Irish U-21s remain on track with victory against Liechtenstein

Republic of Ireland U-21 2 Liechtenstein U-21 0

Robert Brady’s early penalty paved the way for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s to continue their good start in European Championship qualifying Group 7 with a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein tonight.

Noel King’s men have now improved their start to nine points from a possible 12 and moved back within three points of co-leaders Italy and Turkey in their bid to reach the 2013 finals in Israel.

Manchester United’s Brady, currently on loan at Championship side Hull City, converted a 13th minute spot-kick after Olcay Gur was ruled to have fouled Adam Barton in the box.

And there was little complacency about the Irish performance with memories of last month’s win in Liechtenstein – when they were forced to come from behind before triumphing 4-1 – still fresh in the mind.

King’s side had gone into tonight’s clash at The Showgrounds in Sligo full of confidence and injury free and that belief showed in a fine start which almost paid immediate dividends.

Barton had burst through the flat-footed visitors’ defence inside the opening minute but after racing one-on-one with Liechtenstein goalkeeper Dario Caluori he was denied by an excellent save.

King’s men effectively made sure of the points eight minutes before half-time when goalscorer Brady turned provider, dribbling through the Liechtenstein defence before cueing up Leeds defender Aidan White to net the second.

The win leaves the Irish in a strong position with two games in hand over the second-placed Turks and consecutive home games against Italy and then Turkey next on the agenda in the middle of next year.

They travelled to Mons knowing victory would leave them needing just two points to reach the play-offs after they stormed to the top of the group, scoring 16 goals and conceding just one.

They were hot favourites against a Belgium side who had won just one of their four qualifiers – against rock-bottom Azerbaijan – and knew defeat would all but end their own play-off hopes.

And it was looking that way when Kelly powered England in front after just 14 minutes with his second goal in as many games.

Pearce’s side have been deadly from set-pieces this season and they took full advantage of a free-kick when Kelly got on the end of Liverpool team-mate Henderson’s delivery to head home via the post.

Belgium responded and the woodwork came to England’s rescue 10 minutes later when home captain Nill de Pauw’s shot on the turn scraped the upright.

England talisman Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was unlucky not to double his side’s lead when Gregory Mertens blocked his close-range effort.

The Arsenal winger also sent a spectacular volley over the crossbar after the dangerous Thomas Meunier was inches wide with an equally-stunning strike at the other end.

In between those chances, Belgium threw on Naessens and El Kaddouri on the hour mark, and it proved England’s undoing.

The pair combined to level the match 12 minutes later, El Kaddouri squeezing in a low cross from the right as Naessens darted towards the near post and slid in the perfect finish across Jack Butland.

Yet, England should have retaken the lead with seven minutes remaining when captain Henderson volleyed Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross straight at Koen Casteels from just six yards, a miss that was to prove costly in the final minute.

Ziguy Badibanga burst clear from the halfway line and beat Kelly to fire in a left-foot shot that cannoned back off the post, with El Kaddouri quickest to react to the rebound, slamming home from 15 yards.