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10-MAN IRELAND MAKE IT TO EURO 2012 PLAY-OFFS DESPITE LUNATIC REFEREE
JOE.ie, Ireland
Oct 11 2011
yesterday at 7:54 pmIreland made it to the Euro 2012 play-offs tonight
with a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over Armenia, a game notable for
two harsh red cards from erratic referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez.
Ireland were gifted an early advantage in the 26th minute tonight after
Armenian goalkeeper Roman Berezovski was harshly sent off for handball
outside his area. The 'keeper came outside the box to impede a shot
from Simon Cox although admittedly the West Brom striker could have
been booked too, having used his arm to control the ball beforehand.
Referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez had already made himself a YouTube
sensation last week after accidentally tackling a Valencia player
during a La Liga tie and his decisions tonight should only enhance his
reputation as a show-stealer. All the same, Ireland were glad to have
seen the back of Berezovski, who had made a bright start to the game.
Things only got better for the Irish just before half time through
one of the worst own goals you're ever likely to see, after Armenian
defender Aleksanyan put the ball in his own net, under no pressure,
from a ball played across the goal. All in all, comical refereeing
and comical defending papered over the cracks of what was an average
first half Irish performance.
A demoralised Armenia were initially a shadow of their former selves
in the second half, and Ireland took advantage in the 59th minute when
a wonderful cross into the box was missed by Kevin Doyle but managed
to hit off Richard Dunne's crotch and went in the net. Considering
every orifice of Dunne kept us in the away game against Russia,
we'll give thanks to his crotch tonight.
Two minutes later, however, poor defending led to a goal from Armenia's
Henrik Mkhitaryan, who ended Ireland's eight-game clean sheet streak
with surprising ease.
A reckless challenge from Kevin Doyle later in the game meant that the
Wolves striker would be ruled out of the first playoff leg for Ireland,
but it got even worse for the 28-year-old after he was sent off in
the 80th minute for leading with an elbow when leaping for a header.
Doyle's dismissal was particularly worrying for Ireland as his early
bath came just one minute after Simon Cox was substituted for Jon
Walters, the third sub, meaning Ireland had no strikers for the final
ten minutes. Worse still, a clear penalty for Stephen Hunt was denied
minutes later, as referee Gonzalez once again made his presence known
for all the wrong reasons.
In the end, Ireland hung on for the win and settled for second spot
in the Group B, after Russia ran riot over a hapless Andorra for a
6-0 victory.
http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/10-man-ireland-make-it-to-euro-2012-play-offs-despite-lunatic-referee-0016626-1
JOE.ie, Ireland
Oct 11 2011
yesterday at 7:54 pmIreland made it to the Euro 2012 play-offs tonight
with a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over Armenia, a game notable for
two harsh red cards from erratic referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez.
Ireland were gifted an early advantage in the 26th minute tonight after
Armenian goalkeeper Roman Berezovski was harshly sent off for handball
outside his area. The 'keeper came outside the box to impede a shot
from Simon Cox although admittedly the West Brom striker could have
been booked too, having used his arm to control the ball beforehand.
Referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez had already made himself a YouTube
sensation last week after accidentally tackling a Valencia player
during a La Liga tie and his decisions tonight should only enhance his
reputation as a show-stealer. All the same, Ireland were glad to have
seen the back of Berezovski, who had made a bright start to the game.
Things only got better for the Irish just before half time through
one of the worst own goals you're ever likely to see, after Armenian
defender Aleksanyan put the ball in his own net, under no pressure,
from a ball played across the goal. All in all, comical refereeing
and comical defending papered over the cracks of what was an average
first half Irish performance.
A demoralised Armenia were initially a shadow of their former selves
in the second half, and Ireland took advantage in the 59th minute when
a wonderful cross into the box was missed by Kevin Doyle but managed
to hit off Richard Dunne's crotch and went in the net. Considering
every orifice of Dunne kept us in the away game against Russia,
we'll give thanks to his crotch tonight.
Two minutes later, however, poor defending led to a goal from Armenia's
Henrik Mkhitaryan, who ended Ireland's eight-game clean sheet streak
with surprising ease.
A reckless challenge from Kevin Doyle later in the game meant that the
Wolves striker would be ruled out of the first playoff leg for Ireland,
but it got even worse for the 28-year-old after he was sent off in
the 80th minute for leading with an elbow when leaping for a header.
Doyle's dismissal was particularly worrying for Ireland as his early
bath came just one minute after Simon Cox was substituted for Jon
Walters, the third sub, meaning Ireland had no strikers for the final
ten minutes. Worse still, a clear penalty for Stephen Hunt was denied
minutes later, as referee Gonzalez once again made his presence known
for all the wrong reasons.
In the end, Ireland hung on for the win and settled for second spot
in the Group B, after Russia ran riot over a hapless Andorra for a
6-0 victory.
http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/10-man-ireland-make-it-to-euro-2012-play-offs-despite-lunatic-referee-0016626-1