Deadly Duff leads the charge

Republic of Ireland 3 Sweden 0

For his first match in charge, just over six weeks after taking the Ireland helm, Staunton demanded his players excite both himself and the supporters.

In front of a capacity 44,000 crowd at Lansdowne Road, there can be no doubt that the boys in green did just that, offering hope of a bright future for the man in charge - Ireland's most-capped player.

The signs are clearly there, and were very much in evidence from the moments immediately before kick off with the return of the huddle.

New captain Robbie Keane had suggested he would reintroduce the team-bonding exercise, not seen since Staunton was captain at the 2002 World Cup. It proved perfect platform on which to reignite the passion of fans so desperately disappointed to be missing out on this summer's World Cup jamboree.

Staunton, despite his lack of managerial experience, which cast doubt over his ability to do the job, was an animated figure on the touchline.

He cajoled, coerced, shouted when required, and he celebrated and punched the air with delight when Damien Duff, Keane and Liam Miller scored the first goals of his leadership.

It was hard to tell which of the teams will be heading to Germany this summer, and which will be staying at home - to reflect on a disappointing qualifying campaign that culminated in the departure of former manager Brian Kerr.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will have nothing to fear from the Swedes in a World Cup group encounter if coach Lars Lagerback's side perform as they did in this game.

That is taking nothing away from Staunton's Ireland because after a few jittery moments defensively, when Sweden's formidable frontline of Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrhimovic looked threatening, they then found their range, rhythm, and at times, ran riot.

After vice-captain Shay Given showed speed off his line to prevent Juventus striker Ibrahimovic's shot at goal, Duff took charge for the remainder of the first half.

Collecting a raking pass down the left wing from Ian Harte, the Chelsea winger delivered a curling ball across the edge of the six-yard box that had goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson at full stretch.

Isaksson succeeded in doing nothing more than tipping the ball on to the chest of the advancing Stephen Elliott, who seemed astonished, but watched as it went agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.

Duff again delivered to the far post soon after - this time from the right wing - only for rising debutante Kevin Doyle to plant a header into the side-netting.

One of the turning points of the game came when Ibrahimovic felt the full force of a John O'Shea - limping out of the game shortly after.

With Sweden temporarily down to 10 men, Ireland took full advantage in the 36th minute.

Unsurprisingly, an on-fire Duff was the man to score the first goal for Staunton, initially teasing and tormenting Southampton right-back Alexander Ostlund.

Turning inside the Saints defender, he then struck a rare right-foot shot into the bottom corner - with skipper and Aston Vila defender Olof Mellberg claiming an assist.

But there was no doubt it was man of the match Duff's first goal for Ireland in 27 months, and, after a 15-game drought, one to celebrate his 27th birthday tomorrow.

After being mobbed by his team-mates, Duff made his way to the sidelines where he and Staunton gave one another a high five and an embrace.

After Keane spurned a chance for 2-0 just before the break, he clinically made amends 122 seconds into the second half.

Latching on to another searing ball from Harte, which split the Swedish centre-back duo of Mellberg and Peter Hansson, Keane ran on to the pass.

The Republic's all-time leading goalscorer then drove a right-foot half-volley past Isaksson for the 26th goal of his international career.

Substitutions and debuts followed for Brighton goalkeeper Wayne Henderson, who produced one fine save to deny Barcelona and former Celtic striker Larsson - as well as Manchester City's rising star, Stephen Ireland, who scuffed his first touch narrowly wide after being teed up by Keane. But the best was reserved for last, with Leeds midfielder Miller scoring his first goal on his 11th appearance for Ireland, in the 71st minute, 10 minutes after his arrival as a sub for Harte.

Taking the ball up from the halfway line, Miller simply ran into the wide open space afforded to him, before letting fly with a 25-yard, right-foot shot over the flailing Isaksson.

One pitch-invading idiot did not spoil the party as this was a night to savour for all concerned for Ireland, and for Staunton in particular.

REP OF IRELAND: Given (Henderson 48), Joey O'Brien (Miller 61), Andrew O'Brien, Dunne, Harte (Kilbane 61), Elliott (Kavanagh 48), Steven Reid, O'Shea (Ireland 48), Duff, Keane, Doyle (Morrison 68).

SWEDEN: Isaksson, Ostlund (Christoffer Andersson 74), Mellberg, Hansson, Edman, Linderoth (Daniel Andersson 69), Elmander (Jonson 60), Kallstrom (Svensson 60), Wilhelmsson, Ibrahimovic (Rosenberg 37), Larsson (Allback).

Referee: Damien Ledentu (France).