Australia 3
Brian McDonnell
At Thomond Park
BETWEEN fingers over our eyes on Wednesday night we watched Australia beat the Republic of Ireland to within an inch of their lives leaving Giovanni Trapattoni’s side begging for the final whistle on humanitarian grounds.
While it was a joy to watch Pim Verbeek’s side stroke the ball effortlessly across a pristine Thomond Park and threaten Shay Given’s goal at will the Republic’s flaccid performance will concern Irish supporters ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against Cyprus on September 5 in Nicosia - there days later the Republic will return to Thomond Park to face South Africa (Tuesday, September 8) in another international friendly.
Ireland were well and truly out-classed at Thomond Park, humiliatingly exposed to the world like a naked man caught in the shower after the rest of his house has collapsed all around him. Australia, with Tim Cahill in rude good form, were the far superior outfit leaving the Irish players to stagger off to their loser’s dressing room, disconcerted and a probably feeling a little sick.
Two first half strikes from Tim Cahill and a late David Carney effort from 30 yards gave Australia their deserved win.
The Socceroos were the first to threaten in the seventh minute when Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell combined before the ball finally broke to Luke Wilkshire who pulled his low shot just wide. Mere seconds later Harry Kewell’s effort drew an excellent save from Shay Given and the alarm bells were ringing.
Following Aiden McGeady’s cross in the 13th minute Robbie Keane did bring the home support to its feet, but Keane’s looping header flew two feet clear of the bar.
Such Irish attacks were only of a token nature in the opening half.
In the 22nd minute Patrick Kisnorb connected with Mark Bresciano’s pin-point corner and drew another good save out of Shay Given before Robbie Keane, following good work by Aiden McGeady on the left flank, tricked his way past a couple defenders, but could not beat Mark Schwarzer at his near post.
Finally Australia’s ambitious brand of football earned a dividend in the 38th minute. When an Irish corner was hacked clear by the Australian defence toward Tim Cahill on the half-way line there appeared to be little danger. The Everton star however turned, exchanged passes with Glasgow Celtic’s Scott McDonald, and then unleashed a rasping shot from 20 yards which flew by Shay Given’s out-stretched right hand to give the Socceroos a deserved lead.
A deathly hush fell around Thomond Park which made the celebrating Australian players look like disrespectful children playing at a funeral - patrons of that famous old ground are not used to seeing the home side surrender so meekly.
Australia, who were the second side (behind Japan) to qualify for next summer’s World Cup, doubled their lead a minute before half time.
This time right-back Rhys Williams proved the Republic’s chief tormentor. Williams waltzed past Aiden McGeady and barged his way into the 18-yard box before turning onto his left and firing in a shot which Shay Given did exceptionally well to parry. Unfortunately Tim Cahill was hovering nearby and happily tapped in his second goal of the evening.
Ireland attempted to redress the balance in the second half. Giovanni Trapattoni introduced a lively Stephen Hunt to the side while he also swapped Eddie Nolan for Kevin Kilbane and Keith Andrews for Darron Gibson. All three substitutions significantly improved the Irish side, but the Republic still failed to change the complexion of this game in any material way.
In the 49th minute Mark Schwarzer did well to palm away Stephen Hunt’s effort while Australia’s Brett Holman stung the hands of Shay Given from distance in the 55th.
With Stephen Hunt growing into his role as chief tormentor of the Australians there was hope of a consolation goal for Ireland, but when the Hull City winger fired wide from well inside the 18-yard box on the hour mark notable groans emanated from a now impatient home crowd.
Sean St Ledger almost stole in for goal following Stephen Hunt’s 77th minute corner, but the misfortunate centre-half mistimed his effort slightly and the opportunity to score was spurned.
Australia’s Harry Kewell, with nine minutes of normal time remaining, beat sub ‘keeper Kieran Westwood with a flashing drive in the 81st minute, but unfortunately for Kewell his sensational effort drifted just wide.
The Republic had their eager supporters on their feet once more in the 88th minute when Eddie Nolan picked out Keith Andrews loitering on the edge of the Australian box -Andrews fired in a terrific shot which curled around the Socceroos’ ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer, but found a post and was cleared to safety.
Then, in the 93rd minute, Australia’s David Carney, the left-back mind, conjured a wonderful goal. The combination of Luke Wilkshire and Nick Carle worked the ball out to Carney who took aim from fully 31 yards and planted an extraordinary shot in Kieran Westwood’s top right-hand corner. A brilliant goal and a fitting end to an historic night at Thomond Park.
Republic of Ireland: Shay Given, John O’Shea, Sean St Ledger, Richard Dunne, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff, Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Aiden McGeady, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane. Subs: Caleb Folan for Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt for Damien Duff, Keith Andrews for Darron Gibson, Eddie Nolan for Kevin Kilbane, Kieran Westwood for Shay Given, Shane Long for Aiden McGeady.
Australia: Mark Schwarzer, Rhys Williams, Patrick Kisnorbo, Jade North, David Carney, Mark Bresciano, Mile Jedinak, Luke Wilkshire, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Scott McDonald. Subs: Brett Holman for Tim Cahill, Adrian Madaschi for Patrick Kisnorbo, Nikita Rukavytsya for Scott McDonald, Matt Spiranovic for Jade North, Nick Carle for Mark Bresciano, James Holland for Mile Jedinak.
Referee: Alfonso Perez Burrul (Spain).
Brian McDonnell
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