By Tadhg Peavoy
Rants, raves and missives welcome to sportonline@rte.ie.
2217 Right folks, I'm bowing out. Thanks for your company, and I hope you enjoyed the coverage. See y'after.
2211 In summary, key results tonight were:
Group B:
Slovakia 1-1 REP OF IRELAND
Armenia 4-0 Andorra
Macedonia 0-1 Russia
UK teams' results:
Faroe Islands 1-1 Northern Ireland
Switzerland 4-1 Wales
Scotland 2-3 Spain
England 0-0 Montenegro
Other interesting results:
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
Italy v Serbia: match abandoned to crowd trouble.
France 2-0 Luxembourg
2210 Ireland are 11/10 to qualify for the finals; 4/6 not to qualify.
2209 Interesting bookies odds just in from William Hill:
The Russians are now the 4/11 to win Group B with William Hill who also offer 4/1 Ireland, 9/2 Slovakia, 66/1 Macedonia, 100/1 Armenia, and 2500/1 Andorra as group winners.
2202 Sorry Jimmy! Our Euro Extra discussion between John, Liam and Eamon has begun. Click on the link at the top of this page to access it.
2202 Just after waking up in Melbourne. Come on Ireland! Finish the job and send me to work happy! Jimmy, Melbourne.
2159 Yet again.......Robbie keane was awful. no excuses..he's not playing at club level because defoe,crouch and pav are better players.end of!
As captian he went hiding AGAIN and the excuses ( record goalscorer,capt,etc) are gone. he's a joker. oh also....he missed an horrific pen and
2 absolute sitters Keith Ryan
2159 kilbane is shocking !!! greg cunningham wud hang him up to dry if they were to go head to head .... cunnningham needs to be included !!! this is unacceptable !!! Johnathan Fitzpatrick
2155 It's all over in Wembley: a chorus of boos resonate around the famous and iconic stadium as England trudge off the field with their tails between their legs. Surely, even the most ardent supporter of the Three Lions must be commencing to think that this version of the team are not that good. Maybe Platt, Waddle, Barnes, Linekar, Beardsley et al were the real golden generation?
2153 Carol O'Hara will be fuming with you for taking back your harsh words on Keane!
2152 Billy Murphy is feeling guilty over his criticism of Robbie Keane:
Immediately regreted my last comment, Bill tells us, then goes on to say:
Robbie Keane is the Best and is my Favorite. CMon Robbie.
It was all Benetiz mind games at Pool.
Must say, rte has gotten fancy with this match report.
Anyway, Robbie Keane is the Best. C'Mon Robbie, C'Mon Ireland
Billy Murphy
2151 I support Arsenal as a club, and I am starting to see a direct correlation between Arsenal and Ireland. Both can play fantastic football and certain matches should be a walkthrough. Yet, like Arsenal, Ireland lack the "punch" needed in the final 1/3.
COME ON IRELAND.
-Arjun O'Sullivan
2149 Gareth Barry has a pop from 12-yards for England, the Montenegrin keeper gets down well and pushed it wide. Every time I glance at the England game the Montenegrin keeper is making a save!
2148 There is only a minute left in Wembley too. Scoreline 0-0.
2147 More misery for Scotland. Steven Whitaker has picked up a second yellow and has been given his marching orders. Three minutes to be played in Glasgow. It aint looking good.
2144 Carol O'Hara has been back in touch to say:
Will someone speak up for goodness sake. Why are we making excuses for Robbie ? Please put Long in the first 11 and Fahy and with Doyle and hopefully Duff we might have a chance.
CAROL
Carol, I'm not sure aboout dropping Robbie. Surely we need his leadership and knowledge of the game? However, I commend your passion and outspoken nature!
84 mins Monenegro have hit the crossbar! A superb shot from Jovanovic from 30-yards loops over Joe Hart - who is clearly beaten - and hits the woodwork. Let off for England.
2143 Word has it that the Italy- Serbia match was abandoned due to the Serbian fans rioting - not the Italians.
2142 The good news for all tearful Scotmen and women is that England are still 0-0 with the Montenegrins.
2141 Disaster for Scotland! A routine cross into the box from Spain is left undealt with by the Scots defence as Llorente ghosts in between two disinterested Scotsmen to at the back post to tap home. Oh dear, Scotland 2-3 Spain. Eight minutes to be played in Hampden Park, Glasgow.
