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Ireland show their strength in depth in emphatic win over USA Ireland show their strength in depth in emphatic win over USA
(about 1 hour later)
The Republic of Ireland may not possess the deepest of playing pools but the manager, Martin O’Neill, could still make 11 changes to the team which was defeated by Scotland last Friday night and would certainly have been pleased that his two debutants impressed in a convincing 4-1 win over a similarly experimental USA in Dublin. The Republic of Ireland may not possess the deepest playing pool but the manager, Martin O’Neill, could still make 11 changes to the team which was defeated by Scotland last Friday and would certainly have been pleased that his two debutants impressed in a convincing 4-1 win over a similarly experimental USA.
Shay Given, who came out of international retirement in September, made a couple of important stops on his return but it was the Derby defender Cyrus Christie and the Ipswich striker David McGoldrick who left the greatest impression. Robbie Brady scored twice from left-back and the returning Shay Given, who came out of international retirement in September, made a couple of important stops with the score at 2-1 but it was the new faces – the Derby defender Cyrus Christie and the Ipswich striker David McGoldrick – who left the greatest impression.
McGoldrick created Ireland’s first two goals with a pair of delightful passes and left the field to a standing ovation after 76 minutes. His first real involvement was an exquisite through-ball along the deck after seven minutes which was met by Anthony Pilkington after he had drawn two defenders to his feet in the centre of the pitch. The Cardiff winger glided on to the pass and nonchalantly lifted the ball over the head of the US goalkeeper Bill Hamid. McGoldrick created Ireland’s first two goals with a pair of delightful passes and left the field to a standing ovation after 76 minutes, while Christie produced a confident display at right-back, making regular jaunts into the US half, linking up well with Anthony Pilkington in front of him, to leave O’Neill satisfied.
The US enjoyed plenty of possession but it took a while before they showed signs of penetrating an unfamiliar Irish back-line which also included Robbie Brady at left-back. Their first notable opportunity arrived after 20 minutes when Alejandro Bedoya spotted Fabian Johnson unmarked at the edge of the area and the defender struck a sweet left-footed drive towards goal, only to be denied by a post. “They had two excellent debuts and I think they epitomise what we are trying to do here, which is to have a squad full of quality players,” O’Neill said. “McGoldrick was getting a bit tired later in the game – he hasn’t had a pre-season – but made a great contribution with those two assists and Cyrus was really outstanding going forward for us.”
Ireland contained the visitors well up until that juncture and could have doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Hamid did well to turn Daryl Murphy’s shot over for a corner following a neat one-two between Murphy and his clubmate McGoldrick. McGoldrick’s first involvement was an exquisite through-ball in the seventh minute which was met by Anthony Pilkington. The Cardiff winger glided on to the pass and nonchalantly lifted the ball over the head of the US goalkeeper Bill Hamid to open Ireland’s account.
But the US began to assert themselves more in the final third and were level six minutes before the break when David Meyler ceded possession too easily in midfield and the subsequent ball forward broke to Jozy Altidore on the left. The Sunderland striker, captaining the US, fizzed in a cross which was knocked back by Chris Wondolowski and Mix Diskerud capitalised on some slack marking to dispatch into the bottom right corner. The US enjoyed plenty of possession but it took a while before they showed signs of penetrating an unfamiliar Irish back-line. Their first notable opportunity arrived after 20 minutes when Alejandro Bedoya spotted Fabian Johnson unmarked at the edge of the area and the defender struck a sweet left-footed drive towards goal, only to be denied by a post.
Three minutes later Altidore struck the bar from 10 yards but Ireland retook the lead early in the second period through a moment of brilliance from McGoldrick, who spotted Brady carrying on a run from deep and found the Hull player with a deft back-heel. The US defence were static and Brady found the far corner. Jürgen Klinsmann was disappointed with the outcome, leaving the US with one win from their past eight, but warned his team to expect more pain as he looks to blood the next generation.
Bobby Wood was denied a second US equaliser by Given’s outstretched left boot on 66 minutes but Ireland were a far larger threat and Shane Long, on as a substitute for McGoldrick, hit a post after a fantastic dribble on the left nine minutes from time. “I’m not in a good mood right now,” Klinsmann said. “We saw some good stuff and a lot of not-so-good stuff. We are building now, we are introducing new, fresh players into the group and there will be growing pains. Obviously you don’t want to lose games but the development of these players does not come without pain.”
Confirmation of Ireland’s victory arrived 30 seconds later, though, as James McClean’s low left-footed shot took a heavy deflection off Geoff Cameron en route to the bottom right corner. Brady added the fourth with a stunning free-kick which looped over the wall, leading Hamid stranded four minutes from time. They should have led when Jozy Altidore hit the bar three minutes before half-time, having equalised through Mix Diskerud, but in the end were outclassed in the second half.
Diskerud’s goal came when David Meyler ceded possession too easily in midfield and the subsequent ball forward broke to Altidore on the left. The Sunderland striker, captaining the US, fizzed in a cross which was knocked back by Chris Wondolowski, and Diskerud capitalised on some slack marking to send the ball into the bottom right corner.
Once Ireland retook the lead, courtesy of a moment of brilliance from McGoldrick, who spotted Brady carrying on a run from deep and found the Hull player with a deft backheel, the US looked second best. They might still have snatched a second equaliser – Bobby Wood was denied by Given’s outstretched left boot on 66 minutes – but Ireland were consistently a far greater threat and Shane Long, on as a substitute for McGoldrick, hit a post after a fantastic dribble on the left nine minutes from time.
Confirmation of Ireland’s victory arrived seconds later, though, as James McClean’s low left-footed shot took a heavy deflection off Geoff Cameron en route to the bottom right corner. Brady added the fourth with a stunning free-kick which looped over the wall, leaving Hamid totally stranded, four minutes from time.
“Robbie was on a hat-trick from left-back,” O’Neill added. “He has things to improve on as a defender but he is an excellent footballer and has a great attitude. I was delighted for him. For him to be following up for our second to score from left-back was brilliant and he was so confident at that point that I felt he would score from the free-kick.”