Unlucky Ireland pay the penalty
But this morning it’s Germany who are in poll position after securing a one-nil victory with a controversial penalty and then holding on to the lead in the face of sustained Irish pressure and despite ending the game with just nine men as tempers spilled over at the final whistle.
Manager Sean McCaffrey was a disappointed man at the end. “It was never a penalty, I saw it clearly on the replay” he said, “and we dominated the game, creating stacks of chances. We’re still in with a chance but the problem is that the likes of Bulgaria tend to be afraid of Germany. One thing for sure — we weren’t tonight.”
A 1-1 draw earlier in the afternoon between Hungary and Bulgaria meant that a win last night would have seen Ireland through to the European Championship finals in Austria in July with a qualifying game to spare.
But it wasn’t to be as the game turned on a penalty decision after 17 minutes when Leeds’ Simon Madden seemed to be very harshly penalised by the Italian referee as striker Sebastian Tyrala tumbled in the box. Anis Ben-Hatiri stepped up to do the needful, his well-placed shot giving Germany a lead they deserved for their composed and classy performance up to that point.
After 21 minutes Ireland had their own big shout for a penalty when Treacy was bundled off the ball after a penetrating run into the box. This time the referee was unimpressed, signalling to Blackburn man to pick himself up off the ground.
Four minutes later, Stokes wriggled some space for himself and from 20 yards sent a shot whistling just wide. And then on the half-hour mark, the Irish came even closer as Shane Lowry thumped a shot off the post after a clever chest down from Stokes.
But Germany showed that they still posed a threat when, ten minutes before the break, Daniel Brosinski volleyed wide from close range after the Irish defence had been caught cold appealing for offside.
Sean McCaffrey’s boys were hit by the loss of the influential Treacy at half-time with an ankle injury but his replacement, towering Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan, made an almost immediate impact on the game, when his powerhouse surge on goal was ended illegally by Alexander Eberlein. The defender’s late tackle occurred outside the box but, as the last man back, the elegant and commanding German captain was punished with a red card.
With a one-man advantage, Ireland dominated for the rest of the match but, in the face of resolute German defending, couldn’t craft the breakthrough despite going close on a couple of occasions. With five minutes to go, the tirelessly inventive Stokes began and finished a great move but his shot was superbly smothered by Martin Maennel and then moments later the German ‘keeper enhanced his Man Of The Match credentials with another fine save to deny Alan Power.
The game came to a bad-tempered conclusion as Anis Ben-Hatira received his marching orders after an off the ball clash with Alan Judge. And the fall-out continued after the final whistle with players from both sides having to be separated as they left the pitch.
Henderson, Madden, Nolan, Spillane, Lowry, Judge, Ryan (Cassidy 74), Power, Treacy (Sheridan 45), Stokes, Rooney (Downes 80)
Maennel, Boateng, Eberlein, Howedes, Feick, Sam (Kruse 45), Konrad, Sauter, Brosinski (Schmiedebach 55), Ben-Hatira, Tyrala (Falkenberg 70)
P Tagliovento (Italy)
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