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Soccer » International » EURO qual. playoff matches
Estonia
Ireland- 1
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Review by: Sport news, comment and results | guardian.co.uk. 0 comments
There can surely no clichés about this being merely half-time. On a memorable night in Tallinn Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland stepped decisively towards the finals of Euro 2012 with a performance that showed icy professionalism and ruthless opportunism.
Estonia proved to be limited opponents, their shortcomings particularly clear at the back, where they lost the centre-half Andrei Stepanov to a second booking in the 34th minute and the other centre-half Raio Piiroja to two more yellows received within six minutes of each other late in the second half. Yet Ireland twisted the knife, haunted perhaps by memories of past play-off nightmares, especially the one at the hand of Thierry Henry's France in the World Cup campaign two years ago.
They went a goal up early on courtesy of the outstanding Keith Andrews and plundered three more against tiring and increasingly punch-drunk opposition. Jon Walters' magnificent display got the goal it deserved and the captain Robbie Keane's 52nd and 53rd international strikes have surely ended the contest.
The celebrations on the Ireland bench after his first suggested they thought it was over at that point. Trapattoni, his staff and the substitutes leapt about like children and the final cut was provided by Keane's penalty, after the substitute Stephen Hunt had been foolishly tripped by another substitute, Ats Purje. His tackle was the half-hearted action of a beaten man and, all around him, Estonian chins were on the floor.
The home crowd turned their ire on the Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai – his decision to dismiss Piiroja for handball in the 76th minute particularly irked them – but they were deluding themselves if they thought he was to blame.
Ireland were thoroughly superior and the passion of the scenes at full-time told their own story, even if it looked incongruous to see the Football Association of Ireland's chief executive, John Delaney, in his suit, running about the pitch and punching the air like one of the players. The second-leg in Dublin has taken on the appearance of a formality.
The pitch was hardly pristine and Ireland had to acclimatise quickly during frenetic opening exchanges, when the pace and helter-skelter action gave the occasion a real cup tie feel. Estonia brimmed with almost manic exuberance but, if Trapattoni had hoped for cool calculation, he got it in the move that ended in Andrews heading the first goal.
Walters offered a passable impersonation of a raging bull throughout and was involved in the build-up, passing to Keane who supplied Aiden McGeady, and the winger's cross was met superbly by the onrushing Andrews.
The tie swung further in Ireland's favour when Estonia were reduced to 10 men. The home team's defence had been undermined by naivety and it was in evidence when Stepanov, already on a yellow card for a foul on McGeady and having been played into trouble, lunged for the ball only to be beaten to it by Keane. As the last man, when he clattered into the Ireland captain, there could be only one outcome.
Estonia threw what they had at Ireland early in the second half but they were ragged, their game undermined by sloppy individual errors. Ireland's streetwise control was impressive and they punched hard on the counter to assume a grip on the tie. McGeady was again at the heart of the move, his jink and shot forcing the goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko to parry. Keane pounced on the rebound, crossing deep to Walters who headed home at the far post.
Moments later Piiroja was booked for a foul and Andrew's viciously swerving free-kick perplexed Pareiko, who could only push the ball out to Keane, who made it three.
The crowd turned on Kassai when he dismissed Piiroja and there was yet another sting for Estonia in the booking for Pareiko, which leaves him suspended for the trip to Dublin. Trapattoni might consider playing himself.
Estonia finished at sixes and sevens, which felt harsh given the romanticism of their campaign when they have proved to be one of the most enjoyable surprise teams. The penalty was the final insult but Keane had no qualms about extracting the full punishment. Ireland can start planning for Poland and Ukraine.
