Mason Melia brace gets Ireland U21s off to winning start in Moldova
BRACE: Mason Melia scored a brace for Ireland. Pic: Alex Nicodim/Sportsfile
Tottenham-bound Mason Melia insisted his Ireland side were always confident of coming from behind at lowly Moldova to win their opening Euro qualifier through his brace.
Mihai Lupan had sent Moldova on their way to what would have been a memorable victory in Nisporeni by punishing Ireland’s slack defence by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Noah Jauny on 23 minutes.
Melia – who will leave St Patrick’s Athletic in January to join Spurs for an initial €1.9m – rescued Ireland by supplying similar finishes in each half.
His equaliser came 14 minutes after Jim Crawford’s side fell behind when he wriggled free from his marker to guide a low right-wing cross by Jad Hakiki home from six yards.
Melia, at just 17, displayed his predatory skills again with 16 minutes left to give Ireland a welcome open three points.
Substitute Harry Vaughan produced the spadework for the winner. The Hull City first-teamer harried fellow sub Matteo Obleac as he tried to usher the ball beyond the endline.
Once Vaughan robbed the defender, he dribbled towards the box and fizzed a delivery for the onrushing Melia to apply the necessary touch to prod it over the line.
“It was a good time, just before half-time, to get the equaliser,” said Melia, swelling his goal haul to three in his two caps at U21 level.
“We were calm after going behind, knowing we’d come back. It’s a great feeling flying home with three points."
Ireland can count themselves fortunate to emerge from a tricky opener with three points.
Crawford’s concerns about the dry pitch were validated but it shouldn’t excuse some of the sloppiness that peppered the display.
Moldova’s Steffan Bitca Botan blazed his shot over the crossbar early in the second half at 1-1 and three minutes later Sean Grehan was inches from scoring an own-goal. His sliced clearance from a free-kick into the box looped up to strike the top of the crossbar.
Rocco Vata was back with the U21s after making his senior debut and conjured one piece of brilliance to weave into the box during the second half. Unfortunately, his twinkled-toed dribble was ruined by skying his shot off-target.
Next up for Ireland is hosting bottom seeds Andorra on Tuesday night before tougher tests await.
They host Slovakia in Cork on October 10 before travelling to face back-to-back champions England on November 14.
They are managed by Lee Carsley and he’s added his former Ireland colleague Steven Reid to his staff as a mentor – the same role conducted by Joleon Lescott and Adam Lallana in recent years.
Ireland will be trying to create history by reaching a first-ever Euro finals in 2027, to be held in Albania and Serbia.
Kazakhstan complete the six-nation pool that concludes in October 2026.
N Jauny; J Devaney, J Abankwah, S Grehan, J Slater; J Hakiki, J Mullins, A Murphy (D Lipsiuc 83), R Vata (M Noonan 83); M Melia, M O’Mahony (H Vaughan 66).
: N Jauny; J Devaney, J Abankwah, S Grehan, J Slater; J Hakiki, J Mullins, A Murphy (D Lipsiuc 83), R Vata (M Noonan 83); M Melia, M O’Mahony (H Vaughan 66).
