Another Dream Start, Another Nightmare Finish!

The script for Ireland V Israel games is summed up with Ireland getting the dream start and then having a nightmare finish.  As in the Tel Aviv game , this was also a game of points lost!

Ireland put the pressure on from the start, after

After just three minutes, Keane raced through onto long pass from Ian Harte, selected for his first game in twelve months due to an injury crisis among the Irish defence.   Keane was bundled over by  Banado in the penalty area, a definite penalty.   The referee did not see the incident and the referee's assistant apparently did not see anything wrong with the shove!   A few moments later Kilbane was tripped by Adoram Keisi for a free-kick juts outside the area.  Keane, who had looked to be in some pain, received treatment on his shoulder.  Harte hit a trademark free-kick and curled the ball over the wall, Aouate managed to get a had to it but could only help it on its way into the back of the net.

Ireland were comfortably in control ànd continued to apply pressure with both Gershon and Banado clearing.   After eleven minutes  Holland’s tackle in midfield gave the ball to Reid’s whose through ball from the centre circle found Keane who had managed to get behind the Israeli back line, and he made no mistake in volleying the ball past Aouate  for his 25th international goal.

Ireland were devastating the Israeli defence with Duff and Reid running riot on the wings and even switching wings and were aptly supported by superb running from Kilbane and Keane.

After twenty five minutes Duff and Harte's interplay released Morrison whose shot was parried by Aouate, Keane pounced in the rebound to put the ball in the back of the net, but was flagged offside.   At that moment Keane, suffering form his shoulder injury, was substituted by Kavanagh.  Duff went upfront and Kavanagh slotted into the centre of midfield with Kilbane moving to the wing.

Ireland seemed to lose the free flowing movement that they had displayed up until that point.  they did remain in control but seemed to have lost the edge. 

It was totally against the run of play when Israel pulled one goal back in the 39th minute. Holland was harshly adjudged to have fouled Avi Nimny 40 yards from goal.

And from the resulting free kick, Yossi Benyoun floated the ball across for debut defender Avi Yehiel to beat Shay Given with a looping header from the edge of the area.

While the atmosphere in Lansdowne Road changed to one of slight nervousness, the Ireland team continued to play the same game and were well on top when, once again, Israel were given a goal out of nothing in injury time at the end of the first half.

John O’Shea climbed over Benyoun in the penalty area in an attempt to reach an Abbas Suan cross, but the referee was quickly on the scene to award a penalty.
 
The drama was not over with Nimny first attempt at taking the penalty halted by the referee after Israel players encroached into the area and when, on the second attempt, Nimny blasted the ball home, the referee ordered a retake for further encroaching.

While many players would have panicked, Nimny kept his nerve and once again slotted the ball home to ensure an undeserved 2-2 draw at half time for the visitors.

With Israel’s tails up, Ireland could expect a tough second half as they looked to regain the lead though, once again, the home started quickly.

In the 48th minute, Duff almost made it 3-2 when Kavanagh’s corner flew across the face of goal though, with an empty goal in front of him, Duff miscued his header into the arms of Aouate.

Ireland continued to press forward but could not break the Israeli’s down while the visitors also resorted to theatrics very early on to break up the rhythm of the game. Goalkeeper Aouate was particularly guilty of this going down injured several times to delay the game.

Even when chances were coming Ireland’s way, they were missed with substitute Gary Doherty heading well wide from a Harte cross in the 75th minute and two minutes later, the striker headed a Holland corner wide with Aouate in no man’s land.

The pressure on the Israel goal continued to mount with Aouate making a great point blank save from Duff after Morrison’s perfect pass put the winger clean through on goal.

With seven minutes remaining, Ireland were then reduced to ten men when O’Brien was dismissed after a piece of play acting with Aouate.

O’Brien fouled the goalkeeper challenging for a high ball and when the pair fell on the ground, the ‘keeper punched O’Brien and as the defender turned around, Aouate fell backwards as if head butted.

Even after that, Ireland continued to dominate the game and Aouate made an outstanding save to thwart O’Shea when he headed a Doherty knock down goalwards with three minutes remaining while several penalty appeals went unheeded during the seven minutes of stoppage time.

Teams: Republic of Ireland: Given; O’Shea, Cunningham, O’Brien, Harte; Reid (Doherty 63 minutes), Holland, Kilbane, Duff; Keane (Kavanagh 25 minutes), Morrison.

Israel: Aouate; Yehiel, Banado, Gershon, Klemi, Keisi; Benyoun, Tal, Suan, Nimny (Golan 78 minutes).
Subs: Balali for Katan (65 mins),

Referee: K Vassaras (Greece)