Soccer: Half-time in Cyprus

Ireland go into half-time 2-0 up after a powerful Roy Keane strike and a Ian Harte penalty.

World Cup qualifiers latest

Cyprus 0-2 Republic of Ireland

Armenia 2-2 Wales

Skipper Roy Keane marked his 50th international with a goal to give the Republic of Ireland an overdue 32nd-minute lead in their World Cup Group Two qualifier in Nicosia.

And Ian Harte slotted home a penalty 10 minutes later to pour more anguish on the plucky but outclassed Cypriots.

A quickly-taken free-kick gave Mark Kinsella a shooting chance from just outside the area but he put his low effort wide of a post.

Then goalkeeper Nikos Panayiotou did well to punch out Kevin Kilbane’s cross under pressure.

And it was Kilbane’s volley after Connolly headed down that was deflected over the bar in the 24th minute when it appeared to be en route to the net.

Kilbane was close again with an angled chip which carried just over the top after a solo raid by Robbie Keane was only partially repelled three minutes later.

Robbie Keane trod on the ball as he tried to turn his marker when Kinsella played the ball into him in the box and the threat was cleared for a corner.

Panayiotou flapped unconvincingly at the flag kick and wafted it away only as far as Connolly whose instant drive on the half-hour from 20 yards flashed past a post.

It looked only a matter of time now for Ireland to score, but Roy Keane’s shot was just too high after Connolly made a run and set him up.

But Roy Keane made no mistake in the 32nd minute when Gary Kelly raced down the right and found him with a low cross. The Irish skipper’s shot from 18 yards took a deflection off Georgios Theodotou on the way in for only his sixth goal in 50 international appearances.

Cyprus almost equalised within two minutes but a deflection again favoured the Republic, Constantinou’s shot bouncing off Gary Kelly for a corner.

But Harte, wriggling through onto a loose ball after the Cypriot defence was stretched by a neat Connolly-Robbie Keane combination, was not far away from a second Irish goal.

And the Leeds full-back did not have to wait long to finally get it from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute.

Kilbane was brought down by Theodotou and Harte confidently sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

Battling Cyprus hit back and Gary Kelly made two goalline clearances from the lively Constantinou in the closing minutes of the half.