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11.11.2016 at 16:00 Futbol Salou, Cambrils, Spain
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Attendance: |
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Netherlands |
0 - 0
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Under18 |
THE Republic of Ireland U18 side played out a scoreless draw with the Netherlands in a friendly international in Cambrils, Spain, this evening.
11th Nov 2016
Jim Crawford's side produced an excellent defensive display against the Dutch - who were semi-finalists in the UEFA U17 Championships last season - and on another day might have grabbed a win.
The first half was a very tense affair with Irish keeper Mark Travers not unduly worked as he and his back four of Canice Carroll, James Finnerty, Dara O'Shea and Rian O'Sullivan curtailed the Dutch attack. Aaron Dobbs had a half-chance with a header late on in the half but it failed to trouble the keeper.
In the first half Stephen Mallon was a threat on the right flank for Ireland and after the break it was the opposite winger Anthony Scully that looked dangerous for Ireland. The West Ham player had a shot blocked in the 53rd minute and another couple of opportunities were denied by defensive interceptions.
Dobbs had a header wide from a Carroll cross in the 64th minute then two minutes later a Scully free-kick just failed to find the head of Carroll and Dobbs was unlucky not to get to the ball at the back post.
In the 78th minute Netherlands keeper Kenny Lipman was almost beaten by Dobbs and then Aidan Keena in the same attack but once again a defensive block denied Ireland.
Ireland were almost undone two minutes into injury time but Travers made a fantastic save with his feet to deny Ferdi Kadioglu after a goal-mouth scramble.
The Irish will meet Germany in the same venue on Sunday at 12pm Irish time.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Mark Travers, Canice Carroll, James Finnerty, Dara O'Shea, Rian O'Sullivan, Thomas O'Connor, Daniel McKenna, Thomas Byrne, Stephen Mallon, Aaron Dobbs, Anthony Scully.
Subs: Aidan Keena for Byrne 61 mins; Kian Flanagan for Dobbs 82. |
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