Night to Keane: Czechmate!

Ireland 2 Czech Republic1

The home side brought the most coveted unbeaten run in European football to a shuddering halt when a trademark Robbie Keane strike two minutes into added time sent an estimated 42,000 fans home in exuberant mood.

Keane took a pass from Alan Lee wide of a defender and from the corner of the six-yard box ripped a shot across substitute goalkeeper Vaniak and low into the far corner. The Czech Republic were obliged to accept defeat for the first time in two years.

The win was confirmation of Ireland's superiority on a night when the emphasis was upon identifying potential new international forces and building confidence and self-esteem.

The results were totally positive from an Irish point of view even if the match lacked the sharp edge of competition and did not reveal anything revolutionary about Ireland's players, either individually or collectively.

Indeed the pre-match speculation on introducing new systems and developing more flexibility in Ireland's approach was scarcely relevant given their first-half deployment. They played an orthodox formation but with an unorthodox approach so it was inevitable, perhaps, that some problems should emerge.

Andy Reid did not appear totally suited to his role wide on the right of midfield principally because he is left-footed. His natural instinct was to turn infield and there was a lack of variety in Ireland's work on this flank.

Reid is a talented player and showed plenty of skill but the predictability on Ireland's right meant the Czechs were invariably comfortable on this flank.

Reid played a full part in Ireland's build-up play despite this, used the ball accurately and confidently and is clearly a player for the future. But Ireland looked to the opposite wing for penetration.

Damien Duff provided plenty of this and he was superb, bright and inventive, too elusive to be contained. His impact was enormous and was supplemented by the excellent Kevin Kilbane and Ian Harte.

There was a pleasing symmetry to Ireland's football and the inter-play between the three was sophisticated and progressive. The Czechs rarely figured as an attacking force so pre-occupied were they in curbing an aggressive Ireland.

Ireland played captivating football in an opening half when the team selections were credible and before the contest was disfigured by a rash of 12 substitutions in the second half.

Their ability to stitch long sequences of passes together while probing for a channel of intrusion into the scoring area was admirable.

The final pass always eluded a player in a green shirt, however, and Clinton Morrison looked isolated on occasions in a penalty area crowded with Czechs.

There were times when you would have expected Ireland to get more players forward and times also when Robbie Keane's desire to contribute to Ireland's build-up play assumed the proportions of an obsession.

This worked to Ireland's disadvantage on two counts. They played so well across midfield that they did not need an extra player crowding their space and Morrison suffered from a lack of support.

It was clear Keane was under instructions to remain in a more forward position in the second half and overall he had an outstanding match.

He enjoyed a telepathic understanding with Duff and Ireland's persistence in seeking to play the ball to feet in the Czech's penalty box was very welcome. Their approach had a modern, more adventurous flavour than usual.

So it came as no surprise that Ireland jumped in front after 52 minutes. Ian Harte showed his marvellous skill when he swerved a free from 20 yards around the wall of defenders and low into the corner of Vaniak's net.

Milan Baros was guilty of an extraordinary miss as the substitutions disturbed Ireland's teamwork and the Czechs stepped up their game. He turned a shot over from six yards in the 74th minute, but made amends from a suspiciously offside position seven minutes later.

It fell to Robbie Keane to set matters right and afterwards a satisfied Brian Kerr said: "We did not win any World Cup or European points but it was a very good performance and we played some smashing stuff in the first half, some lovely ground football. It was nice to finish again with a win."

Ireland (4-4-2): Given (Kenny 82); Maybury, Doherty (Miller 70), Cunningham, Harte; Andy Reid (Delap 65), Holland, Kilbane, Duff (Kinsella 76); Morrison (Lee 76), Robbie Keane.

Czech Republic (4-4-2): Cech (Vaniak 46); Jiranek (Plasil) , Bolf (Rozehnal 58), Ujfalusi, Jankulovski; Sionko (Stajner 46), Galasek, Nedved (Heinz 46), Tyce; Koller (Lokvenc 46), Baros (Vorisek 84).

Referee: Mr E. K. Fisker (Denmark).