2135 Frank Boyle has been in touch say:
Following updates online from New Zealand…. Not looking good is it. May regret that penalty miss at the end of these qualifiers.
2132 Ireland needs to find some stickers who can put the BALL IN THE NET!! Kevin Flood.
2132 Perhaps even more amazing news is that England are only 0-0 with Montenegro after 74 minutes. Or, depending on your view of Fabio Capello's Three Lions, not that surprising really.
2127 The big news is that Scotland have come back from 2-0 down against world and European champions Spain. Spain went ahead through David Villa on 44 minutes and doubled their lead through Andrés Iniesta on 55. But, the Scots are right back in it; Steven Naismith got the Scots opener before Gerard Pique put the ball into his own net.
2127 Wales have bean hockeyed 4-1 by Switzerland.
2123 What an improved performance from Ireland. Hunger and passion on display. Keane? Oh, Robbie. A fine display in terms of linking up the attack, but a missed penlty alongside a a great chance blasted over the Slovakian bar from six yards; it's all a very familiar story.
He is clearly still a fine player and has much to offer this team - as a striker and a leader - but his lack of clinical finishing in front of goal has cost us in Zilina.
FULL-TIME: SLOVAKIA 1-1 REP OF IRELAND
90+4 mins The referee is about to restart the game from a dropped ball, but after glancing at his watch, decides enough is enough. FULL-TIME IN ZILINA: SLOVAKIA 1-1 REP OF IRELAND.
90+1 mins YELLOW CARD for Karhan. Terribly late tackle from Karhan. That could easily have been red. He caught McGeady a good 10 seconds late and studs up met him in the shins.
Free-kick to Ireland: They go long and the ball falls to Whelan who rattles a shot at goal. The ball is blocked but Kucka's face.
90 mins A superb cross from Slovakia is about to be met by Oravec, but Sean St Ledger - or should that read St Legend - nips in ahead of the tall and athletic striker and heads clear the danger.
89 mins McGeady chases a lost cause into the corner and makes it not a lost cause. He digs out possession and crosses early. It's an exceptionally poor cross and fails to beat the first defender.
88 mins Ireland break through McGeady, he plays it long for Long. The diminutive Long is caught offside.
86 mins CHANCE FOR IRELAND: The ball is played across goal from Kilbane and it reaches Keane. A deft touch takes Keane away from his maker. Then, after some a great first touch, Keane blasts it over the bar from six yards...
84 mins Zabavnik crosses from the right and with his first touch Oravec gets between Dunne and O'Shea and heads towards goal. My heart is in my mouth as the ball loops over Given and towards the net - it is a half-metre wide. Phew.
84 mins SUBSTITUTION SLOVAKIA: Oravec on for Jendrisek.
2111 An excellent point from Lorcan O'Connell:
It's all well and good talking about taking Keane off but who would replace him? Our bench lacks depth in all positions.
Lorcan
Danbury, CT
83 mins Kilbane puts the ball into touch instead of an attempted cross...
82 mins McGeady charging at the defence again. He cropsses from the left, but an offside is given against Long.
2109 FYR Macedonia have missed a penalty against Russia. The score remains 1-0 to Russia.
2108 I'm in Scotland. Really I'm Irish. hope they do the job tonight. Come on the colour of the grass
From Kieran Fitzgerald
81 mins Ireland being exposed on the flanks by the pace of the Slovak wide men.
80 mins Slovakia on top in Zilina now, I'm sorry to say.
78 mins Corner for Slovakia: It is deep into the box - as Hamsik is about to head the ball into the Irish net John O'Shea makes a last-minute goal-preventing header!
77 mins Holosko was the sub I missed! And, he's just won the won the ball, charged into the box and had a shot blocked.
Ireland break downfield through the centre. A weighted pass finds Gibson on the right wing. He takes forever to unleash a shot - despite having so much time and space - and his shot is eventually blocked
76 mins get into them
they're easy
Paul and Eilís
London
75 mins McGeady storms down the left flank and beats his man. He tries to pull it back across to find someone in midfield; in reality, he finds a Slovakian.
