Plain sailing

Ireland books place in last 16 with Saudi win

Ireland's Robbie Keane scores during the first half against Saudi Arabia. AP

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) -- Robbie Keane struck an early goal as Ireland cruised to a 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to reach the second round of the World Cup for the third time in three appearances.

Goals by the in-form striker, defender Gary Breen and winger Damien Duff left Mick McCarthy's side second in group E behind Germany and they will play Spain or South Africa in the last 16.

Ireland's progress was a triumph for McCarthy, who had to lift his squad after captain Roy Keane was sent home on the eve of the finals following a furious bust-up with his coach.

"People thought we would get beaten in the first two games but whoever we meet won't be relishing the thought of playing us on Sunday.

"We settled in the second half, we were a bit nervous in the first," McCarthy said. "The lads have responded really well, they were brilliant. They all played very well.

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"We have played well in each of the games. Our first-half performance here was probably our worst during the competition. What's pleasing is the way the lads have stuck to their task.

"I delighted we got three today. We could have scored more but when you have played three games and qualified for the last 16 you don't worry."

McCarthy said 16 teams would be wishing they were in Ireland's shoes.

"I want to go as far as we can," he said. "We came to try to win it. Is that realistic? Who knows?" he asked.

"Whoever we'll be facing won't be relishing the thought of playing us on Sunday but I'm of course looking forward to it."

Tuesday's win meant Ireland finished on five points from three games, two less than Germany and one more than Cameroon.

It was also the first time in 12 World Cup finals matches that Ireland, a quarterfinalist in 1990, had managed to score two goals. (Jubilant Ireland takes afternoon off)

Robbie Keane, who grabbed the dramatic last-minute equalizer against Germany in Ireland's previous game, gave it the perfect start after seven minutes.

The 21-year-old superbly volleyed Gary Kelly's hanging cross past flailing Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea.

At a drizzly Yokohama International Stadium, Saudi Arabia, beaten 8-0 by Germany and already eliminated, threatened more as the half wore on.

Nawaf Al-Temyat was at the center of their best work, often giving Ireland left-back Ian Harte a hard time, and three minutes before the interval he set up Mohammed Al-Jahani who tested Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given with a stinging shot.

Better shape

McCarthy responded by removing Harte at halftime and bringing on tall striker Niall Quinn, and Keane, with two sharp efforts, soon threatened to double their advantage.

Ireland suddenly had a better shape, with Kevin Kilbane filling in at left-back and Duff moving back into the midfield.

It was no surprise when Breen diverted captain Steve Staunton's free kick past Al-Deayea for Ireland's second on the hour and Duff claimed the third three minutes from time following a mistake by the Saudi keeper.

The winger's powerful, angled drive should have been saved, but Al-Deayea failed to get a strong enough hand on the ball and it squirmed into the net to the delight of the Irish support in the 65,320 crowd.

"I had a feeling in the past week, even months, that I was going to score in this game so I'm glad it went in," Duff told reporters.

It was the 23-year-old's second goal for Ireland and he said: "It was very lucky but I'm very happy with it.

"Wasn't it every young fella's dream to play in a World Cup and to score?

"I've done that but most important was for all the lads in the team to get through. We've done that and we're all really happy."

Man-of-the-match Duff was battered and bruised after being on the end of some fierce tackling in the second half, when he switched from playing in attack to his favourite wide left position.

"As per usual. I've been getting that every Saturday all year. There is nothing new there, I'm used to that," he said.

"I must say I did enjoy it in the second half. I got more space and a lot more of the ball, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"We can play a lot better, everybody knows, but we clearly deserved to win.

"The most important thing was to get through."

Stat Summary S. Arabia     Ireland  0  Goals  3  9  Shots  9  5  Shots on goal  5  15  Fouls  14  2  Corner kicks  5  0  Penalty kicks  0  3  Offsides  1  0  Own goals  0  1  Yellow cards  1  0  Red cards  0  49%  Ball possession  51%  31  Actual playing time  32     Attendance: 65,320     MATCH SUMMARY

The Saudis, humiliated 8-0 in their first match by Germany, finished a disastrous tournament at which they were the first of the 32 teams to be eliminated with no points and no goals.

"Tonight we played very well, especially in the first half but we missed a lot of chances that could have made a big difference to the result," their coach Nasser Al-Johar said.

"We've gained a lot of experience and leant a lot of lessons from our participation at this World Cup but we will go home and discuss all the negatives with the Saudi Arabia Football Association and we will rebuild our team again to get lots of positive results in the future."

Goalkeeper Al-Deayea announced his international retirement immediately after the game.

"I have announced tonight I will retire from international duty. That was my last game," he told reporters. "I'm not satisfied. I let in a lot but that's football," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Score Summary:

Saudi Arabia 0, Ireland 3 -- result, World Cup, group E

Scorers: Robbie Keane 7, Gary Breen 61, Damien Duff 87

Yellow cards:

Saudi Arabia - Nawaf Al-Temyat 61

Ireland - Steve Staunton 70

Halftime: 0-1

Teams:

Saudi Arabia (5-3-2): 1-Mohammed Al-Deayea; 2-Mohammed Al-Jahani (12-Ahmed Dokhi 79), 3-Redha Tukar, 4-Abdullah Sulaiman (15-Abdullah Jumaan 68), 6-Fouzi Al-Shehri, 13-Hussein Sulimani; 7-Ibrahim Al-Shahrani, 14-Abdulaziz Al-Khathran (10-Mohammad Al-Shloub 67), 16-Khamis Al-Owairan, 18-Nawaf Al-Temyat, 20-Al-Hassan Al-Yami.

Ireland (4-4-2): 1-Shay Given; 18-Gary Kelly (7-Jason McAteer 80), 14-Gary Breen, 5-Steve Staunton, 3-Ian Harte (17-Niall Quinn 46); 2-Steve Finnan, 8-Matt Holland, 12-Mark Kinsella (22-Lee Carsley 89), 11-Kevin Kilbane; 9-Damien Duff, 10-Robbie Keane.

Referee: Falla Ndoye (Senegal)

Linesmen: Maciej Wierzbowski (Poland), Frederic Arnault (France)

 

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