Back where he belongs
No question, but the majority in a near-capacity attendance of 42,356 approved of Roy Keane’s return, their acclamation rendering inaudible the early cries of disapproval.
Lansdowne Road was agog in anticipation and for a brief period during the warm-up it had an element of pantomime as both groups vied for superiority. But once the stadium was full it was no contest. Keane was back and all was right with the world.
He came close to filling his fans’ sky-high expectations within eight minutes of frantic action. A swift one-two in midfield with his new lieutenant, Liam Miller, and he was clear, surging to the edge of the penalty area.
A shot from the right of goal flew across the six-yard box and the sprinting Clinton Morrison almost turned it into goal. He was denied as goalkeeper Lobont crash-landed on him to deflect the ball for a corner.
Keane was, as ever, a constant force in central midfield but it was the youngsters who stole the honours. Miller, on the right, and Andy Reid, on the left, were smart and progressive in their work, each in turn delivering the type of incisive through ball that strikers crave.
It is little wonder Nottingham Forest value Reid so highly. His elusive running in possession and cunning change of pace marked him as an opponent of substance. He has impressed in his four previous appearances and here he was excellent, marrying good technique to a laudable work ethic.
Miller complemented his work on the opposite flank, in a more relaxed and less individual style. His was a more measured approach, less explosive but equally effective. The pair’s ability to look beyond the nearest colleague and play the disguised pass was refreshing and Miller merited his ‘Man of the Match’ accolade.
Ireland dominated for long periods, their stubborn defence conceding just two scoring chances to Romania. They looked suspect early on, their back four showing a worrying tendency to stand too square.
Danciulescu should have punished them when a searching ball from Ghionea exposed this flaw as early as the seventh minute. Danciulescu raced clear but over-played the ball wide as goalkeeper Shay Given raced off his line.
Their only other chance came in the 36th minute, and again it should have produced a routine goal as Ireland were caught inexplicably ball-gazing. Dumitru swung in a corner from the right, Ganea rose highest but his unchallenged header from 12 yards flew wide.
These incidents apart, Ireland were controlled and efficient in their work. Their back four settled and with their midfield adopting a firm watchman’s role just in front there was an authority and control that was needed because of the excellent work in central midfield by the visitors’ playmaker, Soava. He was all left-footed elegance but in the absence of some of their more celebrated stars, Romania were unable to profit from his work.
Instead it was Ireland who regularly conjured up scoring chances only to fail repeatedly to capitalise. One reason was a lack of real pace either in midfield or up front, for several times Ireland succeeding in releasing players beyond Romania’s defensive line only to see them swallowed up by the chasing pack.
They chose the wrong option as well on occasions. Robbie Keane shot against goalkeeper Lobont in the 21st minute with Miller beautifully placed on the right of goal. Yet the busy striker was unlucky when he ripped a shot across goal in the 35th minute only to see Icensi turn it away from Morrison at the last moment.
In the circumstances Ireland impressed more in defence than attack but they conjured up a cracking winning goal in the 85th minute. Morrison was found on the right-hand touchline by Miller and his driven cross was volleyed home gloriously by Mattie Holland from 16 yards.
It was just the tonic the expectant fans had waited for and it was the signal for them to focus again on main development of the evening. The chant of ‘Keano, Keano’ rang around the ground in a compelling salute.
It was not an exaggeration to label his return a triumphant one then for the majority had shown their feelings in all its raw emotion in the 50th minute when he was close to scoring.
Robbie Keane ran on to a cross from Morrison to force substitute goalkeeper Stelea to a thrilling save. An expectant cry rose from throats that were dry with craving as Roy Keane closed on the deflection. His shot was charged down by Radoi but Holland’s brilliant strike ensured victory and was the catalyst for the sustained celebration that greeted the final whistle.
: Given, Cunningham, Finnan, O'Brien, Holland, Roy Keane, Maybury, Miller, Reid, Robbie Keane, Morrison
: Lobont, Dancia, Dumitru, Ghionea, Iencsi, Radoi, Plesan, Soava, Danciulescu, Dica, Ganea.
: A Reid (Martin Rowlands, 78)
: Lobont (Stelea 46); Radoi (Constianin 84), Icensi (Barcauan 90), Dancia (Marin 78); Plesan (Aliuta 61), Soava (Petre 90), Dica (Alexa 78); Danciulescu (Neaga 61).
: J. Jara (Czech Republic).
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