Republic of Ireland 0-1 Argentina

Angel Di Maria scored which in fairness wont go down as goal of the season to give Argentina a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland this evening at the first international match in the new Aviva Stadium. The game will be remembered by many as possibly the worst football game the Republic have played in the last few years, and if it wasnt for myself and Bob McKenzie’s live coverage of the game we probably would have been bored into a coma.

After what was an awful first 20 minutes which failed to see anything positive from either team, the visitors went into what at first sight seemed like a controversial lead. Straight from an Argentinian goal kick the ball landed at the feet of Gonzalo Higuain who flicked it to De Maria who lobbed it over Shay Given. At first sight it looked like it was miles offside, but on the video replay Richard Dunne played Di Maria onside so the correct call was made by the referee and his assistant.

The Argies bossed the game from then on in terms of  possession and restricted Ireland to half chances the odd time they arrived on a night of pure frustration for not only captain Robbie Keane, who was winning his 100th cap, but for the 45,000 supporters who came to witness what everyone thought was going to be a masterclass display, despite the game being a friendly.

Because Irish Hospitals are still at stone age times, Ireland manager Giovanni Trappatoni, who will have been recovering from surgery earlier that afternoon could not watch the match live because there was no Sky Sports, Sportspeak offered to leave a computer by his bedside so he could listen to our live coverage but Trap would in the end have to settle for highlights on the terrestrial television, he wont have been too pleased to stay up to watch them.

Despite the loss and the awful footballing display there was an impressive debut for Keith Tracy who was involved in most of the desperate attempts to score late on but he did well against the best players in the world. Following a rousing pre-match reception, Keane endured a tough night on the pitch, but could have made up for it if he had not uncharacteristically spurned a late chance.

With Marco Tardelli replacing Trapattoni in charge, Ireland worked hard but could not provide the guile to match the endeavour. Messi gave the 45,200 fans a glimpse of his talents as early as the ninth minute when he skipped past John O’Shea, but his lob sailed over the bar.

Republic of Ireland: 1 Given; 2 McShane, 4 O’Shea, 5 Dunne, 3 Kilbane (20 Cunningham ’57); 7 Fahey (18 Treacy ’77), 6 Green, 8 Andrews (15 Gibson ’68), 11 Duff; 9 Sheridan (17 Keogh ’57), 10 Keane.

Subs not used: 16 Westwood, 12 Foley, 13 Kelly, 14 O’Dea, 19 Stokes, 23 Murphy.

Argentina: 1 Romero; 4 Burdisso (18 Zabableta h/t), 2 Demichelis, 13 Samuel (19 Coloccini ’84), 6 Heinze (3 Insua ’72); 15 Banega, 14 Mascherano, 8 Gago; 7 Di Maria (17 Gutierrez 75), 9 Higuain (22 Milito h/t), 10 Messi (21 Lavezzi ’58).

Subs not used: 12 Andujar, 5 Bolatti, 11 Tevez, 16 Aguero, 20 Rodriguez, 23 Pastore.

Booked: Heinze

Attendance: 45,200.

Listen to tonight’s show from the Aviva Stadium with Sportspeak comentators Bob McKenzie and Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher.
 

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.