2103 Following online here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-come on Ireland! Paddy D'Arcy
2102 Here we go again ! Will someone call it as it is . Robbie Keane should NOT be our front man, he could not strike a match!!
Give the young lads a chance please.
Carol O'Hara
2101 Dear Sirs,
There is NOTHING to be taken away from a VERY SPIRITED DISPLAY by the Irish team against SLOVAKIA :
..... BUT : It should NEVER have been a penalty for iIeland, IN FACT, the referee should have awarded a foul AGAINST the Irish forward for DANGEROUS PLAY !
The keeper was already at close range to take up the ball, and the FOOT stretched out against the keeper clearly represented DANGEROUS PLAY against him !
Surprised not to hear a comment from the PANEL ???
Regards, Erwin Lintner.
72 mins SUSBTITUTION IRELAND: Andy Keogh is on for Fahey.
71 mins Hamsik runs at goal and loses the ball, it runs to Jendrisek who snatches at it - too much power and it flies over the bar!
70 mins Weiss and Sestak off for Stoch and another lad, missed who he was, sorry!
68 mins Slovakia back in possession. Hamsik plays to Hubocan on the left wing. He is in acres of space and hits it at goal - it is a looping effort which is tricky for Given to deal with. But, Manchester City's reserve team goalkeeper makes the save. Good man, Given.
2055 Does our team lack the confidence to play good football because most of them play club football for teams who also play poor football? In other words are expecting too much from technically inferior players? Mike Dolan
67 mins Ireland beginning to exert pressure a little more. Lots of possession for Trap's men, but little in the way of chances in front of the onion sack.
2054 C'Mon Ireland - Score some goals. Robbie was no number 7 at Liverpool whatever the reason, you'd think he'd try to make up for it by scoring some goals !!! ( He's my sisters favorite player, not mine though, Still, C'Mon Robbie, stick it in the net )
Billy Murphy
65 mins Long loses the ball to Karhan, who passes across goal to Hamsik - the latter does not expect the pass and allows the ball to roll by him. Ireland clear from what could have been a dangerous attack.
63 mins Keane is thrown the ball from a throw-in. He chests it down and plays it out to Fahey on the right wing. Fahey tries to play it around his marker, but he only succeeds in putting out of play.
62 mins Neither team can manage to get a string of passes together right now. There is plenty of endeavour, but the ball is being cut-out after a couple of phases through misplaced passes and well-timed interception runs.
60 mins Slovakia win a free-kick on the left wing. The delivery is poor and Ireland win a free-out. Long won that free. He is having a great game: lively, aggressive, passionate.
59 mins Ireland build an attack from deep in their own half. The ball is played toward Keane but he loses possession.
57 mins McGeady wins a free on the left side of the Slovak goal. Fahey will take it.
It puts it to the far post, Long heads it back to Kilbane, but it won't come down for Skillbane and he taps it to a Slovak defender. The Slovaks clear it.
56 mins Kilbane fouls Weiss on the left flank. Free-in for the Slovaks. Awful free which rolls harmlessly over the deadball line. Goalkick to Ireland.
55 mins France lead Luxembourg by a goal. The Netherlands are 2-0 up against Sweden.
54 mins Chance for Slovakia. Given plays a short goal kick to Dunne. Dunne plays it back to Given, but it's a poor pass and Stoch almost intercepts. Given has to come off his line and hoog away under pressure.
53 mins Il Trap is up on his feet and shouting instructions at his lads.
52 mins No big chances in this half as yet. The atmosphere in Štadión MŠK Žilina is special. Very loud and plenty of chanting.
2039 Wales are 2-1 down to Switzerland. Scotland v Spain and England v Monenegro are both 0-0.
51 mins Italy v Serbia has been adandoned due to crowd trouble. Serbian fans reportedly throwing flares and bangers.
49 mins Hamsik plays some clever trickery and weaves his way into the Irish danger area. Big Dickie Dunne steps up and gets a strong foot in - crucial tackle.
48 mins Long comes in the back of Weiss, free to Slovakia. There is a tasty little battle going on between those two out there tonight.
