Our two-year unbeaten record on home soil fell to Nigeria but not without a huge fight right up to the final minute. We tore the Nigerian penalty area in the dying moments but to no avail.
As we predicted, the Duffer took the Nigerians by surprise and within 60 seconds of the start, he confused the hell out of three different defenders and supplied two killer crosses. The first found McAteer at the back post but instead of trying his luck, the Sunderland midfielder headed back towards the centre, with none of our boys around to receive the ball.
Promising football from Ireland, good passing, plenty of goalmouth activity and pressure applied in all the right places. After a couple of minutes, McAteer had the TV viewers and the capacity of Lansdowne holding their breath, when his hamstring looked like it was troubled, after he fell awkwardly but he seemed fine after a few minutes. Again Duff was supplying deadly crosses, one in particular from the right but Keane (Robbie) couldn’t capitalise to give Ireland the lead when his feet became tangled in the ball.
The Nigerians were strong, organised and passed well. Then came their breakthrough. Nigeria's first goal came through good one touch passing, between Aghahowa and Okocha. The last time Ireland conceded the opening goal at Lansdowne Road was to Andorra 12 months ago, in the world Cup qualifiers.
Half time: Republic of Ireland 0 – 1 Nigeria
Substitution time for the Republic with Steven Reid on for McAteer, and Clinton Morrison on for Keane (Robbie) at half time. Nigeria opened the second-half and applied pressure to our penalty box almost immediately, when Sofje headed their first corner of the second half into the back of Shays Net. Lansdowne was silent, well the home fans were, but there was a lot of noise coming from the Nigerian supporters. But with the arrival of our subs, Staunton played a wonderful ball to Reid, skipped inside two defenders and played a neat one-two with Morrison, then Reid blasted a left foot smash into the back of the net.
We should have had a penalty when again Reid fired in a cross from the right that appeared to hit Opabunmi’s hand but Irish roars for a penalty came to nothing. One more sub, Connolly (on for the Duffer), had the ball in the net after Morrison broke through down the right but Clinton was flagged for offside and Connolly's six-yard finish didn't count.
We learned a lot from the style of African play. Organised, well passed balls and good set plays. Roll on the African Nation Champions, Cameroon.
Teams on the night
Ireland:
Given; Finnan, Cunningham, Staunton, Harte; McAteer (Reid h-t), Keane, Holland, Kilbane (Kelly (60); Robbie Keane (Morrison 60), Duff (Connolly 60).
Nigeria
Shorumnu; West, Okoronkwo, Obiora, Sodje; Yobo, Kanu, Agahowa, Opabunmi; Ogbeche, Ikedia
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