Low Lie The Fields of Uruguay

FT: Republic of Ireland 2 – 3 Uruguay
A young and experimental  Republic of Ireland side suffered defeat against South American side Uruguay this evening at the Aviva Stadium. Considering the starting line-up’s this should have been a convincing win for Uruguay who had 8 out of 11 starting players from the world cup playing, but they wernt to have it all their way as this young side pushed them all them all the way to the end.

The first 10 minutes ebbed and flowed with both sides sharing equal pocession, but the first goal came on 12 minutes, A free kick from the influential Forlan wasn’t dealt with by the Irish defence and the ball fell to an unmarked Lugano who beat Westwood with ease. Sloppy marking from the Irish defence.

The Irish made up for that sloppy defending a minute later, as Liam Lawrence whipped a cross into the area for Long to head home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Around 5 minutes later the visitors made up for their sloppy defence after some encouraging play from the boys in green, Pereira weaved his way past a stagnant Irish defence across the face of goal and fead the ball to Cavani. The Uruguay striker made no mistakes as his shot found the bottom right-hand corner of Westwood’s goal.

Right before half time the visitors were looking to put this game beyond doubt, Palermo hitman Hernandez capitalised on inept Ireland defending to score a third goal for the visitors. He picked the ball up free in the Ireland area and sloted a low shot past a sprawling Westwood and to the inside of the far post.

But Ireland in fairness wernt going to roll over and 3 minutes into the second half Traps men were back on the scoreboard, Shane Long’s sterling work down the right flank resulted in him getting to the by-line. His cut-back into the area seemed certain to reach McCarthy, but the Wigan star was upended by the flailing Caceres. The referee had little option but to point to the spot and a cool Fahey dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

There was plenty more chances in this second half to keepthe 13,000 supporters on their feet  but Ireland couldnt get an equaliser as time went against this young side, but plenty for Giovanni Trapattoni to be optimistic about ahead of future games.

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