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09.08.2007 at 19:30 Lissywollen, Athlone
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Attendance: 1250 |
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Rep of Ireland Under 19 |
1 - 2
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Chile
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Referee: Graham Kelly |
Friendly / T/S-match |
Alan Lynch (23)
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Barrientos 54 mins,
Medel 56 mins. |
James Mc Keown
Cian Hughton
Gavin Donohoe
Michael Spillane
Lorcan Fitzgerald
Harry Arter
Ryan Carolan
Ruairi Harkin
Craig Mahon
Alan Lynch
Daniel Corcoran
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Saaverda,
Saez,
Torres,
Arce,
Abarca,
Salinas,
Aranguiz,
Campos,
Barrientos,
Gomez,
Medel. |
Thursday
Under-19 International Friendly
Republic of Ireland 1 – 2 Chile
Lynch 23 Barrientos 54, Medel 56
The Republic of Ireland Under-19 team lost a lead for the second time this week as Chile registered another win at Athlone Town’s Lissywoolen Stadium.
Alan Lynch put Ireland ahead midway through the first-half but the Chileans found the net twice in a three minute spell early in the second period.
In Ireland’s second warm-up game for the UEFA qualifiers in November, they dominated the opening 45 minutes and could have had more to show at the break than just the one goal.
However, the visitors grew in confidence after the restart and blitzed the Irish defence with their intricate passing movements.
Bohemians striker Lynch was selected in the Irish attack for his first start alongside Daniel Corcoran of St. Patrick’s Athletic in a home-based partnership.
The pair were just two of seven changes to the starting team which played in the first game. Lorcan Fitzgerald and Ruairi Harkin retained their places in the side but filled in at different positions.
Ireland Assistant Manager Tommy Connolly pinpointed in the run-up to the game the value of trying out players in various positions on the pitch. The Irish will be involved in three UEFA qualifying matches over six days in Portugal and, typically in such situations, squad members may be needed to cover different roles due to injuries and suspensions.
Alan Lynch had a sixth minute shot saved by the Chilean goalkeeper Gregory Saaverda but was more fortunate after 23 minutes when he seized upon a loose ball in the penalty area, skipped past a couple of defenders and tucked the ball into the bottom corner.
The goal arrived following a flowing move initiated by Craig Mahon on the right-side. The Wigan player found Ruairi Harkin on the opposite flank and after the winger raided into the box, passing two opponents in the process with his dribble, Lynch capitalised on Chile’s failure to clear the ball properly and dispatched a shot coolly past Saaverda.
Chile drew level nine minutes into the second half following a neat finish by Sebastian Barrientos after an Aranguiz threaded pass unhinged Ireland’s back-line.
The South Americans went in front with their next move. Goal-scorer Barrientos this time delivered a cross-field pass to Marco Medel who curled a low volley past goalkeeper Jimmy McKeown from the edge of the box.
Midfielders Harry Arter and Ruairi Harkin were at the hub of Ireland’s attempts to find a leveller in the final half-hour but the Chilean defence was superbly marshalled and openings were hard to engineer.
Lorcan Fitzgerald saw a long-range effort deflected wide of the post and in the last passage of play of the match, goalkeeper Gregory Saaverda demonstrated his agility by tipping another diverted shot around the post and out for a corner.
Ireland will contest the first phase UEFA qualifying series in three months time. These set of warm-up matches and another double-friendly against Portugal at the start of September are providing an opportunity for the players to showcase their talents as the competitive action nears.
Ireland’s Assistant Manager Tommy Connolly said: “Chile are a team that always close down the opposition. I noticed that quality from watching them at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland last week and it’s a different trait to what we’d expect from South Americans.
“The purpose of these two games was to bring 18 players together for the first time this season to what they’re capable of. We’ve ticked a few boxes in that process and there’s a lot of hard work to be done before we participate in the qualification matches.
“The players came in and gave their best this week. I couldn’t ask for any harder work from them and we’ll move onto the next pair of friendly matches next month. Our hand was weakened for these matches because of the absence of at least ten players due to club commitments but places in the panel for the competitive series are still up for grabs."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: McKeown (Peterborough), Hughton (Tottenham Hotspur), Fitzgerald (West Ham United), Donoghue (Sunderland) Spillane (Norwich City), Mahon (Wigan Athletic), Harkin (Charlton Athletic), Carolan (Crystal Palace), Corcoran (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Arter (Charlton Athletic), Lynch (Bohemians).
Substitutes: O’Toole (Norwich City) and Liddle (Sunderland) for Mahon and Carolan (70 mins). Onwubiko (Bray Wanderers) for Lynch (78 mins).
CHILE: Saaverda, Saez, Torres, Arce, Abarca, Salinas, Aranguiz, Campos, Barrientos, Gomez, Medel.
Substitutes: Pineda and Torreblanca for Gomez and Campos (46 mins), Mendez for Salinas (71 mins). Orellana for Medel (81 mins),
Referee: Graham Kelly. |
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