A good result for us, but injuries we didn’t need. As Ireland dominated in the opening stages, Sanfrecce H. came into the game more as the game went on, and took the lead as Ireland were SPEACHLESS by the injury to McAteer. McAteer was stretchered off with his head in hands after shipping a heavy knock in the 38th minutes of this friendly in Izumo. This was a friendly????. He may have damaged knee ligaments.
He was about to send over a cross when he was floored by big defender Bilong's trailing leg as he was challenged. Before Steven Reid was brought on to replace McAteer, the J-League side were ahead. Oki headed Fujimoto’s cross home.
However, don’t think about kicking the Irish when they are down. Three minutes later when Reid's corner was headed on by Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane nodded it in, to make it 1-1. Ireland began brightly but could not capitalise with efforts by Kilbane, Duff and Keane. But apparently there was a lack of aerial presence in the area to take advantage of some decent crosses. Bring on the Quinn.
The dreadful news is that McAteer suffered knee damage and is out of the opening Group E game against Cameroon. Another Reid corner almost put sub Gary Breen in, minutes into the second half, but the defender was off course with a wide header. Reid missed a chance with a low drive on 55 minutes before Kilbane hobbled off with a bruised ankle. Robbie Keane should have scored with 19 minutes remaining but he somehow missed with the goal at his mercy.
But the Tallaght Tiger, Keane, made amends with 12 to go when Niall Quinn headed Mark Kinsella’s long ball down into the strikers path and he slotted home. Steve Finnan, Lee Carsley, Gary Breen and Kenny Cunningham took little part in training and were not be risked in the challenge game.
Final score, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Oki) 1 - 2 Rep of Ireland (Keane x 2)
Republic of Ireland; Given, Gary Kelly, Dunne, Staunton (Capt.), Harte, McAteer, Kinsella, Holland, Kilbane, Keane, Duff.
Subs used: Reid for McAteer: Quinn for Duff: Breen for Dunne
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