What a time to score your first goal.
Ireland have drawn their World Cup qualification opener in Serbia.
Burnley’s Jeff Hendrick gave Martin O’Neill the perfect start with an early goal that went in via a deflection from Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Rather than settle into the game, Ireland looked edgy, lethargic and unable to hold onto possession in the middle of the park. The goal was inevitable and it was a sloppy one to concede. John O’Shea was caught ball-watching which allowed Dusan Tadic to find the unmarked Kostic to score.
Six minutes later, Serbia’s goalscorer won a controversial penalty after he went down following the slightest bit of contact from Jon Walters. Viktor Kassai pointed to the spot and Tadic converted to give the Serbs a deserved lead but there was more to come.
Jon Walters had a goal disallowed and Shane Long missed a glorious chance before Daryl Murphy rescued a point with his first goal for Ireland.
The next qualifier is at home against Georgia on October 6th. Oh yeah, Clinton Morrison is a psychic!
COYBIG!
Roy Keane tells Hendrick to start scoring. 3 minutes into the next game Hendrick scores. Now THAT is man management. #COYBIG
— Conor Pope (@conor_pope) September 5, 2016
Serbia booed off at half-time
— Paul O'Hehir (@paulohehir) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/morrisonclinton/status/772891804765224962
https://twitter.com/morrisonclinton/status/772893018517102592
Thanks be to Jaysus #coybig Now don't sit back again, Ireland, please
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) September 5, 2016
Absolutely delighted for Daryl Murphy. Amazing how brittle the Serbs looked when Ireland start playing.
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) September 5, 2016
Ref been worst than us tonight and that's saying something
— Ger O'Brien (@gerramia) September 5, 2016
This is a league one game that has somehow made its way on to the international fixture list
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) September 5, 2016
Cannot begin to figure Martin O'Neill out. No clue how he wants this team to play. #coybig #serire #bonkers
— Connor Morris (@connor_morris75) September 5, 2016
What do we actually deserve from this game? I haven't a clue. #SERIRE #COYBIG
— Paddy McKenna (@PaddyMcKenna) September 5, 2016
Bonkers second half and a sloppy performance in quite a number of areas…so it's probably a good result in the end.
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) September 5, 2016
I think that's what you call a 'hard earned point'!! #COYBIG
— Matt Holland (@mattholland8) September 5, 2016
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