Ireland V Italy Soccer friendly latest scores

Sceala Philosopher Location: Recife Brazil

Ireland won 2-0
You are a star Terny, thanks for letting me into watch.
Great result for Ireland. Only a friendly but Italy national side have pride and will never roll over for anyone.

Republic of Ireland 2-0 Italy
Tuesday, 7 June 2011 21:37

By Rory Houston

90 + 3 min Damien Delaney comes on for a 90 second appearance in place of Ward. I'd give the Man of the Match award to Sean St Ledger. A magnificent showing. Truthfully every player has been fantastic.

90 + 1 min There will be five added minutes. That was a tremendous break away goal by the Irish players. Trap didn't flinch as goal went in but he must be thrilled

90 min Stephen Hunt is fed down the left by Ward. Hunt has plenty of room to run on and outpace his man before crossing to Simon Cox to slide the ball into the net.

GOAL - IRELAND - SIMON COX

89 min Polombo's high cross is punches away by Forde who has done everything right on his first start for Ireland.

87 min Off-target from Giovincho, high over the bar. Italy have been awful from set-pieces tonight.

86 min Another free-kick for Italy with Kelly the guilty man again.

85 min Kelly fouls an Italy forward about 25 yards from goal. Montolivo will take it but the Irish wall comes rushing outing and makes the block.

83 min O'Dea is forced off with an injury with Stephen Kelly coming on.

81 min The imperious St Ledger flicks it away when Cazzani whips a dangerous ball in. Shortly after, Polombo skies a shot well over the bar. We can judge Trap for his strange selections but there is no doubt he has the players working to the mentality he implores.

79 min Italy hold the ball, looking for a pass, but it can't be found. There is no breaking down this Irish defence. I was worried on some occasions but as the game goes on the Irish defence gets better and better.

78 min Trap will be one happy man after this as Ireland win the ball back, hold it for a few passes and then work remarkably hard to win it back when giving it away.

75 min Great defending from Ireland as they are caught on the break after Paul McShane's cross is cleared. The Irish defenders race back and Stephen Ward intercepts a pass with an Italy forward lurking.

74 min Treacy comes on for Keogh as Trap empties his bench.

72 min Ireland continue to pressurise the Italy attackers and make sure they limit the openings in the final third. No sign of a goal as things stand but you do feel Italy have it in them to cut open the defence.

71 min Poor effort from Italy as they send another shot from distance over the bar.

69 min Great defender by St Ledger as he tracks his man Matri all the way and makes sure the Italian can only flick a header across goal rather than get an effort on goal in.

68 min Great piece of play by Ireland, started by a backheel by Stephen Hunt, with Stephen Ward unfortunately crossing the ball straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.

67 min Matri is ruled offside when about to get through on goal for Italy. It looked a close call against St Ledger.

66 min The game has gone quite flat because of the substitutes and here is another. Balzaretti on for Criscito for Italy. Trap is on the sidelines dishing out instructions for Ireland to keep their workrate going.

63 min Marchisio slams a shot wide of the goal from 25 yards. Italy have never really tested David Forde on his full debut.

62 min Ireland have not been an attacking threat in this half so maybe the change might alter that. Gilardino takes two minutes to be caught offside.

59 min Glenn Whelan and Simon Cox on for Kevin Foley and Shane Long.

58 min Gilardino and Giovinco on for Nocerino and Pazzini for Italy.

56 min Pazzini is punished for a handball as Italy try in vain to get this equalising goal. They will get the goal eventually if they keep this up - Ireland don't look completely solid. More subs on the horizon.

54 min The ball is laid into the path of Pazzini who turns ahead of O'Dea and slips a shot wide of Forde in the Ireland goal.

53 min Cassani tries to pick out Matri once again. This time the ball is overhit and Forde gathers.

52 min Italy looking more and more dangerous as Cassani feeds Matri on the right but he can't get a shot away and loses the ball.

2053 They will be making a statue out of Brian Kerr in the Faroe Islands with his side now 2-0 up and Estonia down to 10-men. Faroe Island 2-0 Estonia with 25 minutes left.

50 min Palombo's corner is overhit and drifts out for a throw-in. Criscito is back on his feet by the way.

