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23.05.2007 at 01:00 Giants Stadium Attendance:
Ecuador 1 - 1 Republic of Ireland
Referee: Friendly-match

Goalscorers
Christian Benitez 13 Kevin Doyle (44)
Opening squads
Marcelo Elizaga;
Jairo Montaño,
Carlos Castro,
Jairo Fields,
Oscar Bagui;
Patricio Urrutia,
Luis Caicedo,
David Quiroz,
Walter Ayoví;
Cristian Benítez,
Jaime Iván Kaviedes.
Colin Doyle
Stephen O'Halloran
Alan Bennett
Alex Bruce
Stephen Kelly
Kevin Kilbane
Steve Hunt
Darren Potter
Kevin Doyle
Daryl Murphy
Andrew Keogh
Substitutes
Edison Mendez
Fricson George
Alex Bolanos
Pablo Palacios
Franklin Salas
Cristian Mora
Wayne Henderson
Joe O'Cearuill
Stephen Gleeson
Joe Gamble
Alan O'Brien
Joe Lapira
Shane Long
Anthony Stokes
Substitutions
Franklin Rooms for David Quiroz 66 mins
Pablo Palaces for Jaime Iván Kaviedes 77 mins
Shane Long -> Kevin Doyle (60)
Joe Gamble -> Andrew Keogh (69)
Anthony Stokes -> Steve Hunt (69)
Joe O'Cearuill -> Stephen O'Halloran (73)
Stephen Gleeson -> Kevin Kilbane (79)
Joe Lapira -> Daryl Murphy (83)
Yellow cards
Walter Ayovi,
Carlos Castro,
Joe O'Cearuill
Red cards
Carlos Castro None.
Match report | Preview
Match 427

Ecuador 1 Rep of Ireland 1

Stephen Staunton has handed youth its chance in this evening’s friendly with Ecuador at New York’s Giants Stadium (kick-off 1.00 am Irish time).

The Ireland manager has named seven uncapped players in his starting side for the first of the two game tour that concludes with Saturday night’s test with Bolivia in Boston.

Birmingham City keeper Colin Doyle and Wolves’ midfielder Darren Potter were confirmed starters by Staunton on Tuesday.

And this pair have been joined by fellow rookies Alan Bennett (Reading), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Stephen O’Halloran (Aston Villa), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland) and Andy Keogh (Wolves).

Skipper Kevin Kilbane will win his 79th senior cap and is very much the father figure in the XI with next oldest, 25 year old Stephen Hunt, only making his fourth appearance.

Hunt is joined by fellow Reading team mates, Kevin Doyle and Alan Bennett, the latter being chosen even though he has not played first team football since his January move from Cork City.

Another former eircom League star, Waterford United’s Daryl Murphy, gets his first senior outing to round off a great season at Sunderland.

And Andy Keogh is another player to capitalise on his successful season at Wolves by starting beside Doyle in attack.

“This is a great chance for these lads to show to me and themselves that they can make the step up,” stated Staunton.

“They have all enjoyed strong seasons with their clubs and impressed me in training this week.”

Staunton intends to play as many of the six substitutes although he is also keen to ensure there is a balance to his side.

“I want to play as many of the lads as I can over the two games. However, it’s important we play well.”

Steve Staunton's makeshift side earned a spirited draw against Copa America-bound Ecuador in New York on Wednesday as the Republic of Ireland manager handed debuts to 11 players.

Kevin Doyle's diving header a minute before half-time cancelled out Ecuador's 13th minute opener from Christian Benitez in front of 20,823 fans at Giants Stadium as Staunton sent out a side captained by experienced Kevin Kilbane but with only 13 caps between the rest of the starting line-up.

Up to 25 players had withdrawn or were unavailable for the tour of America, leaving Staunton with only nine capped players in a 21-man squad.

Seven starters won their first caps while three more debutants came off the bench, including American-born student Joe Lapira, who had only met Staunton and the squad when they arrived in New York at the weekend.

Ireland started the brighter of the two sides with Stephen Hunt's free-kick forcing Ecuador goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga to tip over the bar in the second minute and Reading team-mate Doyle hitting the post six minutes later.

While the makeshift Irish team looked sharp going forward, the lack of familiarity was exposed at the back after 13 minutes as Birmingham City right-back Stephen Kelly was caught out of position as Benitez ran onto a through ball.

As Alex Bruce appealed for offside his defensive partner Alan Bennett was playing Benitez onside and the Ecuador striker took advantage to drive across Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle to open the scoring.

Ireland continued to look uncomfortable at the back as Ivan Kaviedes and Benitez caused problems, but the Republic stood firm and looked to cause problems down the flanks.

Ireland's equaliser came a minute before the break as Darren Potter found Daryl Murphy on the right and the Sunderland striker sent in a low cross across the face of goal for Doyle to head home after beating Jairo Campos to the ball.

The half ended in frenetic fashion as Kelly blocked a Benitez shot and Andy Keogh's follow-up from close range was cleared off the line.

The start to the second half proved to be just as frantic as Murphy found himself free down the left just seconds after the restart, but saw his cross cut out by Jairo Montano with Keogh lurking.

Five minutes later Kaviedes tried to chip Ireland custodian Doyle from just inside the penalty area, forcing the City goalkeeper to use all of his large frame to turn away the effort before saving low to his right from Benitez.

At the other end, Potter's 58th minute chip from the edge of the area beat Elizaga but landed on top of the net.

The substitutions started to come thick and fast as Staunton handed further debuts to Joe O'Cearuill and Stephen Gleeson and when Lapira was brought on in the 86th minute, not only did he become the 11th debutant of the night but the first non-professional international since 1964.
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