2 months ago
The Republic of Ireland were riding a activity of assurance into nan World Cup playoff semi-final, according to Séamus Coleman, but it struck a stone connected an agonising nighttime successful Prague. Heimir Hallgrímsson’s broadside squandered nan inaugural doubly against nan Czech Republic, successful normal clip and successful nan punishment shootout, arsenic their hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup successful 24 years evaporated.
Ireland led 2-0 aft 23 minutes courtesy of a Troy Parrott punishment and a calamitous ain extremity by Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar but they talented nan hosts a way backmost erstwhile Ryan Manning conceded a needless spot-kick. An 86th-minute equaliser from Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci took nan crippled into other clip and past connected to penalties.
Ireland led again 3-2 successful nan shootout erstwhile Caoimhín Kelleher saved from Mojmir Chytil only for Finn Azaz and Alan Browne to neglect to hit Kovar pinch nan adjacent 2 attempts. Jan Kliment converted nan 5th and last spot-kick to nonstop nan Czechs into a location last against Denmark connected Tuesday. For Ireland, a 5th conclusion successful six World Cup playoffs was self-inflicted misery.
The lucifer started arsenic nan respective qualifying campaigns had ended; Ireland afloat of assurance and connected nan beforehand foot, nan Czech Republic subdued and vulnerable. The shape only changed erstwhile Ryan Manning handed nan hosts an unnecessary lifeline.
Czech Republic whitethorn beryllium higher successful nan world rankings – 43rd to Ireland’s 59 – and had not mislaid a World Cup aliases European Championship qualifier astatine location successful complete 9 years, but their build-up to nan crippled said of troubled times for Czech football. Ivan Hasek was sacked arsenic head successful October aft an embarrassing conclusion by nan Faroe Islands that ended immoderate imaginable of automatic qualification, resulting successful 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek taking complaint of nan nationalist squad for nan first time.
Tomas Soucek was stripped of nan captaincy for not acknowledging supporters aft nan last qualifier against Gibraltar and besides mislaid his spot successful nan starting lineup arsenic Krejci took nan captain’s armband. And, to apical it all, 47 group were charged this week by nan Czech FA arsenic portion of an investigation into match-fixing.
Ireland instantly sought to capitalise connected nan uncertainty successful nan Czech ranks. All of nan early threat came from nan visitors pinch Jake O’Brien’s agelong throw-ins causing mayhem successful nan location defence. Parrott turned 1 O’Brien propulsion into nan way of Nathan Collins who struck Kovar’s crossbar pinch a first clip changeable from nan separator of nan area. The captain’s effort took a flimsy deflection en way and, from Finn Azaz’s consequent corner, Collins roseate supra Tomas Holes but headed wide from adjacent range.
Collins went down appealing for a punishment erstwhile O’Brien’s adjacent propulsion was flicked into his way wrong nan area. Play continued for respective minutes, pinch Pavel Sulc volleying nan Czech Republic’s first chance of nan necktie consecutive astatine Caoimhín Kelleher, earlier nan video adjunct referee advised Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg to revisit Collins’ declare connected nan pitch-side monitor. The defender had been caught connected nan underside of his footwear by Vladimir Darida arsenic they challenged for nan ball. There was minimal interaction but capable successful Nyberg’s eyes to grant nan softest of punishment kicks.
Parrott’s spot footwear was delayed by Kovar’s antics connected nan statement but, undeterred, nan prolific striker swept a powerful punishment past nan goalkeeper’s correct hand. The show of Ireland fans celebrating successful nan location extremity down nan extremity confirmed nan distant contingent wrong nan stadium had swelled beyond nan charismatic 1,024 summons allocation.
The visitors recovered themselves successful dreamland erstwhile a calamitous ain extremity doubled their advantage 4 minutes later. The Czech Republic were fixed erstwhile Azaz delivered a area to nan acold station for nan unmarked Dara O’Shea to caput backmost crossed goal.
Former West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal attempted to clear but succeeded only successful heading against nan wrong of his ain barroom and post. The shot dropped connected to nan enarthrosis of goalkeeper Kovar and complete nan statement earlier Schick could intervene.
Ireland’s celebrations were worthy of a two-goal cushion distant from location and nan unmistakable consciousness that their opponents were imploding. Settle, protect nan lead astatine each costs, do thing stupid: unluckily Manning did not get nan memo.
The Czechs had offered thing successful onslaught but won a area seconds aft nan restart that Sulc headed connected to Krejci. The captain’s first touch took him distant from extremity and nan shot was heading retired of play erstwhile Manning pulled nan backmost of Krejci’s jersey. It was a clear and foolish foul by nan Southampton player. Schick struck a cool punishment into nan apical area and, from retired of nowhere, nan location broadside were backmost successful a title that had been slipping distant from them.
Ireland again deed nan woodwork early successful nan 2nd half erstwhile nan hosts cleared a area only arsenic acold arsenic Jayson Molumby. The midfielder connected cleanly from 20 yards and was conscionable turning to observe erstwhile his changeable rebounded disconnected nan ft of a station pinch Kovar good beaten.
Inevitably, nan unit connected Kelleher’s extremity intensified arsenic nan Czech Republic tried to salvage their World Cup hopes. Ireland sat deep, looking to utilise Chiedozie Ogbene’s gait connected nan correct arsenic an outlet, and it took a superb prevention from Kovar to forestall Parrott scoring his 2nd of nan nighttime pinch a deft header from different O’Brien agelong throw. It would beryllium a captious involution and nan level for nan hosts’ melodramatic precocious equaliser erstwhile Krejci headed location substitute Michal Sadilek’s free-kick.
