Post by Salem6 on Oct 8, 2005 23:19:52 GMT
Stephen Elliott's early goal kept alive the Republic of Ireland's World Cup hopes but it was a far from convincing display by Brian Kerr's side in Cyprus.
The Sunderland striker gave the Irish the perfect start with his sixth minute goal but only magnificent goalkeeping by Shay Given kept the visitors ahead.
Given saved Ioannis Okkas' penalty in the 14th minute and the Irish keeper made three other world class saves.
Robbie Keane missed a second half chance but it was a dire Irish display.
Elliott's goal came after great persistence from Robbie Keane whose dink over the Cypriot defenders was finished to the net from close-range by the Sunderland striker.
However not for the first time in the group, scoring early seemed to inhibit the Irish performance.
The Irish lead should have lasted only eight minutes as Given made a magnificent penalty save to deny Ioannis Okkas after Richard Dunne had put in a hasty challenge on the same player.
It wasn't Given's first great save of the night as he had denied Okkas a minute earlier after Kenny Cunningham had got in a tangle in his own penalty area.
As the Cypriots continued to pepper the Republic goal, Given again needed to make fine saves to deny Chrysostomos Michail and Alexandros Garpozis.
John O'Shea battles for possession with Michail Constantinou
By the end of the first quarter, Cyprus were completely dominating proceedings with the Irish unable to hold on to the ball in midfield and attackers Elliott, Keane and Duff unable to exert any influence after their bright start.
The Irish remained on the ropes during the remainder of the first half and Given had to scramble back to deny Okkas with another brilliant save in the 39th minute.
At that stage, the Republic were looking tactically inept with long balls out of defence invariably coming back quickly into the Irish half.
Clearly worried, Brian Kerr reshuffled his midfield at half-time with Matt Holland introduced for Steve Finnan and Damien Duff switched to the right-flank and Kevin Kilbane now operating on the left.
Duff then won a free-kick which Kilbane nodded wide from close-range in the 57th minute but it was the Chelsea star's last involvement in the game with him having to be replaced by Steven Reid because of a knee injury.
Robbie Keane should have eased Irish nerves by adding a second goal in the 78th minute but Lambrou got back to make a brilliant last-ditch clearance.
Cyprus put the Irish under some late pressure but Kerr's side hung on for the win which keeps alive their qualification hopes ahead of Wednesday's final group game against Switzerland in Dublin.
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Cyprus: Panagiotou, Elia (Maragos 74), Lambrou, Louka, Makrides, Michael, Michail Constantinou (Krassas 30), Charalambidis, Alonefits, Okkas (Yiasoumi 70), Garpozis. Subs Not Used: Andreas Constantinou, Morfis, Georgiou, Petros Filaniotis.
Booked: Okkas, Lambrou.
Rep of Ireland: Given, Carr, Dunne, Cunningham, O'Shea, Finnan (Holland 45), Kavanagh, Kilbane, Duff (Reid 61), Elliott, Keane (Connolly 88). Subs Not Used: O'Brien, Harte, Kenny, Doyle.
Booked: Kavanagh.
Goals: Elliott 6.
Att: 13,546
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4322988.stm