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Soccer: Ireland Secure Play-Off Berth At Armenia's Expense

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  • Soccer: Ireland Secure Play-Off Berth At Armenia's Expense

    IRELAND SECURE PLAY-OFF BERTH AT ARMENIA'S EXPENSE

    UEFA.com
    Oct 11 2011

    Republic of Ireland 2-1 Armenia

    Both sides had a player sent off as Giovanni Trapattoni's charges
    booked their play-off place with a narrow Group B victory at the
    Dublin Arena.

    The Republic of Ireland sealed second place in UEFA EURO 2012
    qualifying Group B and a play-off berth at the expense of Armenia,
    although both sides had a player sent off.

    Armenia were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Roman Berezovski was
    sent off for handball and Ireland were then handed the lead when Valeri
    Aleksanyan turned the ball into his own net. Richard Dunne doubled the
    advantage after the break but Henrik Mkhitaryan's strike and a second
    yellow card for Kevin Doyle ensured a nervy finish for the hosts.

    Ireland had started brightly, and found themselves with a man advantage
    on 26 minutes, when Berezovski was penalised for deliberate handball
    as Simon Cox attempted to lob him. Aiden McGeady fired over from the
    resulting free-kick, but Ireland did not have to wait long for the
    opening goal. Damien Duff broke free down the right and fired the
    ball across the face of goal; Doyle could not connect but Aleksanyan
    accidentally prodded it home.

    Armenia created the first opening after the break, when Yura Movsisyan
    evaded the attentions of Dunne only for his effort to be saved by
    Shay Given. However, the hosts began to make their numerical advantage
    count and seemingly put the game beyond the visitors just shy of the
    hour when Dunne turned in McGeady's cross.

    Armenia maintained their attacking threat, though, and got themselves
    back into the match almost immediately when Movsisyan squared to
    Mkhitaryan who scored his fifth qualifying goal with a measured
    shot into the bottom left-hand corner. Knocked off their stride by
    the Armenia goal, Ireland had to endure a nervy finish after Doyle
    received his second yellow card with nine minutes remaining, but they
    held on for the win and will learn their fate in Thursday's play-off
    draw, which takes place in Krakow at 13.00CET.

    http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002230/postmatch/report/


    From: Baghdasarian
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