Post by Taxigirl on Apr 29, 2004 12:22:50 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/republic_of_ireland/3660107.stm
Good performances by Liam Miller and Andy Reid were the main plus points for Republic fans from a drab friendly.
Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne came on for his debut but did not get a touch but it was a match of little goalmouth incident at either end of the pitch.
Sebastian Mila had the game's first chance for Poland on 38 minutes but his shot lacked pace and it was an easy save for Shay Given.
Miller had a second half chance but snatched at it and put it over the bar.
This match had as much appeal to English football fans as the Irish with Poland in the same World Cup qualifying group as Sven-Goran Eriksson's men.
However, it will be the Republic who will take more pleasure from the result and a useful workout for some of fringe players.
The Republic were content to soak up the pressure without being really threatened by an untested Polish attack.
The Irish never panicked although they were sometimes put under pressure with debutant Alan Lee and Clinton Morrison living off scraps and unable to hold onto the ball up front when it eventually arrived.
Shay Given had to make his first save after 38 minutes, but it was a comfortable catch as Sebastian Mila's 25-yard drive lacked any real pace.
Lee, though, had the Republic's only chance of the otherwise uneventful opening 45 minutes when his overhead kick saw Jerzy Dudek scramble across the goal only to watch the ball drift wide.
Reid had another chance for the Republic just after the resumption but his shot from the edge of the box flew well over the bar.
Given had a nervous moment when he failed to control a back pass, but substitute Andrzei Niedzielan failed to take his chance as the ball ballooned off his legs and behind.
Manchester United-bound Liam Miller, making an impressive first international start, was unfortunate to see a snap shot just rise over the bar in the 53rd minute.
Republic were nearly caught out on the hour when substitute Alan Maybury brought down Kosowski wide on the left for which he received a yellow card.
Kosowski drilled the ball just outside the box and Tomasz Hajto fired in a dipping volley just over the bar.
There was little more action as the Republic easily held on for the third successive draw against Poland.
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Poland: Dudek (Boruc 59), Klos (Kaczorowski 80), Rzasa, Michal Zewlakow (Kosowski 84), Glowacki, Mila (Smolarek 66), Szymkowiak (Radomski 85), Krzynowek, Zurawski, Lewandowski, Olisadebe.
Subs not used: Bosacki, Gorawski, Niedzielan, Rasiak, Hajto.
Rep of Ireland: Given (Colgan 70), O'Shea, Cunningham, Doherty (O'Brien 81), Harte (Maybury 64), Miller, Steven Reid, Kinsella, Andy Reid (Douglas 81), Morrison (Byrne 90), Lee (Barrett 64).
Subs not used: Alan Quinn, Doyle.
Booked: Maybury.
Attendance: 18,000.
Referee: Sergiy Shebek (Ukraine).
Good performances by Liam Miller and Andy Reid were the main plus points for Republic fans from a drab friendly.
Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne came on for his debut but did not get a touch but it was a match of little goalmouth incident at either end of the pitch.
Sebastian Mila had the game's first chance for Poland on 38 minutes but his shot lacked pace and it was an easy save for Shay Given.
Miller had a second half chance but snatched at it and put it over the bar.
This match had as much appeal to English football fans as the Irish with Poland in the same World Cup qualifying group as Sven-Goran Eriksson's men.
However, it will be the Republic who will take more pleasure from the result and a useful workout for some of fringe players.
The Republic were content to soak up the pressure without being really threatened by an untested Polish attack.
The Irish never panicked although they were sometimes put under pressure with debutant Alan Lee and Clinton Morrison living off scraps and unable to hold onto the ball up front when it eventually arrived.
Shay Given had to make his first save after 38 minutes, but it was a comfortable catch as Sebastian Mila's 25-yard drive lacked any real pace.
Lee, though, had the Republic's only chance of the otherwise uneventful opening 45 minutes when his overhead kick saw Jerzy Dudek scramble across the goal only to watch the ball drift wide.
Reid had another chance for the Republic just after the resumption but his shot from the edge of the box flew well over the bar.
Given had a nervous moment when he failed to control a back pass, but substitute Andrzei Niedzielan failed to take his chance as the ball ballooned off his legs and behind.
Manchester United-bound Liam Miller, making an impressive first international start, was unfortunate to see a snap shot just rise over the bar in the 53rd minute.
Republic were nearly caught out on the hour when substitute Alan Maybury brought down Kosowski wide on the left for which he received a yellow card.
Kosowski drilled the ball just outside the box and Tomasz Hajto fired in a dipping volley just over the bar.
There was little more action as the Republic easily held on for the third successive draw against Poland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poland: Dudek (Boruc 59), Klos (Kaczorowski 80), Rzasa, Michal Zewlakow (Kosowski 84), Glowacki, Mila (Smolarek 66), Szymkowiak (Radomski 85), Krzynowek, Zurawski, Lewandowski, Olisadebe.
Subs not used: Bosacki, Gorawski, Niedzielan, Rasiak, Hajto.
Rep of Ireland: Given (Colgan 70), O'Shea, Cunningham, Doherty (O'Brien 81), Harte (Maybury 64), Miller, Steven Reid, Kinsella, Andy Reid (Douglas 81), Morrison (Byrne 90), Lee (Barrett 64).
Subs not used: Alan Quinn, Doyle.
Booked: Maybury.
Attendance: 18,000.
Referee: Sergiy Shebek (Ukraine).