on, Ireland began to take control with Keane and Healy asserting themselves though USA substitute Josh Wolff should have put the visitors ahead after 65 minutes when Greg Vanney's cross found him unmarked in the box.
However, the Chicago Fire man could only head straight at Given. Ireland then had a number of half chances with Delap heading over under a tough challenge by Pope and Reid firing wide from 25 yards. However, Ireland got a deserved winner with seven minutes remaining when Doherty rose above Tony Sanneh to head Staunton's right wing cross past Keller.
The USA had a number of opportunities to equalise in the closing minutes with Wolff forcing an excellent save out of Given with a powerful volley.
Teams:
Republic of Ireland: Given (Newcastle United), Finnan (Fulham), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Breen (Coventry), Harte (Leeds United), Delap (Southampton), Kinsella (Charlton), Healy (Coventry), Kilbane (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Leeds United), Duff (Blackburn). Subs: Cunningham (Wimbledon) for O'Brien, Connolly (Wimbledon) for Duff, Kelly (Leeds United) for Finnan, Holland (Ipswich) for Kinsella, Staunton (Aston Villa) for Harte, Reid (Millwall) for Kilbane (All half time), Doherty (Tottenham) for Breen (71 minutes), Morrison (Crystal Palace) for Keane (83 minutes).
USA: Friedel, Sanneh, Pope, Berhalter, Agoos, Reyna, Stewart, Armas, O'Brien, McBride, Mathis. Subs: Lewis for O'Brien, Vanney for Berhalter, Moore for McBride, Keller for Friedel, Donovan for Stewart (All half time), Wolff for Mathis (63 minutes), Hejduk for Reyna (71 minutes).
YAY!!! Nice goal. Even if it was a little late... And Romire got the score - line right...