46 mins We're off again in Zilina.
2033 I think you'll find the discussion on whether Keane is actually any good is being debated in every public house in Ireland right now. The debate rages on.
|
2032 I dont think keane is that good. not just because of the penalty, but hisv all round play.
brendan stafford
cork |
2030 Second half from Zilina on the way folks.
2028 BREAKING NEWS: Delaney takes part in spontaneous banter session in Slovakian train station. Pictures just in!
2025 BREAKING NEWS: John Delaney is now liked by Irish soccer fans. Delaney organised a free train and free cans of beer - which we believe were 'probably' Carlsberg - for all Irish fans travelling to the match in Zilina.
Pictured below: Delaney is patted on the back by those normally used to stabbing him in the same body part.
2023 Johnny Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady are very happy with the Irish performance. They believe Ireland are dominant and playing football of a good standard.
HALF-TIME: SLOVAKIA 1-1 REP OF IRELAND
2021 That penalty miss is the last action of the half. Ireland were by far the better team in central Europe in that 45 minutes. Bar one defensive lapse Slovakia were restricted to long-distance efforts at goal.
46 mins PENALTY FOR IRELAND: A long ball is played through to McGeady, the winger beats the right back to the ball and the Slovak keeper takes him down.
YELLOW CARD: The keeper only gets a yellow as McGeady was not heading directly for goal.
PENALTY: Robbie Keane takes it. he steps up after a long delay due to complaints from the Slovaks. The penalty kick is awful. Keane hits it with little power to the left of goal at the perfect height for Mucha. The keeper guesses the right way and parries the ball clear. It bounces back into play but is cleared away by the Slovak defence.
Damn it.
45 mins Hamsik gives away a free on the edge of the Irish box for a dangerously high foot during a 50-50.
44 mins A contentious offside decision goes Ireland's way.
44 mins St Ledger plays a 50-yard ball for Long to chase, the Reading striker is muscled out of it as he attempts to take it down on his chest in the box.
43 mins Long ball from Slovakia: it has too much pace on it and spins through to Given.
42 mins Paul Green pulls a hamstring and is replaced by Darron Gibson.
40 mins What a chance for Ireland!
Shane Long beats the Slovak left-back and crosses to perfection, putting it in the sweet spot a metre out from goal and across the box. Keane should meet it with a toe and make it 2-1. He fails to connect.
36 mins First corner of the match: It's for Slovakia.
GOAL SLOVAKIA: The corner is from the left, Kucka comes in at the near post and gets a flick on it. The flick reaches Durica who beats Glen Whelan at the back post and gets in a superb header. The header crashes off the underside of the bar and bounces down behind the goal-line; Given had no chance: Simple and effective soccer has levelled the match in Zilina.
Slovakia 1-1 Rep of Ireland (Durica 36)
35 mins Whistles echo around the stadium as Slovakia run out of options on an attack and are forced to play the ball 25 yards back to their goalkeeper.
33 mins Robbie Keane drops back into defence to make a five-man defence. Ireland dispossess and Long breaks down the left wing. He should go himself and use his pace to attack the goal, but he tries to hold the ball up and wait for Keane, who is slow in arriving. The chance is lost.
32 mins YELLOW CARD: Sestak come in late on St Ledger and gets the first yellow card of the evening.
30 mins Whelan loses the ball in front of his own penalty area and Slovkia move it wide right. Zabavnik puts a low cross across the face of the Irish goal and any touch would put it in the net - nobody gets the right connection and Ireland escape.
29 mins Sestak attempts to chip the ball in behind the Irish defence with Hamsik chasing it, the ball is overcooked and the danger is over for Ireland.
28 mins Dickie Dunne gets under a long ball from Slovakia and heads it right back to the Slovak keeper.
26 mins Kucka comes in the back of Robbie Keane: free to Ireland 40-yards out.
Fahey floats it in to the far post where Kilbane is waiting to pounce. However, Kilbane is penalised for pulling a Slovak jersey. Free out to Slovakia.
24 mins Robbie Keane is played the ball on the edge of the box. Without looking up he hits it low along the ground, the keeper is wary to his snap shot and gets down to watch the shot flash wide of the left post.