- Game Highlights
| Time | Estonia | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| 13' |
Keith Andrews |
|
| 17' |
Andrei Stepanov  |
|
| 34' |
Andrei Stepanov |
|
| 41' |
Jarmo Ahjupera |
|
| 55' |
Jarmo Ahjupera   Vladimir Voskoboinikov |
|
| 61' |
Martin Vunk Joel Lindpere |
|
| 67' |
Tarmo Kink Ats Purje |
Jonathan Walters |
| 70' |
Raio Piiroja |
|
| 71' |
Robbie Keane |
|
| 73' |
Damien Duff Stephen Hunt |
|
| 77' |
Raio Piiroja |
|
| 78' |
Glenn Whelan Keith Fahey |
|
| 83' |
Jonathan Walters Simon Cox |
|
| 88' |
Sergey Pareyko |
Robbie Keane |
- Live Commentary
| Time | H | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 90 +3 | A long range shot from Simon Cox is blocked by the keeper and goes back into play | |
| 90 +3 | Stephen Hunt from Ireland is ruled offside | |
| 90 +3 | The referee blows the final whistle | |
| 90 +2 | Aleksandr Dmitrijev fouls Stephen Ward | |
| 90 +1 | The fourth official shows there are 2 minute(s) of time to be added | |
| 90 +1 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 90 +1 | The home team have had 43% of possession compared to the away team's 57% | |
| 90 | Dmitri Kruglov puts in a cross | |
| 90 | Vladimir Voskoboinikov from Estonia is ruled offside | |
| 88 | PENALTY! - Ats Purje fouled Stephen Hunt in the box | |
| 88 | |
The referee shows Sergey Pareyko the yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. |
| 88 | |
G O O O A A A L - Robbie Keane Ireland scores from the penalty spot |
| 87 | Stephen Kelly puts in a cross | |
| 87 | Sergey Pareyko comes out and claims the ball | |
| 87 | Stephen Hunt dribbles past his opponents | |
| 86 | The game is restarted | |
| 85 | Vladimir Voskoboinikov fouls Sean St. Ledger | |
| 85 | The game is stopped | |
| 85 | Vladimir Voskoboinikov is down injured and receives medical treatment on the field. | |
| 84 | Konstantin Vassiljev misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 84 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 83 |  |
Jonathan Walters is leaving the field to be replaced by Simon Cox in a tactical substitution. |
| 83 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 83 | Simon Cox fouls Aleksandr Dmitrijev | |
| 82 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 82 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 81 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 79 | Stephen Ward fouls Aleksandr Dmitrijev | |
| 79 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 79 | Ireland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 78 | Stephen Hunt misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 78 | |
Glenn Whelan is leaving the field to be replaced by Keith Fahey in a tactical substitution. |
| 78 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 77 | SENT OFF! - After having handled the ball, Raio Piiroja is booked for the second time, and sent off | |
| 76 | Dmitri Kruglov puts in a cross | |
| 76 | Richard Dunne relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 76 | Raio Piiroja hand-balls | |
| 75 | Keith Andrews fouls Aleksandr Dmitrijev | |
| 74 | A player from Estonia takes a long throw into the opponent's box | |
| 74 | Stephen Kelly relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 74 | Joel Lindpere from Estonia tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 73 | |
Damien Duff is leaving the field to be replaced by Stephen Hunt in a tactical substitution. |
| 71 | A direct free kick from Keith Andrews is blocked by the keeper and goes back into play | |
| 71 | |
G O O O A A A L - Robbie Keane picks up the loose ball and scores |
| 70 | Raio Piiroja fouls Keith Andrews | |
| 70 | |
The referee shows Raio Piiroja the yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. |
| 69 | Aiden McGeady fouls Ats Purje | |
| 69 | Konstantin Vassiljev crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 69 | Richard Dunne relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 69 | Estonia take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 69 | Dmitri Kruglov puts in a cross | |
| 69 | Richard Dunne relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 69 | The home team have had 42% of possession compared to the away team's 58% | |
| 68 | Keith Andrews fouls Aleksandr Dmitrijev | |
| 67 | Aiden McGeady dribbles past his opponents | |
| 67 | A shot from Aiden McGeady is parried by the keeper and goes back into play | |
| 67 | Robbie Keane puts in a cross | |
| 67 | |
Tarmo Kink is leaving the field to be replaced by Ats Purje in a tactical substitution. |
| 67 | |
G O O O A A A L - Jonathan Walters Ireland scores with a header. |
| 66 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 65 | Damien Duff comes back onto the field. | |
| 65 | Ireland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 64 | Damien Duff is injured and is taken off the field to receive medical treatment. | |
| 64 | The game is restarted | |
| 64 | Aleksandr Dmitrijev fouls Keith Andrews | |
| 63 | Damien Duff is down injured and receives medical treatment on the field. | |