49 min Great tackle by Seamie Coleman as he stops Criscito sending the ball into the box. The Italy defender stays down after that strong tackle by Coleman.

47 min Matri shows quick feet to force a foul from St Ledger. Italy have a free beside the corner flag that Palombo sends in but it's an easy take for Forde.

46 min We're back underway in the second half with Palombo and Matri on for Rossi and Pirlo for Italy.

2042 This is Andews celebrating the goal. Second half will get underway in a few minutes.

2032 Ireland may not deserve the lead but they have worked very hard for it and Italy have not asked enough questions.

Half-time: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Italy

45 + 1 min Ireland restricting Italy to shot from distance and Nocherino tries another effort in the last action of the half. It is well wide and the referee is going to blow it up.

44 min Scrappy end to the half with both teams losing possession and the game going a bit flat. Looks like Ireland will lead at the break.

42 min Encouraging for Ireland as they threaten a second goal. Stephen Hunt whips in a tremendous cross that Italy manage to head away. It comes to Coleman, on his left foot, but again Italy get numbers in front of the ball.

40 min The ball rebounds around two Ireland defenders and eventually comes to Pazzini four yards out but he flicks the ball wide. The linesman had his flag up but Italy are back on the offence.

39 min The crowd have been stunned by that goal with no real reaction from the Italy players.

37 min The Italy wall should really have put pressure on Andrews there. Andrews did well to keep the shot low and in the corner.

36 min Ireland take the lead as Stephen Hunt lays the ball back to Keith Andrews, who takes a touch, runs towards goal and unleashes a drilled shot low into the corner of the net. The Italy goalkeeper has no chance. Ireland celebrate an advantage they don't really deserve.

GOAL - IRELAND - KEITH ANDREWS

35 min The new picture should show you just how heavy the rain is in Liege. Shane Long has won another set-piece for Ireland. This will be a good chance to put in a decent cross, 35 yards out on the left of the field.

33 min Ireland win a free-kick about 25 yards out from goal. Stephen Hunt will take it, with the wall blocking the shot and Viviano coming off his line to clam the ball when it is deflected into the air.

32 min Marchisio shows some nice skill to pick out Rossi eight yards out. Goalkeeper Forde comes rushing out from goal and claims the ball before Rossi can get a shot away. Good play by Forde.

30 min Italy send in another cross from the right but it has too much pace on it and goes wide. Keith Andrews picks up a yellow for dissest. It is not too often you pick up two yellow cards in the first half an hour in a friendly game but Ireland have done just that.

28 min Great news for Brian Kerr as Frodi Benjaminsen gives the Faroe Islands the lead after 43 minutes. Faroe Island 1-0 Estonia.

27 min Nocerino comes inside and gets a yard ahead of McShane. From 25 yards, Nocerino's wekk-struck shot sails just over the bar. Forde had it covered it seemed.

26 min McShane, up for a long ball forward from a free-kick, tries to flick a header towards goal with the ball trickling wide.

25 min The first time Italy have numbers up sees Ireland left three on three with Marchisio getting ahead of Andrews and sliding the ball to Pazzini on the right. Pazzini faces Stephen Ward, with the defender standing up well and making a difficult angle for the Italian. Pazzini's effort at goal goes wide at the near post. That was the first time Ireland were really under threat.

23 min Sean St Ledger gets in the way of a Montolivo effort from 25 yards out from goal. Moments later, Shane Long tries to get behind the Italy defence but the former Cork City man is ruled to be offside.

22 min McShane clears away with a diving header as the ball is whipped into the area. Again, Italy only had two men in the area there. Stephen Hunt is booked shortly after as he slides in on Pazzini and appears to knee the Italian in the head.

21 min Italy need to get a few more players forward as Rossi has had to drop too deep to get the ball. In fairness to the players, the rain continues to fall and it's making controlling the ball quite difficult.

19 min Pirlo's effort rebounds off the wall and eventually the ball is worked back to the Irish goalkeeper Forde....

18 min Montolivo swings a brilliant ball across the goal but Italy don't have enough players back. Italy regain possession and O'Dea is punished for a handball 25 yards out. This is Pirlo territory....