22 mins Given has yet to be challenged by the Slovaks. Ireland are exerting heavy pressure in midfield and on the flanks, in turn strangling Slovakia of possession.
20 mins Fahey has a superb volley from just outside the right side of the area. He catches it perfectly and the keeper Mucha needs to make a solid save. Ireland on top here in Zilina.
19 mins Fahey is fouled and Ireland win another free 30 yards out. It is smashed into the Slovak wall by Glenn Whelan, but falls to Ledger, he tries to feed the ball to Green in the 18-yard box bit it is intercepted.
16 mins Durica has caught Long in a tackle very late. Free-in for Ireland.
GOAL IRELAND: As the free is swing in from the right wing by Fahey the Slovak defence fail to get it clear it and it falls to Sean St Ledger. Five yards from goal, just to the left, he is totally unmarked and with perfect precision he places it in the bottom left-hand corner. GO ON MY SON!
SLOVAKIA 0-1 REP OF IRELAND (St Ledger 16)
15 mins Switzerland 1-1 Wales: Gareth Bale has tied things up for the Welsh.
14 mins Kucka is played into acres of space and has a lash at goal. He thumps it with some crazy power and the ball flashes wide, but not by much. The Irish midfield went asleep there - a let-off for Ireland.
13 mins We'll try and get a pic of Hamsik for you, His hair is nothing short of ridiculous - but all the rage in Slovakia!
12 mins McGeady fouls 30 yards out. Slovakia's version of 'Sonic the Hedgehog' aka Hamsik takes it, but the ball is headed wide of the target from Jendrisek I think it was.
11 mins A long ball is played toward a flying McGeady - it has too much pace and the winger can't get on the end of it.
1942 Wales are behind to Switzerland. Stocker got the goal for the Swiss. Switzerland 1-0 Wales.
10 mins Plenty of broken passes and play in Zilina. Fairly little in terms of concision. Ireland look solid and 'up for it' though.
7 mins Kilbane is now fouled, getting an elbow in his face in a 50-50 jump. St Ledger pumps the free-kick forward. It is headed clear by Slovakia with ease.
GOAL FOR RUSSIA AGAINST MACEDONIA: Russia have gone 1-0 ahead with a fine goal from Kerzhakov on 8 minutes.
6 mins Kilbane fouls Hamsik on the left flank, he lashed at him with his leg, free-in for Slovakia. It comes to nothing.
6 mins Slovakia cross to the Irish box, but Fahey tides up.
5 mins Not much goalmouth action as of yet in Slovakia. Both team's are pressing each other over the park, trying to allow the game to settle into a rhythm.
4 mins To refresh you memory, here are tonight's teams:
Slovakia: Mucha, Durica, Zabavnik, Karhan, Weiss, Sestak, Hubocan, Salata, Hamsik, Jendrisek, Kucka. Subs: Pernis, Pekarik, Pecalka, Stoch, Holosko, Oravec, Sebo.
Rep of Ireland: Given, St. Ledger, Kilbane, O'Shea, Dunne, Whelan, Fahey, Green, Long, Keane, McGeady. Subs: Murphy, Keogh, McShane, Wilson, Gibson, Foley, Cunningham.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
3 mins Keane crosses into the box from the right-side of the box - it is too long and Slovakia clear with ease.
1 min Ireland on the ball early, O'Shea feeds inside on the right wing. Green and Fahey try to move it forward, but fail to do so - losing the ball with a poor chip ahead.
1932 Kick-off looms in the Zilina evening. The weather is chilled, the atmosphere is electric, as the the match gets underway.
1930 Let's hope the anthem fails and the Slovaks don't wake up and we nick three points from them.
1929 It's anthem time out in Zilina. The Slovakian anthem is called Lightning Over the Tatras and is is based on a folk song adapted to patriotic feelings in the revolutionary 1840s. It speaks poetically of lightning strikes over the Tatra mountains and urges the Slovak nation to wake up.
1928 Trap should have picked Seamier Coleman at right back. He would have added creativity down the wing. We'll still draw but. David in Boston, MA.