| 62 | Aiden McGeady puts in a cross | |
| 62 | Konstantin Vassiljev relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 62 | The game is stopped | |
| 61 | |
Martin Vunk is leaving the field to be replaced by Joel Lindpere in a tactical substitution. |
| 61 | Damien Duff crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 61 | Tarmo Kink relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 60 | Ragnar Klavan fouls Damien Duff | |
| 59 | Vladimir Voskoboinikov from Estonia is ruled offside | |
| 58 | Damien Duff crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 58 | Martin Vunk relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 58 | Damien Duff puts in a cross | |
| 58 | Sergey Pareyko comes out and claims the ball | |
| 58 | Estonia take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 57 | Ragnar Klavan fouls Jonathan Walters | |
| 57 | Dmitri Kruglov fouls Jonathan Walters | |
| 56 | Aiden McGeady dribbles past his opponents | |
| 56 | Aiden McGeady from Ireland shoots wide | |
| 56 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 55 | Konstantin Vassiljev has a shot deflected off target | |
| 55 | |
Jarmo Ahjupera is leaving the field to be replaced by Vladimir Voskoboinikov in a tactical substitution. |
| 55 | Konstantin Vassiljev from Estonia takes a corner kick | |
| 55 | Richard Dunne relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 55 | Vladimir Voskoboinikov from Estonia shoots wide | |
| 55 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 54 | Stephen Kelly fouls Martin Vunk | |
| 53 | Ireland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 52 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 52 | Raio Piiroja is penalised for pushing Jonathan Walters | |
| 51 | A player from Ireland takes a long throw into the opponent's box | |
| 51 | Aleksandr Dmitrijev relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 50 | Aiden McGeady dribbles past his opponents | |
| 50 | Enar Jääger makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 50 | Damien Duff from Ireland takes a corner kick | |
| 50 | Ragnar Klavan relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 49 | Stephen Ward puts in a cross | |
| 49 | A shot by Robbie Keane is blocked | |
| 49 | Damien Duff shoots and hits the target, but the keeper saves it | |
| 48 | Keith Andrews fouls Konstantin Vassiljev | |
| 47 | Damien Duff misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 47 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 47 | Ireland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 46 | The second half is underway | |
| 46 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 46 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 46 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 46 | Aiden McGeady from Ireland tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 45 +2 | The referee blows for half time | |
| 45 +1 | The fourth official shows there are 1 minute(s) of time to be added | |
| 45 +1 | Robbie Keane from Ireland is ruled offside | |
| 45 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 45 | Sergey Pareyko comes out and claims the ball | |
| 45 | The home team have had 43% of possession compared to the away team's 57% | |
| 43 | Keith Andrews fouls Konstantin Vassiljev | |
| 43 | Konstantin Vassiljev takes a direct free kick, but the shot goes wide | |
| 43 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 41 | Sergey Pareyko comes out and claims the ball | |
| 41 | Martin Vunk puts in a cross | |
| 41 | Shay Given comes out and claims the ball | |
| 41 | Jarmo Ahjupera fouls Stephen Ward | |
| 41 | |
The referee shows Jarmo Ahjupera the yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. |
| 40 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 40 | Stephen Kelly puts in a cross | |
| 40 | Jonathan Walters from Ireland heads wide | |
| 39 | Jonathan Walters hand-balls | |
| 38 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 38 | Tarmo Kink puts in a cross | |
| 38 | Shay Given comes out and claims the ball | |
| 37 | The home team have had 42% of possession compared to the away team's 58% | |
| 36 | Glenn Whelan takes a direct free kick, but the shot goes wide | |
| 36 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 34 | Aiden McGeady puts in a cross | |
| 34 | Ragnar Klavan relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 34 | Andrei Stepanov fouls Robbie Keane | |
| 34 | Andrei Stepanov receives his second yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct and is sent off! | |
| 33 | Jonathan Walters dribbles past his opponents | |
| 33 | Jonathan Walters from Ireland shoots wide | |
| 33 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 32 | Jarmo Ahjupera fouls Richard Dunne | |
| 32 | Estonia take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 31 | Stephen Kelly puts in a cross | |
| 31 | Sergey Pareyko comes out and claims the ball | |
