Goals from Robbie Keane (7mins) and Gary Breen (61 mins)inside 65 minutes gave us the two-goal advantage we knew would be enough, and the Duffers late third in Yokohama sealed our progress to the last 16. We will now face Spain in Suwon (Sunday 16th 12.30 ko Irish time), providing that the Spanish in-form side are not beaten by the ordinary-looking South Africa in the final round of Group B games.
As it turned out, one goal would have done the job thanks to Germany's 2-0 win over Cameroon in Shizuoka, but this is the first time Ireland have scored more than once in a World Cup finals match. And this fearless Irish squad will continue to leave the past where it belongs. Incidentally there were 16 yellow cards and 2 red cards in the Germany v Cameroon game, with both teams finishing with 10 men.
What a hard two years we have had, with some saying the hard work had already been done, but then again wasn’t it done in the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign? Until a last-minute goal saw lowly Macedonia deprive Ireland of a place in the final stages.
There’s no doubt that the Republic of Ireland had the qualifying “GROUP OF DEATH”, and as we have heard our English friends go on about since they entered their campaign in their own group of Death draw with Argentina, Sweden and Nigeria in the Finals. But these 22 players have already shrugged off the loss of Roy Keane, and apart from a brief spell of nerves after Robbie Keane's opener today, they never looked like messing up.
And what must be said of Mick McCarthy? He has been criticised in most quarters, and now he will surely get the credit he deserves, in that he has joined “Big Jack” in taking his country to the last 16. McCarthy’s decisions today proved that he is a “class coach”, with the tactical gamble he made at the break. With the Republic ahead but vulnerable to the forward bursts of Al-Jahani on the right, Mick took Harte off, threw on Quinny and lined up on the left with the Duffer ahead of Kilbane.
And it certainly paid off, with Kilbane a revelation and the Duffer preventing Al-Jahani's breaks with a display of direct strong running which again terrorised the Saudis. It was Duff's pace that created the opening for the nerve-settling second. When his storming run drew the umpteenth Saudi block of the evening, it was the only way the opposition could stop him, so they continued to foul him.
Stan's free kick found Gary Breen who volleyed beyond Saudi Keeper All-Deaya. This was the second finish of the evening, Robbie Keane having earlier met Gary Kelly’s looping centre with a perfect volley of his own, and the ball creet under Al-Deaya's body. And if the keeper was partly at fault for the first, he will be without a doubt fuming at his handling of the third as he let the Duffers powerful drive from Mattie Holland's brilliant through-ball slip through his fingers (87 mins). Three minutes added time as we beat our World Cup goal jinx of never having scored more than one goal in the finals. Today also saw Captain, Steve Staunton (Stan) earn his 101st cap for the Republic of Ireland
And lets not forget, that we could return there to that very Stadium on June 30, as this is the most open World Cup in living memory. Our boys will have as much belief as anyone.
Teams on the night
Republic of Ireland
Shay Given, Gary Kelly (Jason McAteer 80), Gary Breen, Steve Staunton, Ian Harte (Niall Quinn 46), Steve Finnan, Matt Holland, Mark Kinsella (Lee Carsley 89), Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane.
Saudi Arabia
Al-Deayea, Mohammed Al-Jahani (Ahmed Dokhi 79), Redha Tukar, Abdullah Sulaiman (Abdullah Jumaan 68), Fouzi Al-Shehri, Hussein Sulimani, Ibrahim Al-Shahrani, Abdulaziz Al-Khathran (Mohammad Al-Shloub 67), Khamis Al-Owairan, Nawaf Al-Temyat, Al-Hassan Al-Yami.
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