SOCCER/Rep of Ireland 1 Nigeria 1:THE BRITISH seem utterly obsessed these days with their endless televised quests to find the next big thing but given the opportunity to attend the Ireland and Nigeria's got talent show at Craven Cottage last night, precious few neutrals seemed inclined to part company with their couches.
In truth, there were no breathless performances from the newcomers, but for the Irish there were certainly some encouraging displays as well as another goal for Robbie Keane.
If rarely hugely competitive, the game at least generated enough entertainment to send the two sets of supporters home happy.
Giovanni Trapattoni must have arrived with fond memories of his last visit to the banks of the Thames with the game against Colombia here providing the Italian with his first win as Ireland manager a year to the day ago when Keane’s 33rd goal for his country proved to be the difference between the sides.
However, Ireland could count themselves rather lucky to have won that night with Dean Kiely preserving their lead with fine saves on a succession of occasions.
Kiely’s absence from last night’s starting line-up had, of course, been well flagged on the back pages and his decision to leave the squad after learning of Trapattoni’s decision to put Keiren Westwood on the bench ahead of him may yet mark the final chapter in his international career. Happily, a few others will remember this game as marking the start of theirs with five new caps in a starting line-up that included just three of the players – Keane, Richard Dunne and Liam Miller – who kicked off against the South Americans 12 months ago.
As might have been expected, the debutants had a mixed night. Leon Best certainly looked to enjoy his first taste of international football at this level with the Coventry City striker turning in a lively performance in attack that might well have yielded a goal or two. At left back, too, Eddie Nolan, had his moments with the Waterfordman looking capable beyond his years at times only to look as young as he is in almost the next instant. On this evidence, though, there will be further opportunities to show his worth.
Beside Dunne at the heart of the defence, Nolan’s Preston team-mate Seán St Ledger looked as solid as could really have been expected in a game that was not long on structure. Out on the right side of midfield, Liam Lawrence had a generally quiet evening while behind him Kevin Foley might hope to improve on what was a patchy display in his first outing.
The Wolves right back is certainly unlikely to watch too many replays of the first goal Ireland conceded. In a defence that may not yet have been on first-name terms, he was not the only one to blame for the ease with which the Africans worked themselves into a position to score but after John Utaka and Femi Olubayo had linked up well on the right, the 24-year-old will wonder how, having tracked Michael Enemaro towards the edge of the six-yard area, he still managed to allow the striker to sidefoot home so easily.
Enemaro, who declared for the Nigerians in February after a long pursuit by Tunisia, was one of the most lively of Shaibu Amodu’s young performers while Olubayo did well at left back and Kalu Uche brought considerable invention to midfield.
The latter forced Shay Given into one of the first saves of the game with a free from fully 50 metres out that the goalkeeper had to move smartly to tip over. Where the Nigerians looked least assured, though, was in central defence where Best’s energy and Keane’s movement proved persistent problems until the Spurs striker was replaced by Shane Long at the break.
Keane’s goal was the culmination of a short and simple passing move from the left in which Liam Miller and Keith Andrews both played key parts and the way in which Keane coolly drifted through the heart of the Nigerian back four, received possession and then stepped around the goalkeeper to finish drew loud appreciation from the London Irish that the player clearly enjoyed.
That was 38 minutes in by which time the Irish had been behind for just seven minutes and in truth they never looked like they were going to be left trailing again. Between the goals Best had clipped the outside of the post with a header after good work by St Ledger and not far into the second half Long almost capitalised on a mistake by replacement goalkeeper Dickson Etuhu.
The Reading striker did all that could have been expected when Etuhu sliced the ball almost to his feet after a rushed attempt at a clearance, keeping his head and aiming for the top corner from 20 yards but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by staying calm too and pulling off the save of the night to keep the two sides level.
Late on Aiden McGeady threatened to test him from 20 yards but his shot was a little wayward though the Celtic winger still managed to quietly impress over the course of the second half, not least when tracking back to defend against Enemaro’s run down the wing. The striker managed to cut inside but, under pressure, it was all too easy Westwood.
Thereafter, a couple of Nigerian chances aside, the game largely petered out and, tellingly, the Mexican waving gathered momentum.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given (Westwood 46), Foley (McShane 72), Dunne, St Ledger, Nolan, Duff (McGeady 46), Miller, Andrews (Whelan 58), Lawrence (Hunt 81), Keane (Long 46), Best. Subs not used: Kilbane, Keogh, Kelly.
NIGERIA: Ejide, Adefemi, Sodje (Nwaneri 78), Mohammed, Olofinjana, Aluko (Obinna 61), Uche, Adeleye, Utaka, Akpala (Odemwingie 61), Eneramo. Subs not used: Enyeama, Kanu, Etuhu.
Referee: William Collum (Scotland).
