Frustrated Givens rues costly errors

AS Don Givens pointed out afterwards, the scoreboard reads badly but even so, he will be wondering this morning how Ireland did not manage to eke out a point from an entertaining opening salvo in Group Two of the European Championship qualifying campaign.

Dominating the first half yielded nothing for the home side as a fine strike from Galatasaray striker Deniz Yilmaz followed by a predatory finish from defender Emre Özkan ensured a 2-0 lead at the break before substitute Ömer Sismanoglu’s solo effort in the 91st minute added insult to injury.

“Somebody reading that scoreline will think we got a hiding but we know we didn’t,” said a crestfallen Givens afterwards. “We gave them a couple of presents. And then we missed a lot of chances.