16 min Italy are starting to play the ball about a bit more but I've been impressed with the Ireland workrate. There are plenty of players tracking back with Coleman covering McShane and Hunt and Keogh also doing good work in their own half.

14 min Italy threatening again, looking for an opening but with Ireland having plenty of defenders back. Stephen Hunt is the man who comes away with the ball as Ireland clear.

13 min First chance for Ireland and Shane Long. Keogh slips in his strike partner in a one-two and Long turns and drags a shot wide from 10 yards with the Italy defenders left trailing.

12 min McShane is caught out by an Italien cross with Nocerino winning the ball eight yards from goal. McShane is fortunate that the Nocerino loses control of the ball.

11 min Montolivo tries a strike from distance with Sean St Ledger doing well to head it out of play for a throw. Marchisio tries to play Rossi in on goal but O'Dea cuts it out.

10 min Wasteful as Andrews lays it off to Hunt, who isn't ready for the pass. The ball runs away from the Wolves player and his pass goes out for a throw-in.

9 min More fouling with Coleman first being brought down and then Long feeling a tackle from Pirlo. Ireland have a free 35 yards. The centre-backs will go forward.

7 min Coleman wins a foul on halfway for Ireland. There have been a couple of bad challenge in recent moments with the rain making the ball run pretty quick.

5 min Hunt tries a mazy run down the left but can't get a cross away. The front two for Ireland look lively so far.

4 min Ireland find their feet in the game without ever stringing together a few passes. Both teams just settling down now. The pitch is nice and slick and it has been fairly open so far.

2 min McShane kicks the ball off Montolivo to win a goal kick for Ireland. Keogh's flicked header tries to feed Long but the Reading man is ruled offside.

1 min Italy start the game on the attack with Paul McShane having to clear the ball twice in the opening minute.

1944 After going through the pre-match rituals, Italy will get the game underway. Ireland are wearing the black jersey they sported in the Nations Cup.

1942 Ireland subs: Murphy, Kelly, Cox, Delaney, Whelan, Lawrence, Treacy.

1941 The Irish players stand for the Amhran na bhFiann.

1940 Heavy rain falls on the players as they make their way onto the pitch.

1939 The Italian crowd is estimated at 13,000. Obviously the Irish support is a fraction of that.

1935 Big night for Shane Long. He was dropped, harshly in many people's opinions, for the match with Macedonia. This is a chance to impress once again.

1930 Viviano; Cassani, Gamberini, Chiellini, Criscito; Nocerino, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Rossi, Pazzini

1928 Giuseppe Rossi will start as a lone striker for Italy. Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Riccardo Montolivo and Rossi survive from the side which defeated Estonia 3-0 at the weekend. Here is their team....

1917 On my criticism of Paul McShane's captaincy tonight, it is more a criticism at the decision to make a fringe player captain rather than anything else.

Surely someone like St Ledger or Andrews that are regulars in the team would be more appropriate.

1908 David Forde; Paul McShane, Sean St Ledger, Darren O'Dea , Stephen Ward; Seamus Coleman, Keith Andrews, Kevin Foley, Stephen Hunt; Andy Keogh, Shane Long.

1907 Stephen Hunt does actually start so the team is.....

1900 Brian Kerr's Faroe Islands take on Estonia tonight in a Euro 2012 qualifier. I'll let you know how they get on.

1856 I'm hearing reports Stephen Hunt has missed out because of injury with Darren O'Dea passed fit.

1854 It certainly has a "sloppy seconds" captaincy about it though. Shane Long and Seamus Coleman among the players looking to make a mark after missing out on the starting line-up last Saturday.

1850 It is difficult to get excited about this game. I don't really know what we can learn from it. It is also difficult to comprehend Paul McShane being Irish captain. Did he win a raffle?

1840 A reminder that you can listen to the game on the link above. John Kenny and Damien Richardson will be your commentators.

1810 We're just waiting on confirmation of the Irish team.

1530 Ireland enjoyed a fantastic win in Macedonia last weekend and now face a friendly encounter with Italy in Belgium.

Paul McShane will captain an experiemental Irish side. We'll have team news and a preview of the game from around 6pm so see you then.

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Ireland V Italy Soccer friendly latest scores