Ireland U21s secure elusive win

Republic of Ireland U21 2 Russia U21 0

Graham Barrett was behind both goals to give this impressive Republic of Ireland under-21s a deserved victory over Russia at Waterford – and avenged their defeat by the same score in Moscow a year ago.

Coventry striker Barrett struck after 65 minutes when he rounded off a sweeping move involving Kevin O’Connor, Thomas Butler and John O’Flynn by side-footing the ball home from close range.

There was a carbon copy goal after 81 minutes as Miller fed Butler on the right and his cross was again converted by Barrett to extend Ireland’s unbeaten run to five matches.

It was a case of last chance saloon for nine of the players named in the Republic of Ireland team to face Russia at Waterford tonight.

Manager Don Givens has promised to bring through a new crop of players from the Under-20s after this game, with Tottenham’s Stephen Kelly and Patrick Kohlmann of Borussia Dortmund – the two full-backs – the only youngsters set to survive.

The Irish are out of the qualifying race so this match was all about playing for pride and avenging a 2-0 defeat in Moscow 12 months ago – plus the chance to impress senior team manager Brian Kerr.

The Irish had a great chance to take the lead in only the fourth minute but Celtic's Liam Miller was denied by the woodwork.

Graham Barrett won a free-kick on the left flank when a Russian defender handled the ball, and the cross was whipped in by Thomas Butler.

The ball ran through to Miller at the back of the six-yard box, but it did not settle kindly for him and when he looped it over the goalkeeper it came back off the crossbar, and the visitors scrambled it clear.

The Russians hit back and after eight minutes playmaker Marat Izmailov found space on the right before squaring the ball for Roman Adamov in the box, but he drilled his rising shot just wide.

From the restart Ireland worked the ball down their left to Andy Reid and his cross was chested down nicely on the edge of the box by Butler. This time the ball sat up nicely for Miller but he drove a low shot just wide of the near post.

Izmailov was definitely the dangerman and after 15 minutes he latched on to Andrei Arshavin’s flick, cut in from the right and hit a fierce shot which Daniel Connor did well to push away to his right.

The 4,000 fans in the Waterford United stadium thought Ireland had taken the lead after 22 minutes.

Nottingham Forest winger Reid again did well on the left as he slipped his marker and delivered an inviting deep cross. John O’Flynn met it with a diving header, but with just the goalkeeper to beat he directed the ball just beyond the far post.

There was more excitement two minutes later as the Russians won a free-kick on the right, just outside the Irish box. Arshavin fooled everyone by playing the ball back and square to Alan Kussov on the edge of the area but his shot was charged down by Reid.

The Irish suddenly had a golden chance to break as they outnumbered the Russians and Barrett raced down the right flank. However, when a good cross was required, the Coventry striker over-hit his pass and goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev easily gathered the ball.

Connor, playing on his home ground, came to the rescue again for the Irish after 38 minutes when Arshavin fed Izmaylov and the big goalkeeper blocked the close range shot with his legs.

A promising first half for the Irish came to a close with O’Flynn heading narrowly wide from Butler’s corner.

Russia went into this match second in the table behind Switzerland, with 10 goals to their credit. However, this was a much-changed team, and that was reflected in a below-par first-half performance.

Coach Andrey Chernyshov made one change at the break, replacing Alexei Berezuotski with Anton Rogotchi.

Ireland were lucky to escape after 48 minutes when Izmailov’s close control and trickery had the defence in disarray. He weaved his way into the box and drove a low shot against the base of Connor’s right hand post.

The rebound fell to Adamov on the angle of the six-yard box, but he steered his effort wide of the far post.

The second half was failing to live up to the first in terms of chances created, although Butler had a chance with a header from a Reid cross after 58 minutes which he failed to direct on target.

Russia made their third change after 63 minutes when Ruslan Pimenov replaced Adamov as the coach swapped one big striker for a small one, hoping to inject some movement into his front line.

However, it was the Irish who turned on the style and showed superb movement as they took the lead after 65 minutes.

O’Connor started the move by feeding Butler on the right, and he made a darting run through the middle before switching the ball back out to the right where O’Flynn had made an overlapping run.

O’Flynn drove in a first-time cross and Barrett was unmarked to steer the ball home and celebrate his 25th cap in style on the ground where he also scored against Holland two years ago.

Givens made his first change of the night after 76 minutes when Michael Doyle replaced O’Flynn.

Colin Cryan was standing firm at the heart of the defence and after another brave challenge in the 79th minute he had to he helped off the pitch for treatment and was replaced by Clifford Byrne.

As play was halted, Romanian referee Pavel Balaj surprisingly booked Kelly for time-wasting, much to the fury of Givens. When play restarted, Rogotchi joined him in the book for a foul, and Ireland capitalised by taking a quick free-kick and doubling their advantage after 81 minutes.

Miller fed Butler on the right and his low cross was again side-footed home by Barrett. That avenged the 2-0 defeat in Moscow a year ago and also extended the team’s unbeaten run to five matches.

Givens made his final change to kill some time in the final minute as Stephen Elliot came on but by then the match was well won.