“Georgia aren’t playing like a team 147th in the world rankings!” declared Ronnie Whelan during the first half. Ireland had a fight on their hands.
Georgia set their stall out as expected, a team of wrestlers playing on the counter. But Ireland had reason to be emboldened by the pre-match news regarding the loss of Georgia’s chief playmaker, Jano Ananidze. PHEW. Ireland lined out with Seamus Coleman on the right, two guileless defensive midfielders in the middle, a miles-past-his-prime goalkeeper and a hodge-podge of central midfielders and converted strikers that would look familiar to most Everton fans.
It was fairly dour stuff in a goalless opening 45 minutes. Georgia can boast the greatest individual mass-murderer in history, but everyone on the pitch was responsible for killing football here. Robbie Keane hoofed a Hoolahan cross over the melted side of the Aviva stadium. Levan Mchedlidze didn’t go close twice, once with a left footed shot that was blocked by Clark, followed by a scuffed right footed effort that was easily gathered by Stoke’s reserve goalkeeper. An astroturf overhead volley by Okriashvili and a decent Coleman strike from the edge of the box completed the first half montage. A spell of decent pressure from Ireland at the end of the first half did little to stifle the yawns of a cavernous Aviva Stadium.
The second half started at an equally glacial pace, with Ireland displaying all of the passion of a Hayden Christensen performance. Shane Long came out of the tunnel in place of Robbie Keane, who wouldn’t be adding Georgia to the list of international titans he had slain, like Gibraltar, San Marino and Andorra before them.
Business started picking up on 60 minutes. Coleman darted into the Georgian penalty area, but stabbed a shot straight into the hands of Revishvili. Whelan seized upon a rebounded Brady free-kick but, once again, could only roll it into the welcoming hands of the Georgian keeper. Walters cleverly redirected a Hendrick shot with his head, which was well saved low to Revishvili's left. McCarthy bent a shot outside the post, giving more fuel to his international critics, who haven’t realized what a crap team he plays for.
Georgia’s defence maintained its shape, as Ireland cried out for a moment of creativity to unlock a well-drilled unit of 11-foot men. Darron Gibson warmed up his jeep on the sideline but, luckily for Georgia’s defence, Hendrick ploughed through them first. Nutmegging two Georgian defenders and skipping past a third, he squared a ball for Walters, who tapped it into the Georgian net from close range. Relief.
Ireland, uncharacteristically, kept their foot on the pedal. The crowd actually made noise. Whelan got away with the first six times he told the Hungarian ref to f*** off, but was booked at the seventh time of asking. McClean received a yellow for a crunching slide tackle as he screamed “1916, NEVER FORGET!!” at a baffled Georgian. Whelan nicked a ball from Papunashvili and laid it off to Long, who couldn’t convert. It was garbage, but far more spirited then the utterly [Poor language removed] first half.
Ireland never really looked like conceding after that. McClean could have added another after he sprinted on to a loose ball and cannoned a very good effort at Revishvili, but the job was already done. With Germany doing us a big favour against Scotland, we’re edging that much closer to being inevitably knocked out in the playoff. Tiocfaidh ar lá.
Georgia set their stall out as expected, a team of wrestlers playing on the counter. But Ireland had reason to be emboldened by the pre-match news regarding the loss of Georgia’s chief playmaker, Jano Ananidze. PHEW. Ireland lined out with Seamus Coleman on the right, two guileless defensive midfielders in the middle, a miles-past-his-prime goalkeeper and a hodge-podge of central midfielders and converted strikers that would look familiar to most Everton fans.
It was fairly dour stuff in a goalless opening 45 minutes. Georgia can boast the greatest individual mass-murderer in history, but everyone on the pitch was responsible for killing football here. Robbie Keane hoofed a Hoolahan cross over the melted side of the Aviva stadium. Levan Mchedlidze didn’t go close twice, once with a left footed shot that was blocked by Clark, followed by a scuffed right footed effort that was easily gathered by Stoke’s reserve goalkeeper. An astroturf overhead volley by Okriashvili and a decent Coleman strike from the edge of the box completed the first half montage. A spell of decent pressure from Ireland at the end of the first half did little to stifle the yawns of a cavernous Aviva Stadium.
The second half started at an equally glacial pace, with Ireland displaying all of the passion of a Hayden Christensen performance. Shane Long came out of the tunnel in place of Robbie Keane, who wouldn’t be adding Georgia to the list of international titans he had slain, like Gibraltar, San Marino and Andorra before them.
Business started picking up on 60 minutes. Coleman darted into the Georgian penalty area, but stabbed a shot straight into the hands of Revishvili. Whelan seized upon a rebounded Brady free-kick but, once again, could only roll it into the welcoming hands of the Georgian keeper. Walters cleverly redirected a Hendrick shot with his head, which was well saved low to Revishvili's left. McCarthy bent a shot outside the post, giving more fuel to his international critics, who haven’t realized what a crap team he plays for.
Georgia’s defence maintained its shape, as Ireland cried out for a moment of creativity to unlock a well-drilled unit of 11-foot men. Darron Gibson warmed up his jeep on the sideline but, luckily for Georgia’s defence, Hendrick ploughed through them first. Nutmegging two Georgian defenders and skipping past a third, he squared a ball for Walters, who tapped it into the Georgian net from close range. Relief.
Ireland, uncharacteristically, kept their foot on the pedal. The crowd actually made noise. Whelan got away with the first six times he told the Hungarian ref to f*** off, but was booked at the seventh time of asking. McClean received a yellow for a crunching slide tackle as he screamed “1916, NEVER FORGET!!” at a baffled Georgian. Whelan nicked a ball from Papunashvili and laid it off to Long, who couldn’t convert. It was garbage, but far more spirited then the utterly [Poor language removed] first half.
Ireland never really looked like conceding after that. McClean could have added another after he sprinted on to a loose ball and cannoned a very good effort at Revishvili, but the job was already done. With Germany doing us a big favour against Scotland, we’re edging that much closer to being inevitably knocked out in the playoff. Tiocfaidh ar lá.
