And there’s the final whistle! Ireland were solid at the back and lethal up front. A good performance and a good result. So why do I feel like crying? Full Time: Ireland 3-0 Algeria.
Robbie Keane announced as man of the match. No better buachaill.
In fairness though, they apparently arrived with a big banner saying, ‘Ireland – you should be at the World Cup’. Fair play to them. Hope they do well. Especially against Brits. And the Yanks actually.
The Algerian fans couldn’t give a stuff. They’re dancing around and singing, reminding us that they’re going to the World Cup and we’re not. Cheers lads.
Westwood is going off. Joe Murphy comes on for a stint between the sticks. Lawrence is also coming off – Shane Long comes on. That’s probably the best of it tonight.
Robbie was chopped down by the last man. He steps up to take it. No mistake. Get in there Robbie!
Penalty Ireland!
Cross comes in and met by Guedioura! Cracking header! Off the Irish crossbar!
Brutal! Taps it into the wall. He’s been whinging all night that lad too.
Andrews chops down an Algerian as he flew forward – free in a decent area. Siafi fancies it…
Free kick for Ireland at the edge of the box – Andrews hits it! Just fizzed past the post. Good effort.
Abdoun on for Ghezzal.
Boudebouz showing off the tricks down the wing, and wins a free. He looks a player this lad!
Keith Andrews comes on for Whelan.
Mesbah picks up a card for flying into the back of Sheridan. Welcome to the game!
Doyle off for Cillain Sheridan.
Boudebouz, one of the substitutes has been lively! He turned two Irish players, O’Dea among them, inside out and got his shot away. Westwood had to be bright to make the save.
Triple sub for Algeria. Chaouchi, the Algerian keeper, among the those coming off. The three coming on are all making their debut.
Keith Fahey comes on for the Duffer.
And another sensational kick from Westwood! The Algerians let it bounce in their box and Keane gets there first! Off the post!
Long ball from Westwood – Doyle heads it on to Keane in the box! He catches it beautifully first time! Great save!
Another long ball this time for Doyle to chase! Taken off his toe by Halliche. Good defending by Algeria but the tactics are looking ropey!
Algeria are pushing way up the pitch and leaving tons of space for the Irish fowards to run into. There could be more goals in this!
That’s 44 goals in 99 international games for the Tallaght man. I would hate to think where Irish football would have been over this last decate without him.
Great cross by Duff! Keeper fists it but it falls to Robbie Keane! He had his back to goal but catches it sweetly! Goal Ireland!
Great ball from Duff finds Robbie in space! He cuts it back for Lawrence – ohh! Taken off his toe by the Algerian defender.
Algeria win a free in a dangerous area – whipped in nicely! Halliche to meet it! Westwood does well to pressure him enough to put him off his head.
And we’re underway again!
And there’s the half-time whistle! It’s been a more competitive game than you might expect and Ireland have performed well. Ireland 1-0 Algeria.
Lacen tries to chip one to Ghezzal inside the box! His first touch was poor and Ireland clear.
The pitch is poor. Ball is bobbling around and slowing down the play.
Long ball to Ghezzal in the box – turns to shoot! Sean St Ledger! What a tackle. Seriously, that was a cracker. He came steaming across to slide in and take it from Ghezzal’s toe. The flag went up very late, but St Ledger wasn’t to know that.
O’Shea has picked up a knock. Darren O’Dea of Celtic has replaced him.
There was more than a hint of offside there for that goal. Ah well. We were due.
He picked up a knock there did Paul Green. He knew he was going to clash with the keeper who was rushing to meet the ball. And on his first start. He’s up and about now, no harm done.
Ireland win a free – could be dangerous! Whipped in by Lawrence and Green meets it! Very brave! Goal Ireland!
The Preston player is on his 12th cap – hasn’t missed a game since being introduced by Trapattoni. Easy to see why, he’s having a great game.
And straight up the other end! Long ball finds Djebbour inside the box! Sensational tackle by St Ledger. Took it off the Algerian’s toe just before he pulled the trigger! End-to-end stuff. We actually have a game here!
Duff whips one in, Lawrence dives at it but it falls to Keane! He was a couple of yards out and should have had a shot! Instead, he tries to cross and it goes nowhere.
Ghezzal surges forward and whips one in! Westwood was sharp to come and collect that one. Algeria are up for this one!
Lawrence to take – poor. Keeper collects.
Ireland have won a free in a dangerous area on the flank. Same spot from where Doyle tested the keeper.
Duff surges forward and has a shot from the edge of the box! Tame in the end, and fizzes past the post.
They’ve been caught and escorted off the pitch. The Trap saw the funny side anyway. Cracking his hole laughing he was.
There has been a pitch invasion! Two lads came running on, chased by security. Gowan the lads!
Great run by Djebbour from midfield. Got all the way to the by-line before being shouldered off the ball inside the Irish area. Ireland need to buck up their ideas!
Played short. Ireland happy to hold onto possession for the time being.
Doyle wins a free in the centre of the park. See what we can make of this…
Algeria are keeping their shape well. They might be difficult to break down.
Great running down the left from Doyle. He holds off a couple of challenges before whipping it in! Keeper gets to it first. Doyle is a really, really bright light on the Irish horizon. Sensational player.
Some good running from Belhadj up the left. Didn’t he play for Portsmouth? Yes. Yes he did.
Algeria looking sharp when they get on the ball. Working it around well and very positive in their approach play.
Doyle meets the cross first time! Keeper does enough. That was a great effort. Very nearly hit the back of the net!
Duff tormenting his man on the wing after a great cross-field ball from O’Shea. Forces the free. In a good position!
Ghezzal goes in heavy on St Ledger in the middle of the park – the Irishman has been caught in the face with an elbow! And the ref has given a free to Algeria!
And we’re underway!
The Algerian fans are well up for this one. They’re all rocking back and fourth in their seats like Romanian orphans. Looks like good craic in their area of the stadium, has to be said!
Algeria team is as follows: Chaouchi, Lacen , Halliche, Bellaid, Mesbah, Guedioura, Ziani, Mansouri, Belhadj, Djebbour, Ghezzal.
Not long now, the athems are underway. Seems to be a better crowd in the RDS than there was for the Paraguay game. It’s almost reached it’s capacity of 14 people.
The Algerian fans are in the RDS in number. They’re in good form by the looks of it. They’re singing and dancing, thinking about the World Cup. The Irish fans meanwhile, are weeping and crying, thinking about the World Cup.
The Algerians reckon they can find out a lot about England, who are in their World Cup group, by playing Ireland. I think that might be an insult of sorts.
No news as yet on the Algeria line up but the Irish team has been announced:
K Westwood (Coventry City); S Kelly (Fulham), J O’Shea (Manchester United), S St Ledger (Preston), G Cunningham (Manchester City); L Lawrence (Stoke City), P. Green (Derby County), G Whelan (Stoke City), D Duff (Fulham); R Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), K Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Ireland will be fancied to take something from this game – Algeria have lost their last three games on the trot. In their last game, Algeria went down 3-0 at home against Serbia back in March. Their two previous games were in the African Cup of Nations – a 1-0 loss to Nigeria and a 4-0 whipping by Egypt.
Sit tight – we will have all the build up and live updates on the match right here.
