FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 QUALIFYING ROUND
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0
WALES 0
By Daire Walsh
It was a game that was hotly-anticipated by all in attendance, but Republic of Ireland and 10-man Wales ultimately couldn’t be separated in Group D of the Fifa World Cup 2018 Qualifying Round at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.
The 69th-minute sending-off of Neil Taylor gave Ireland momentum in the closing stages, but although Martin O’Neill’s side find themselves in second place in the group table (just behind Serbia on score difference), they will be disappointed not to secure a dramatic winner from this underwhelming clash.
Following their impressive 1-0 away victory against Austria in November, Ireland had found themselves in top spot with four games played. However, Serbia’s 3-1 success against Georgia in an earlier kick-off meant they had dropped down to second by the time the action got underway in the Ballsbridge venue.
Owing to a combination of injuries and a suspension for Burnley’s Robbie Brady, just six players remained in the Irish starting line-up from the Austrian game. Previous first-choice pairing Richard Keogh and John O’Shea replaced Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy at the heart of the Irish defence, where Stephen Ward was also deputising for his club-mate Brady.
Having passed a fitness test ahead of the game, Everton’s James McCarthy was named in central midfield with Glenn Whelan. Yet, an injury in the warm-up for McCarthy led to David Meyler’s subsequent promotion from the bench – while in a re-shuffled attack, the returning Shane Long took the place of the absent Wes Hoolahan.
It was initially expected that Welsh talisman Gareth Bale would miss this game following an injury to his ankle back in November, but thanks to his return to full fitness in recent weeks, the Real Madrid star was selected in the visiting team for this mouth-watering encounter.
In stark contrast to his Irish counterpart, Wales boss Chris Coleman had a full hand to choose from – and was able to pick the same eleven that defeated Belgium in last summer’s Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium.
Aside from Bale, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey is seen as a key figure for Wales – but it was Ramsey’s midfield partner, Joe Allen, who was the most impressive performer for much of the opening period. The late withdrawal of McCarthy certainly would have given the away side incentive, and the Stoke City man (who previously played with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers at Swansea City and Liverpool) was very productive with the ball during the early exchanges.
Whelan did have a shot off-target inside the opening 60 seconds of the play, but by and large, it Wales who were on top of possession in the first-quarter. Ireland were opting for a direct approach up to either Long (operating in a long striker role) or the imposing Walters, and although James McClean – donning the number 5 jersey as a tribute to late Derry City captain Ryan McBride – was his usual energetic self, the Irish attackers were living off scraps as the half developed.
Though he was ostensibly a front-line partner for Hal Robson-Kanu, Bale was generally drifting out towards the right-wing – a position he regularly takes up in Madrid’s much-vaunted front-three. He delivered a superb pass into the Irish box on 23 minutes, but despite getting in behind Irish captain Seamus Coleman, wing-back Taylor couldn’t control the ball in mid-flight.
Chances were largely at a premium, but Long almost got on the end of a neat through-ball by Hendrick just beyond the half-hour mark. McClean’s 34th-minute corner from the right-side also posed a problem for the Welsh defence, and while Long flicked the ball onto the hand of Ben Davies, it was an accidental intervention from the Tottenham Hotspur man.
As the half drew to a close, the play continued to be quite scrappy, and both sides had to be content with a stalemate at the midway stage. Despite being well contained in the opening 45 minutes, Bale was nevertheless a major threat to the Irish rearguard.
His 30 yard free-kick three minutes after the restart was comfortably saved by Irish netminder Darren Randolph, but his powerful drive from the next attack floated just past the Bray native’s right-hand post.
Randolph also dealt with a close-range attempt from Ramsey – who was booked on 56 minutes for a high-boot on Whelan. This was the first major flash point in the game, before a brace of incidents towards the end of the third-quarter forced a reaction from referee Nicola Rizzoli.
Bale was booked for a late tackle on O’Shea as he cleared a Welsh cross in the 68th-minute. This means he will miss Wales’ next game through suspension, but television replays suggested he was fortunate to escape a straight red-card for his challenge on former Manchester United defender.
However, Wales were reduced to ten men just a minute later, when Taylor was given his marching orders for a horror tackle on Coleman. The severity of this incident ensured that no replays were shown in the stadium (or at home), and the Irish skipper had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
His spot at right-back was taken by Cyrus Christie of Derby County, and he showed an appetite for work during his short time on the pitch. His ball into the area, 16 minutes from the end, kept Wales on the back-foot, and McClean’s resulting shot was deflected just past the target.
Taylor’s dismissal appeared to galvanise Ireland, but they were almost caught on the break after 84 minutes. Sloppy play in midfield allowed Welsh substitute Jazz Richards room to stretch his legs on the right touchline, and after he cut onto his left-foot, he fired just past the far post.
This was a minor let-off for Ireland, and even though Aiden McGeady added a spark to Ireland’s play in the final-third upon his introduction (Meyler made way for him in the 79th-minute), a winning goal eluded the hosts.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Darren Randolph; Seamus Coleman (Cyrus Christie ’72), Richard Keogh, John O’Shea, Stephen Ward; Glenn Whelan, David Meyler (Aiden McGeady ’79); Jon Walters, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean; Shane Long.
Subs not used: Keiren Westwood, Colin Doyle, Kevin Doyle, Daryl Horgan, Cyrus Christie, John Egan, Conor Hourihane, Jonny Hayes, Callum O’Dowda, Alex Pearce.
WALES: Wayne Hennessey; Chris Gunter, James Chester, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor; Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley (Jazz Richards ’72); Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu (Sam Vokes ’46).
Subs not used: Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams, Andy King, Shaun McDonald, David Edwards, Harry Wilson, Jazz Richards, James Collins, Joseph Walsh, Tom Bradshaw, Benjamin Woodburn.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).