Gerry Smith’s Republic under-20s failed to make it a hat trick of World Cup warm-up wins last night as they fell to a crack Paraguay side and a 26th minute goal from Nelson Romero, losing 1-0 at Richmond Park. It was Smith’s first loss in his reign, following recent home wins over the Czech Republic (3-0) and Italy (2-0).
The former national Junior boss used nineteen players during the game with only Mancester City’s Willo Flood and Stephen Kelly of Tottenham staying on the Inchicore field for the duration. The Republic should have perhaps earned a share of the spoils, having stretched the South Americans on occasions.
However, Paraguay, against the run of play, took the lead when Erwin Avalos went through one-on-one with Irish goalkeeper Wayne Henderson before drawing the stopper out and slipping the ball through to team mate Romero who finished to the empty net.
Both Eamonn Zayed and Stephen Capper had chances to equalise before the break, and so too substitute Stephen Elliott, whose 49th minute shot was deflected over following good work by Stockport’s Jonathan Daly. Into the closing stages, Elliott again went close, this time with a header from the edge of the six-yard-box and former Wolves’ midfielder Graham Ward curled a shot over in the dying minutes, but a leveller failed to materialise.
Smith and his squad jet off to Al Ain in the Emirates tomorrow morning, with qualifying group matches scheduled against Saudi Arabia (November 29), the ivory Coast (December 2) and Mexico (December 5).
Filed by Rob Wright
