Soccer: Agony for the comeback kids

Republic of Ireland 2 Colombia 3

Two goals down with six minutes remaining and seemingly out of the competition, goals from Cork City's Kevin Doyle and Paddy McCarthy that equaliser two minutes into stoppage time amazingly forced extra-time.

But a cruel twist awaited Gerry Smith's bravehearts as the Colombians got the vital goal through substitute Erwin Carrillo 14 minutes into extra-time to book their quarter-final meeting with hosts UAE in Dubai on Friday.

"We never got to grips with them in the first half, even though they were very, very good," said an emotionally drained Smith afterwards.

"We had a good chat at half-time and we took the game to them from the start of the second half.

"For 25 minutes it was all us. They then caught us on the break to get a second goal. But we showed great character to come back. They were a devastated group in the dressing room at the end."

Technically excellent, the big, strong Colombians' bright start got its reward with the lead goal on eleven minutes.

Victor Montano dinked a delightful ball over the top for the run of dangermen Edixon Perea who got in behind John Fitzgerald to drill a low left-foot shot in off the far post.

Scarcely in the match in the first 45 minutes, Ireland had to improve in the second and they did.

A precise ball from Eamon Zayed played Stephen Elliott in down the inside right channel within three minutes, but the Manchester City striker couldn't add to his three-goal tally at the tournament as goalkeeper Hector Landazuri made a clumsy save to push the ball out for a corner.

Minutes later Flood threaded a good ball in for Zayed who turned well to shoot, but the ball struck a defender to go out for another corner.

Flood then went on a little run past a couple of defenders, cutting inside to put Elliott in. But the early shot was pushed away again by Landazuri.

Failing to capitalise on their possession, Ireland were hit by a stunning counterattack as Colombia scored a brilliant second goal on 70 minutes.

The languid Montano collected Jaime Castrillon's ball in from the left and scored with a terrific right foot shot that gave Irish keeper Wayne Henderson no chance.

Colombia then threatened to blow Ireland away. Perea hit a post; Castrillon forced Henderson into a good stop before Perea was in on Henderson, who made a second save, this time with his feet.

Having survived the Colombian onslaught, Ireland sprung their revival with a goal on 84 minutes.

St. Patrick's Athletic midfielder Fahey did well to get to the end line to cross. Doyle controlled the ball before turning to rifle it to the roof of the net. Ireland continued to press and got a dramatic equaliser on 92 minutes.

David Bell's free kick in from the left was headed goalward by McCarthy and defender Jose De La Cuesta could only help it into the net.

Incredibly, Doyle had a chance to win it less than a minute later, but failed to make decent contact with Stephan Paisley's long ball forward.

Into extra-time then with Colombia taking full advantage of an injury to Irish skipper Stephen Capper to get their winner.

Abel Aguilar held off the challenge of Stephen Paisley in the box to turn the ball low across the Irish goal and Carrillo drilled his shot home.

"We had to go for it and we built up a tremendous momentum in the last ten minutes," said Smith. "At that stage I just said 'let's throw it in on top of them' and that's what we did.

"We got the two goals and might have got a third. Kevin Doyle did well, Keith Fahey was smashing when he came on. If there is a plus, we got the 20 players onto the field at a World Cup. This will harden them for their careers down the road."

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Henderson (Aston Villa); McCarthy (Manchester City), Fitzgerald (Aston Villa), Paisley (Longford Town), Capper (Scarborough United); Flood (Manchester City), Ward (Kidderminster Harriers), Foley (Liverpool), Bell (Rushden and Diamonds); Zayed (Bray Wanderers), Elliott (Manchester City).

Subs: Dillon (Longford Town) for Fitzgerald (74 mins), Doyle (Cork City) for Flood (78 mins), Fahey (St. Patrick's Athletic) for Ward (83 mins).

COLOMBIA: Landazuri (Envigado); De La Cuesta (Atletico Nacional), Pachon (Independente Sante Fe), Perea (Atletico Nacional), Torres (Junior Barranquilla), Montano (Millonairos), Fawcett (Junior Barranquilla), Aguilar (Deportivo Cali), Anchico (Deportes Tolima), Castrillon (Independente Medellin), Rivas (Atletico Nacional).

Subs: Carillo (Magdalena) for Montano (83 mins), Gonzalez (America de Cali) for Perea (87 mins).

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).