Disaster for Mick McCarthy and his Irish team, conceding the first defeat at Lansdowne Road since 1995. It would seem a matter of time now, before he walks away from his job as Irish coach.
A disjointed, hesitant performance never deserved anything more than defeat and now, the knives will be out in a big way.
Early moments saw both teams cautious and unwilling to commit too much to the attack, though Ireland probably shaded the opening exchanges.
After nine minutes Ian Harte won a free-kick which was swung into the box from the left by Damien Duff, cleared partially to the edge of the penalty area where Matt Holland lined up for a trademark long range shot - unfortunately, his effort flew over.
A few minutes later, Harte sent a cross in from the right; Mark Kinsella crossed and managed to unsight Robbie Keane. The ball bounced off his shoulder and went wide. The Swiss began to enjoy more of the ball but seemed the lack a cutting edge until Chapuisat turned neatly on the right flank, cut inside and sent a shot scampering over the grass and wide of the right upright in the 17th minute. The first 20 minutes, in fact, were poor, with neither side capable of imposing themselves on the game and creative outlets in short supply.
But the first real scare for Ireland was not far away. In the 23rd minute, Chapuisat turned Harte inside out in the right corner, skipped inside a despairing lunge from the Leeds man and slid a dangerous ball into the six-yard box where Matt Holland popped up to clear off the line. Switzerland were dominating the play by now with Chapuisat their best player, helped by Alex Frei but in a break away, Robbie Keane almost go the opener in the 28th minute. Kinsella chipped the line of defenders; Keane raced into the box but was pushed towards the left by Murat Yakin before cutting back and sending shot inches wide of the right post.
The Swiss were growing in confidence by the minute and even a couple of close shaves in the next five minutes didn’t stop their momentum. Keane stretched to make a header but sent his effort wide and Healy almost got on the end of a Harte cross in a dangerous position. But with the game entering added time, Cunningham fouled Frei and conceded a free kick on the halfway line. Murat Yakin sent a long ball into the box, namesake Hakan Yakin allowed the ball to drop over his shoulder and then chipped the advancing Shay Given to score the lead goal. If McCarthy thought that was bad, he can’t have been prepared for the catcalls and boos which followed himself and his team off the pitch.
Half-time Ireland 0-1 Switzerland
Expecting a whole-hearted response after a half time rollicking, the Irish fans were again let down in the early part of the second-half. The Swiss, quite literally owned the ball but were so limited themselves that they failed to register a decent chance in the first ten minutes - despite their possession.
In the 57th minute, Harte clipped a shot goal wards and remarkably, that was Ireland's first shot on target in the game, saved by Jorg Stiel. Within a few minutes, Keane was flagged offside after a perfect through ball from Healy but replays showed that the Spurs striker was clearly onside. Another disaster almost mortialised in the 59th minute when Chapuisat wriggled clear at the edge of the box and slipped a pass to Cabanas whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Given.
After 62 minutes, Clinton Morrison entered the fray for the out of sorts Kevin Kilbane. The Birmingham striker had little chance to make an impact. Ireland's passing was hesitant and unconvincing while Switzerland defended well.
With 28 minutes gone in the second period, Morrison finally got his chance to contribute, with a strong run down the right and a cross for Duff. It seemed as if the Blackburn winger merely had to walk the ball into the net but two defenders and Stiel dived in and cleared. Finally, in the 78th minute, an equaliser and a lucky one too. Ian Harte swung a free kick in from the left and Gary Breen, on the back post and in a tangle with fullback Ludo Maginin, managed to connect and dribble the ball over the line.
Some suggested that the Swiss defender had put the ball into his own net. But the crowd had barely finished celebrating when the second goal went in - a nice through ball from Chapuisat found sub Fabio Celestini and he clipped a shot to the back of the net for the winner.
Teams
Republic of Ireland
Given, Kelly, Cunningham, Breen, Harte (Doherty 87): Healy, Kinsella, Holland, Kilbane (Morrison 63); Keane, Duff (Butler 83).
Switzerland
Stiel, Haas, Magnin, Muller, Murat Yakin, Vogel, Cabanas, Wicky (Celestini 83), Frei, Hakan Yakin (Cantaluppi 86), Chapuisat.
Referee: Rune Pedersen (Norway)
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