| 31 | Ireland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 30 | Konstantin Vassiljev from Estonia takes a corner kick | |
| 30 | Stephen Ward relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 30 | Ragnar Klavan puts in a cross | |
| 30 | Richard Dunne relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 30 | Tarmo Kink shoots from outside the box, but the keeper saves it | |
| 29 | The game is in a period of relative inactivity, with neither side able to apply pressure. | |
| 29 | Konstantin Vassiljev from Estonia sends a pass into the box | |
| 29 | Stephen Ward makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 26 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 25 | Martin Vunk puts in a cross | |
| 25 | Sean St. Ledger relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 23 | Konstantin Vassiljev misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 23 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 23 | Tarmo Kink fouls Aiden McGeady | |
| 21 | Ragnar Klavan shoots, but his effort was never close to hitting the target. | |
| 21 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 20 | Tarmo Kink dribbles past his opponents | |
| 20 | Glenn Whelan makes a clearance resulting in a corner. | |
| 20 | Konstantin Vassiljev from Estonia takes a corner kick | |
| 20 | Dmitri Kruglov puts in a cross | |
| 20 | Raio Piiroja sends a header towards goal, but the keeper saves it | |
| 19 | Tarmo Kink misses the goal with a shot from outside the box | |
| 19 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 18 | Keith Andrews crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 18 | Robbie Keane heads the ball on to a team-mate | |
| 18 | Jonathan Walters from Ireland shoots wide | |
| 18 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 18 | Keith Andrews fouls Martin Vunk | |
| 17 | Andrei Stepanov fouls Aiden McGeady | |
| 17 | |
The referee shows Andrei Stepanov the yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. |
| 16 | Dmitri Kruglov from Estonia tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 16 | Estonia take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 15 | Tarmo Kink puts in a cross | |
| 15 | Shay Given comes out and claims the ball | |
| 14 | Dmitri Kruglov puts in a cross | |
| 14 | Shay Given comes out and claims the ball | |
| 13 | Aiden McGeady puts in a cross | |
| 13 | |
G O O O A A A L - Keith Andrews Ireland scores with a header. |
| 12 | Aiden McGeady puts in a cross | |
| 12 | Raio Piiroja relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 12 | Estonia take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 11 | Dmitri Kruglov from Estonia sends a pass into the box | |
| 11 | Konstantin Vassiljev has a shot deflected off target | |
| 11 | Konstantin Vassiljev from Estonia takes a corner kick | |
| 11 | Shay Given comes out and claims the ball | |
| 10 | Dmitri Kruglov from Estonia tries to send the ball into the area but his cross is blocked by an opponent. | |
| 10 | Dmitri Kruglov puts in a cross | |
| 10 | Sean St. Ledger relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 9 | Damien Duff is penalised for pushing Jarmo Ahjupera | |
| 9 | Ragnar Klavan crosses the ball into the box from the free kick | |
| 9 | Goal kick for Ireland | |
| 8 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 7 | Ireland take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 5 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 5 | The pitch is in good condition today and it is helping the players. | |
| 5 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 5 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 5 | Stephen Ward from Ireland crosses the ball but it is nowhere near the intended target. | |
| 5 | Goal kick for Estonia | |
| 3 | Keith Andrews shoots from outside the box, but the keeper saves it | |
| 3 | Estonia take a throw-in in their own half of the field | |
| 2 | A player from Ireland takes a long throw into the opponent's box | |
| 2 | Jonathan Walters heads the ball on to a team-mate | |
| 2 | Raio Piiroja relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 2 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 2 | Raio Piiroja relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 1 | Estonia kick-off, and the game is underway. | |
| 1 | Ireland take a throw-in in the opponent's half of the field | |
| 1 | Keith Andrews from Ireland sends a pass into the box | |
| 1 | Raio Piiroja relieves the pressure with a clearance | |
| 0 | Welcome to A Le Coq Arena, the match will start in about 5 minutes. | |
| 0 | The referee starts the match |
- Game Stats
| Estonia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots On Target | 2 | 9 |
| Red Cards | 2 | 0 |
| Shots Off Target | 8 | 7 |
| Corners | 4 | 1 |
| Throw Ins | 14 | 21 |
| Crosses | 13 | 13 |
| Offsides | 2 | 2 |
| Fouls Commited | 15 | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 | 0 |
| Ball Possession | 43% | 57% |
- Stats
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