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REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 3 SAUDI ARABIA 0 World Cup football home page Robbie Keane 7, Breen 61, Duff 87 _____________________________________________________________________ This World Cup match between the Republic of Ireland and Saudi Arabia took place on Tuesday 11th June at Yokohama, Japan at 12.30pm (BST- British Summer Time). To see the Republic of Ireland team page click here. The team that played in the match is shown below: The Ireland team was: Shay Given Steve Finnan Gary Breen Steve Staunton (captain) Ian Harte (Kevin Cunningham 87) (Niall Quinn 46) Gary Kelly Mark Kinsella Matt Holland Kevin Kilbane (Jason McAteer 79) (Lee Carsley 89) Robbie Keane Damien Duff The Saudi Arabia line up was: Al-Daeyea, Tukar, Al Jahani (Al-Dossary 78), Zubromawi (Al Dossary 67), Sulimani, Ah Shehri, Ibrahim Al-Shahrani, Al-Temyat, Al-Khathran (Al Shlhoub 68), Al Yami, Al-Dossary This was the final group match for Ireland and Saudi Arabia. Ireland had held Cameroon 1-1 and held Germany 1-1 and before the game needed a 2-0 victory against Saudi Arabia to ensure qualification for the next stage. Saudi Arabia had lost 8-0 to Germany and 1-0 to Cameroon and could not progress to the second round whatever this result was. In the end, Ireland won 3-0 and therefore comfortably qualified for the
second round by coming second in the group to Germany (who beat Cameroon 2-0 at
the same time) - Ireland scored an early goal but had some difficult moments in
the first half before showing their better quality in the second half. After 7 minutes of the game, Ireland were 1-0 up. From inside the centre circle captain Steve Staunton fired an excellent ball to Gary Kelly near the corner flag on the right wing - Kelly let the ball bounce once before crossing it in to Robbie Keane - Keane had pulled back away from his marker and from the centre of the penalty box he volleyed the ball into the net under the Saudi goalkeeper. After they went behind the Saudi Arabian team did not capitulate (as they did
against Germany) and they put in a strong performance towards the end of the
first half with Ireland not playing very well. The Irish goalkeeper, Shay Given
had to make three good saves before half time to keep Ireland in front. At the start of the second half Robbie Keane received a ball from Damien Duff
on the left wing, turned and shot just wide. Then he had another good chance but
shot straight at the goalkeeper.
After 61 minutes of the game Ireland went 2-0 up (the first time they have ever scored more than one goal in a World Cup match). Kevin Kilbane was fouled on the left wing, Staunton took the free kick and from inside the penalty area Gary Breen got ahead of the defender to volley the ball into the net with the outside of his right foot. Niall Quinn then had a good chance from a Gary Kelly cross but put it wide. With three minutes of the game left, Ireland did score again to make the final score 3-0. Matt Holland put Damien Duff through on the left wing and from a sharp angle he blasted the ball through the goalkeepers hands for his first World Cup goal. Damien Duff was the best player on the pitch in the second half and his goal ensured that Ireland qualified for the next phase in second place - here they will almost certainly face Spain at Suwon, South Korea on Sunday 16 June at12.30 BST (British Summer Time). [Note that Ireland could face South Africa instead if they beat Spain on 12 June.]
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