Argies spoil Robbie’s party

WELL, there goes the unbeaten record at the Aviva.

What should have been a night to remember for Irish football turned out to be a night mainly to forget, as Argentina spoiled the party in what proved to be a tame enough curtain-raiser at the new stadium.

Unfortunately, the big occasion had been robbed of a few major players in the run-up to kick-off. The dug-outs played host to a brace of caretaker managers, Sergio Batista taking the place of Diego Maradona and Marco Tardelli sitting in for Giovanni Trapattoni who was, of course, confined to his hospital bed. And, on the pitch, Ireland were hamstrung by Kevin Doyle’s failure to pass a late fitness test, adding to a list of heavyweight absentees including Aiden McGeady, Liam Lawrence, Glenn Whelan and Sean St Ledger. There were also, disappointingly, a large number of empty seats in the stands as the official attendance of 45,200 for the first international at the Aviva Stadium fell well short of capacity — and, worryingly for the FAI, short even of the numbers who’d turned up to watch Manchester United in the venue’s ‘warm-up’ game.

Happily, the man of the hour was on hand to launch the evening on a wave of celebration, Robbie Keane carrying 15-month-old Robert onto the pitch as the crowd rose to acclaim the Irish skipper’s 100th cap for his country.

But it wasn’t long before Ireland’s record-breaking striker was obliged to cede the spotlight to the man they call the world’s greatest player. Lionel Messi nominally began on the right side of the Argentine attack, ensuring that Kevin Kilbane had to keep his wits about him, but it wasn’t long before the little magician exercised his license to roam. Eight minutes in, he almost made the breakthrough from a central position, seizing on a wayward Richard Dunne header, jinking past John O’Shea and then floating a delicate one over Shay Given but also, much to Ireland’s relief, over the bar.

Moments later he was one-on-one with the ’keeper after Fernando Gago’s perceptive through ball but this time Messi was foiled by the linesman’s flag.

And it wasn’t just a one-man show, the threat also coming down the left where Angel Di Maria and the overlapping Gabriel Heinze were causing Paul McShane repeated problems.

When it came, however, the first international goal at the Aviva was a case of controversy trumping beauty, as Gonzalo Higuain’s touch on a route one ball meant Di Maria was offside before he coolly lobbed Given and found the back of the net off the inside of the post. In an unhappy echo of Paris, the goalkeeper and Robbie Keane protested loudly but in vain, as Argentina celebrated the lead.

As the visitors, calmly moved the ball about, Ireland were left to live off scraps with Sergio Romero a virtual bystander in the Havelock Square goal. In that underwhelming first half, rarely did the home side get hold of the ball and, even when they did, they appeared unable to string more than a few hurried passes together before the move broke down. Marco Tardelli must have done his caretaker’s job well enough at the break, however, because an unchanged Ireland emerged with a greater sense of purpose, Robbie Keane showing exquisite skill to set up an early chance with a ball across the face of goal. But, at the other end, Messi was always lurking with intent and a slide-rule pass would have been exploited to the full by sub Diego Milito had not the Inter Milan man’s heavy first touch allowed Richard Dunne to make a saving interception.

Normal service having been resumed, Ireland were reduced to forlornly hitting long balls in the general direction of Cillian Sheridan before the man who’d played the previous night for the U21s was finally given a deserved rest on the hour mark, with Andy Keogh coming off the bench to add a bit more zip to the attack.

In what might have been a sign of things to come for the European campaign, Greg Cunningham came on for Kevin Kilbane, and the young Galwegian might well have been the only person in the ground happy to see Messi leave the fray moments later, the game, like his World Cup, an occasion more of promise than delivery.

With Darron Gibson now also on the pitch, Keith Treacy offering an impressive late cameo on his debut and, in the centre of the park, Paul Green continuing to do well in only his second full appearance, Ireland began to enjoy their best spell of the game, the crowd finally getting behind them and hinting at how intimidating this place might be when there’s something at stake. Still, for all the home side’s belated efforts to apply some pressure, it was Shay Given who was called upon to make the night’s best save, as he got down low to keep out a viciously swerving effort from Gago.

Yet, Robbie Keane twice had chances to crown his 100th cap and give the crowd the goal they craved, first being foiled by Dimichelis as he attempted to swivel onto Andy Keogh’s headed flick-on and then when he failed to connect with an overhead kick as the Argentinian defence suffered an attack of the vapours. But it was not to be and both Irish team and supporters were left hoping for much better to come at their new home of football.

Subs for Ireland: Cunningham for Kilbane, Keogh for Sheridan, 56; Gibson for Andrews, 66; Treacy for Fahey, 76.

Subs for Argentina: Zabaleta for Burdisso, Milito for Higuain, 46; Lavezzi for Messi, 58; Gutierrez for Di Maria, 75; Coloccini for Samuel, 83.