[caption id="attachment_66634" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Shay Given saves from Igor Semshov of Russia "]
Ireland heroically defended their goal in Moscow Tuesday to grab an unexpected point against group leaders Russia, thereby keeping their 2012 European Championship qualifying Group B wide open.
This followed a less than satisfactory result on Friday, though it was the same as yesterday's: 0-0.
Ireland had hoped to take all three points in the home game against Slovakia, but failed to exploit any of the few real chances they had.
In Russia, the Boys in Green didn't come close, but miraculously prevented the home players from scoring at the other end.
Richard Dunne was the man of the match, with Shay Given a close second, in the Republic's first ever away point against the Russians (or the Soviet Union before them). Stephen Kelly and Keith Andrews also excelled in keeping the Russians at bay.
It was the Irish side's seventh consecutive game not to concede a goal - a total of 681 minutes' playing time.
With two easy games to finish with against Andorra and Armenia, Ireland can still get 21 points in the group. It's unlikely to be enough to win the group, but it should get the squad another play-off. (France denied Ireland a place in the 2010 World Cup in highly controversial circumstances.)
Much will depend on the game between Slovakia and Russia on Oct. 7. Slovakia were about to begin their game against Armenia as the Echo went to press.
In Moscow, Ireland were lucky not to be three goals down by half-time and it took two great saves from Given and a block on the line by Richard Dunne to keep it scoreless.
Russia continued to dominate in the second half. Trapattoni made two changes which added a bit more pace to the Irish attack. Stephen Hunt replaced Damien Duff and Simon Cox came on for the out of touch Kevin Doyle.
On 87 minutes the Irish almost sneaked a winner. After good work near the corner flag Aiden McGeady's cross for Robbie Keane was intercepted. A minute later Russia should have scored. A header from Senshov from five yards came back off Given's knees. The ball broke to a Russian forward, but Andrews blocked the shot.
Afterwards RTE panelist Liam Brady, who has previously worked as an assistant manager with Giovanni Trapattoni, said that the Italian was a stubborn man and that he would have felt vindicated by the result.
Russia: Malafeev, Aniukov, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Zhirkov, Semshov, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Kerzhakov, Arshavin.
Republic of Ireland: Given, Kelly, Dunne, O'Dea, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane. Subs used: Cox, Hunt.
Hamsik dominates
The Slovaks, with captain Marek Hamsik dominating in midfield, bossed the first half at the Aviva Stadium on Friday and it was all of 37 minutes before Ireland had a shot on target. A good move down the right side and a neat 'one two' between Keith Andrews and Damien Duff's ended with Duff testing Slovak keeper Mucha.
Striker Kevin Doyle, a late replacement for the injured Shane Long, was disappointing and is probably still suffering from the effects of a recent injury. Doyle was replaced by Simon Cox after 64 minutes. A few minutes earlier defender Seán St Ledger, kept the Irish in the game with a great block from Hamsik. The Slovak manager's son Vladimir Weiss Junior also had a chance to put the visitors ahead, but his effort was saved by Given, who set a new Irish record of 115 caps.
On 73 minutes, Duff's cross found Robbie Keane, but the Irish captain's header was just over the bar. Then Keane set up substitute Cox, but he shot wide. The Irish piled on the pressure in injury time, but the goal they craved never came.
Republic of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Keane, Doyle. Subs: Cox. Hunt.
Remaining Games:
After Russia's 1-0 win over Macedonia in Moscow and Ireland's draw with Slovakia, Russia were top of Group B with 16 points on Tuesday morning with Republic and Slovakia level on 14 points. But the Irish had goal difference of plus five, compared to the Slovakians' plus two. That will likely have changed by Tuesday evening's Slovakia vs. Armenia game.
Oct. 7: Andorra vs. Republic of Ireland, Slovakia vs. Russia, Armenia vs. Macedonia. Oct 11: Republic of Ireland vs. Armenia, Russia vs. Andorra, Macedonia vs. Slovakia.
