Filed under: Euro 2012, Football, Match Reports, Scotland
Robbie Keane netted the goal that allowed the Republic of Ireland to lift the Carling Nations Cupat Scotland's expense on an evening when it was always going to be winner takes all.
And in so doing, he netted his 49th goal in international football, equalling the British Isles record of Sir Bobby Charlton, England's World Cup winner.
Charlton scored his goals in 106 games, including many against the Home Nations; Keane's came in 107.
Keane, who turns 31 in July, had scored twice in the Republic's previous Carling Nations Cup game, the 5-0 win over Northern Ireland.
And his goal in this game brought his season's tally for his nation to eight - compared with just one for Tottenham, his current club, and two during a loan spell at West Ham.
Simon Cox, the West Bromwich Albion forward, saw an early Irish opportunity deflected behind for a corner before Blackpool's Charlie Adam sent a 25-yarder just over at the other end.
Shay Given prevented Phil Bardsley from putting the Scots in front with a remarkable flying save.
The Sunderland full back let fly from 35 yards out and his swerving drive was destined for the top corner before Given, the reserve goalkeeper at Manchester City these days, tipped it on to the top of the crossbar.
Keane's opener was one to remember in its own right. Paul McShane, the right back, brought the ball out of defence and, following a neat little flick to fool a challenger, he set the striker off and running inside the centre circle.
The Scots defence backed off and that allowed Keane to fire in a low, left-footed drive that goalkeeper Allan McGregor probably should have saved.
The half ended with a few feisty challenges and some downright poor tackles and Welsh referee Mark Whitby had to intervene to calm tempers down.
Cox fired across goal and just wide early in the second period after Stephen Hunt's quick free kick had found him in space as Ireland started strongly again.
James Forrest, the Celtic winger who was making his Scotland debut, came close to an equaliser but could not hit the target beyond the back post after Barry Robson's cross had eluded the home defence.
Steven Naismith hooked an even better Scotland chance wide after captain Kenny Miller had been booked for complaining that he should have been awarded a penalty and within seconds Given had to pull off a reflex save to prevent Miller hooking home.
The Scots finished strongly and there was one last chance for Miller as he raced clear only to fire wastefully wide with the goal at his mercy.
REACTION:
Keane was delighted to draw level with Sir Bobby:
"It's what we've been talking about all week, equalling Bobby Charlton's record, and I'm obviously very pleased to do that."
Keane was also confident this victory would help in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia on Saturday:
"The most important thing is, like any international game, winning and getting our confidence up and now our preparation is for next Saturday so we're fully focused for that.
"Of course it has been a good week. All you want when you come to a camp is to get the confidence going through the camp and that is certainly what happened. Two wins in the last week is great and we are hoping to take that into the next game against Macedonia."
Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni was adamant his most experienced players, including Manchester United's John O'Shea (who was not involved because of club commitments), should be picked more by their clubs:
"It is not my habit to cry about the English club's situation but this was proof our players can play in any English club. I cannot understand why Robbie Keane, Shay Given or John O'Shea (do not play) but I am not the manager of the clubs. They play well with the national team and we win also."
The Italian was pleased to have won the trophy, which they did with a 100 percent record and without conceding a goal:
"I said it would not be an easy game but we wanted to win this trophy. We are very satisfied. We tried three or four options and these options played very well. We scored nine goals and conceded nil. That is a demonstration that the team played with good discipline.
"I was confident about the result and when we play with this discipline and mentality it is possible to achieve every result. We can go to Macedonia with more confidence to achieve an important result."
Scotland manager Craig Levein felt his side had deserved more:
"Frustration is the first word that jumps into my mind. We played the game in a manner that would normally result in at least a draw, possibly a win. We played well tonight. Coming across here and playing the Republic at the their home ground wasn't an easy thing to do but for long spells of the game we were the better team.
"We created enough chances tonight to win. You are lucky if you get two or three chances in international football sometimes and we had double that. Normally that would be enough. It wasn't to be tonight but I have great admiration for the players and the way they have handled themselves this week. They have given absolutely everything they had at the end of a long season and I am sure the supporters will have been very appreciative of their efforts tonight."
WHAT IT MEANS:
That the Republic can resume competitive action in a positive frame of mind - and that the Scots are still making steady progress under Levein.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/05/29/republic-of-ireland-1-scotland-0-robbie-keane-makes-history-in/
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