Soccer: Ireland go two up

Gary Breen has extended Ireland's lead, with a 75th minute goal.

Republic of Ireland 3 Andorra 1 (latest)

Skipper Gary Breen finally grabbed Ireland’s third goal after 76 minutes. Alfonso Sanchez, under pressure from the leaping Richard Dunne, could only flap away Harte’s free kick from the left and Breen, unmarked on the far post, calmly drove in the loose ball.

The visitors opened the scoring when 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.