Ireland under-17s outclass Panama in World Cup opener
Jaden Umeh of the Republic of Ireland celebrates with Rory Finneran after scoring their side's first goal. Pic: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile
History was made by stepping foot on the pitch in Doha as the Republic of Ireland took their first steps at a FIFA under-17 World Cup, and Colin O'Brien's side got off to the perfect start thanks to an opening-day dismissal of Panama.
Jaden Umeh got Ireland's historic first tournament goal, while Kian McMahon-Brown, Michael Noonan and Max Kovalevskis would add further strikes as Ireland outclassed a sub-par Panamanian outfit.
Throughout a first-half in which Ireland dominated duels despite Venezuelan referee Yender Herrera's insistence on getting involved in proceedings, O’Brien’s Boys in Green would be afforded their first real sniff at goal on 10 minutes.
Left-back Ade Solanke’s dead-ball delivery would cause bother for ‘keeper Adamir Aparicio and his Panamanian rearguard.
There was no Irish joy on that occasion, but it would arrive six minutes later.
A searching ball from Dundalk centre-half Vinnie Leonard found Benfica’s Umeh down the left-flank, but the former Cork City man’s early ball across was cut out by Panama defender Anthony Ramos.
The resulting corner, however, would bring the opener. Captain Rory Finneran’s on-the-money delivery was glanced home from close-range by Umeh. No more than O’Brien youngsters deserved with just over a quarter of an hour gone on the clock.
It could have got better for Ireland soon after. A now-familiar Leonard forward-ball, flicked on by Shamrock Rovers’ Noonan, got speedster Umeh in behind, but his second touch narrowed the time-frame in which he had to poke it past onrushing ‘keeper Aparicio.
A theme of the opening half would be Panama’s persistence to play out from the back, as was the Irish persistence in making sure they couldn’t clear their high press.
The Panamanians would however, find a little bit of joy around the 25-minute mark. Whatever pressure they did put on Ireland, it fashioned a half-chance for Moises Richards down the right, but Alex Noonan was equal to his effort.
Ireland would return to the fore soon after, through League of Ireland bright lights Leonard and Noonan. The former’s long-ball found Noonan, whose shoot-on-sight approach almost caught Aparicio out, who was left to thank his crossbar.
Ireland doubled their lead soon after. Slick Kovalevskis play, in combination with Ramon Martos, allowed McMahon-Brown to arrow a shot low to Aparicio’s left.
A further chance for Noonan – hungry to get in on the act – would follow late in the half, coupled with a rare sight of goal for Panama, through Jossimar Insturain, but Solanke did well to recover and snuff out the danger.
A blunt Irish start to second-half proceedings would be sharpened in the 57th minute. After Umeh’s remarkable top-corner finish was ruled out for an offside, the Cork native was again involved in the build-up to Ireland’s third, alongside Finneran, as Solanke picked out Noonan in the middle, who headed home to bag his first of the tournament.
O’Brien’s side wrapped up the game on the hour mark, with Noonan again involved. The striker found fellow Rovers attacker Kovalevskis, who did well to shake off Hector Brias’ challenge, jink past Aparicio and finish to an empty net.
From there, both sides would make several changes, and a touch of that scrappy nature returned.
Ireland needed a brave block from Ryan Butler as Richards took aim at Noonan’s goal from inside the box. A VAR-style appeal from Panama failed to mine the handball penalty they craved.
Aparicio would save from Umeh once more thereafter, before Panama enjoyed success late on.
Sub Angel James could not take advantage of a decent breakaway before another Butler block denied the impressive Joseph Pacheco.
The aforementioned Pacheco was heavily involved as Panama did eventually blot Ireland’s copybook. His slide-rule pass found Richards in the 89th minute, who made no mistake in slotting past Noonan.
A Noonan; R Butler, O McDonagh, V Leonard, A Solanke (S Spaght, 78); K McMahon-Brown (G McDonnell, 62), R Finneran, R Martos (G McAteer, 78); M Kovalevskis (V Ozhianvuna, 62), M Noonan, J Umeh (B Lee, 86).
A Aparicio; S Stewart (R Reyes, 85), A Ramos, H Brias, J Pacheco; J Insturain (A Olivardia, 45), P Aranda; E Tovares (A James, 45), E Lopez, M Richards; G Gordon (A Salinas, 72).
Y Herrera (Venezuela).
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