Keane brace caps off perfect night for Ireland

Estonia 0 Republic of Ireland 4

Skipper Robbie Keane claimed a double as the Republic of Ireland took a stranglehold on their Euro 2012 play-off against nine-man Estonia.

Keith Andrews had got the visitors off to the perfect start with a 13th-minute header and Jonathan Walters repeated the feat from Robbie Keane’s 67th-minute cross.

Keane made it 3-0 four minutes later and then converted a late penalty as Estonia, who had Andrei Stepanov sent off before the break and captain Raio Piiroja after it, capitulated on a miserable night for the hosts in Tallinn.

Estonia were first to threaten when they were awarded an eighth minute free-kick which defender Ragnar Klavan floated into the penalty area.

Skipper Raio Piiroja climbed highest, but he could not direct his glancing header at goal.

Vassiljev, who scored five times during the qualifying campaign, went much closer three minutes later when, after playing a one-two with Kruglov, he saw his shot deflected just over Shay Given’s crossbar.

But the opening goal arrived within two minutes and when it did, it came at the other end.

Keane slid the ball out to Aiden McGeady on the left and his cross was perfectly weighted for midfielder Keith Andrews to send a downward header past keeper Sergei Pareiko and into the bottom corner.

But the celebrations behind Given’s goal might have died in their infancy had lone striker Jarmo Ahjupera managed to get a meaningful touch to Kruglov’s 14th minute cross.

Walters passed up an opportunity to increase the Republic lead when he turned on Sean St Ledger’s header down, but fired wide four minutes later.

Ahjupera should have done better when he met Vassiljev’s 20th minute corner, but sent his header harmlessly across goal.

Vassiljev sent the Ireland keeper diving at full stretch two minutes later, but his fiercely-struck 25-yard drive flew just wide of the far post.

Ruutli’s men repeatedly stretched the visitors as Middlesbrough winger Tarmo Kink warmed to his task on a bitterly cold night.

But it was Vassiljev causing most of the problems as he exploited the space between midfielders Andrews and Glenn Whelan and central defenders St Ledger and Richard Dunne.

McGeady’s pace was proving Ireland’s most effective weapon as he embarked upon a series of runs from deep, although he was closely marshalled after his earlier contribution.

Left-back Stephen Ward had to make a fine 29th-minute tackle to prevent Kink from getting in behind him as he chased an incisive pass into the penalty area.

Walters blasted inches over Pareiko’s crossbar four minutes later after being played in down the right by Whelan, but the real drama was yet to come.

Central defender Andrei Stepanov, who had earlier been booked for a foul on McGeady, was caught in possession by Keane 11 minutes before the break and unceremoniously up-ended him.

Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai had little option to produce a second yellow card, and Stepanov’s involvement in the play-off was over.

Whelan might have doubled the pain from the resulting free-kick, but his rising drive failed to attract Pareiko’s interest.

Ahjupera picked up his side’s third caution of the half for a late 41st-minute challenge on Ward, much to the frustration of the home fans. Their mood might have improved had Vassiljev managed to hit the target with a long-range free-kick two minutes later, but his effort was wayward.

Trapattoni's men returned knowing a second goal and an extension of their miserly recent record at the back - they had conceded just once in their previous nine games - would leave them in a strong position heading into Tuesday night's second leg in Dublin, and they resumed in enterprising style.

Stepanov’s departure prompted a reshuffle which saw Klavan join Piiroja and Enar Jaager in a back three with Kink and Kruglov operating as wing-backs.

Damien Duff forced a regulation save from Pareiko with a skidding 49th-minute shot, but the action came at the other end five minutes later.

Martin Vunk’s run towards the penalty area was ended by Whelan’s untidy challenge, and the midfielder protested furiously as he looked up to see Mr Kassai pointing to a spot a yard outside the box rather than at the penalty spot.

Vassiljev’s low driven effort clipped Dunne and went out for a corner, but Ireland survived.

Ruutli made his first change with 55 minutes gone when he replaced Ahjupera with Vladimir Voskoboinikov, but his second had the home fans on their feet six minutes later.

Vunk made way for Lindpere, who was greeted rapturously on his return to the national team for the first time since last summer.

The visitors created their own problems when Duff was hurt in a collision with team-mate Whelan and needed extensive treatment on the pitch, although he received little sympathy from the locals.

There was further pain for Latvia with 67 minutes played when Ireland went 2-0 up as Trapattoni’s decision to select Walters paid off.

Keane found McGeady on the left and he cut inside to force a solid save from Pareiko, but the LA Galaxy striker lifted the rebound to the far post where Walters headed home his first international goal despite the efforts of Klavan on the line.

The wheels were starting to come off for the Estonians and their misery deepened 19 minutes from time.

Piiroja was booked for a foul on Andrews and when Pareiko was wrong-footed by Andrews’ free-kick, Keane tapped the rebound into an unguarded net.

Piiroja’s personal nightmare took a further turn for the worse 13 minutes from time when he was booked for a second time, this time for handball, and joined Stepanov back in the changing room with his side now down to nine.

There was still time for Keane to stretch the Republic’s lead with an 88th-minute penalty after substitute Purje had tripped fellow newcomer Stephen Hunt to cap a perfect night for Ireland.