Soccer: Ireland one up at half-time

Republic of Ireland 2 Andorra 1 (half-time)

The seismic shock of a 32nd minute Andorra goal - only their fourth in eight Group Two qualifiers - finally stunned the Republic of Ireland into productive action against the World Cup part-timers at Lansdowne Road.

Andorra defender Ildefons Lima was allowed a free header to give his side, ranked 144 in the FIFA world list, an amazing lead, but Ireland soon recovered with Kevin Kilbane equalising two minutes later and Mark Kinsella putting them ahead before the break.

Doherty did superbly to chest down a long ball from Gary Breen out on the left in the 26th minute and cut in to fire a shot which Alfonso Sanchez desperately punched away.

Kennedy skewered the rebound off target from 12 yards.

Following another Kinsella foul on Juli Sanchez, Andorra had a free kick 30 yards out which led to their first corner.

But if that was viewed as a rarity, what happened soon after in the 32nd minute was a sensation. Justo Ruiz sent in a free kick from the right and defender Ildefons Lima was left criminally unattended to firmly head past keeper Shay Given.

It was only Andorra’s fourth goal in eight qualifying games but it needed that to get Ireland going and they responded with two of their own in three minutes.

Connolly’s cross was headed down by Doherty and Kevin Kilbane slammed in an easy chance for the equaliser on 34 minutes.

Then Kennedy’s cross found Doherty to climbed to head against the bar. The rebound dropped right on the toe of Kinsella who joyfully thumped it into the roof of the net.

It was hands to the pump again for Andorra after that, with the ball ping-ponging around their penalty area and Kinsella and Kennedy both having shots blocked.

But Doherty and Kennedy were both guilty of wasting more clear-cut chances before the interval.