1922 Liam Brady believes we need to 'play more than we did the other night (against Russia)'. I concur with this assessment. Enough of the long-ball overeliance, we need to keep the ball on the deck and pass our way forward. As our performance in Paris against France, and indeed our performance against Italy in Bari both proved, we can play football, now, we must do it again. One-point minimum from this game will be achieved 'playing football'.
1921 Best of luck Ireland. Well done Brian Kerr. Prediction Ireland to sneak a win 1-0. Ian ( Indianapolis)
1920 Prove the critics wrong with a 2-0 win. I'll be watching closely on rte.ie in Peoria, Illinois, Fergal
1918 Ciaran here in Long Island, New York, eagerly awaiting the start of the game. Come on Ireland, the country needs some good news and a reason to believe. Bring back the glory days!!!! Ireland 2 Slovakia 1
Ciaran
1916 Was going to sneak out for an extended lunch for the match but my boss just walked in and ruined that plan.
Have to follow it with you now instead.
DO IT FOR “THE LADS”
Alan (Irishman), George (Scotsman) and Ian (Englishman) all cheering for Ireland
1916 All the boys and girls in Finbars are ready ro roar the lads on! Declan, Madrid
1840 I'm off to grab a bite to eat before The Big One in Zilina. I'll leave you in the capable hands of Robert Wright for now. Back soon.
1836 Big news! Craig Levein has picked a striker to play against Spain. Kenny Miller is in the starting line-up. I'm a bit disappointed with that, I was looking forward to seeing the Scots' six-man midfield. It would have been the Scottish Football Association's alternative to Total Football.
1834 Kelly's last high-profile match was CFR Cluj's 2-1 win against FC Basle in the Champions League, on 15 September. Fair play to Kelly.
1831 It's all over in Helsinki. Finland 1-2 Hungary. Ireland's own Alan Kelly is the man in charge in Finland.
1828 Hungary have regained the lead in Finland! Balazs Dzsudzsak has put them 2-1 up after 90 minutes of action in the Olympic Stadim, Helsinki.
1827 Best of luck to Ireland tonight - and C'mon the Faroes !!! Ken Richardson in Tulsa Oklahoma.
1825 In Dallas, Tx, wishing I was in Slovakia tonight!! Come on Ireland.....Please, Please, pull out a win tonight for all of us Irish at home, abroad and for those two Italians who have kept their faith in you!! Prediction ----- Ireland 2 Slovakia 0
Davey Devlin (Dallas, Tx)
1824 Herself will be home soon looking for her dinner (modern times eh?) and I've nothing ready, too edgy over the game. COME ON IRELAND! THREE DELICIOUS POINTS FOR DINNER!! Ed, London
1823 Come on Ireland – get a win! Colm (Toronto)
1823 Realistically a draw would be a great result. I don't think we've beaten a descent side away in a qualifier since Scotland in 87. Come on ye boys in green. David in Boston.
1822 Match not being shown in the Irish pub in Chisinau, Moldova but where there's a will.........come on Ireland!! Dave (Chisinau)
1819 Fomer Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Birmingham City striker Mikael Forssell has equalised for Finland against Hungary. That goal came after 86 minutes. Harsh on the Hungarians who have led since the 50th minute. Is there a winner on the way in that one? Finland 1-1 Hungary.
1812 COME ON IRELAND!!!! Best of luck!!! Gerry (Canada)
1803 Here are some key kick-off times for you:
In the Republic of Ireland's Group B:
7.30pm: Rep of Ireland v Slovakia
7.30pm: FYR Macedonia v Russia
The most interesting match-ups of the evening:
7.30pm: Netherlands v Sweden
7.50pm: Italy v Serbia
The United Kingdom teams' fixtures:
RESULT: Faroe Islands 1-1 Northern Ireland
7.30pm: Switzerland v Wales
8.00pm: England v Montenegro
8.00: Scotland v Spain
1558 Bearing in mind that Azerbaijan were beaten 3-0 by Austria (world ranking 59th) on Saturday, this victory against Turkey (world ranking 14th) is fairly incredible. There will be dancing on the streets of Baku tonight!
1737 Azerbaijan have done it! Final score: Azerbaijan 1-0 Turkey.
1753 Kerr was giving it loads on the sideline at full-time! Fist pumps, high-fives, handshakes - the lot! The consensus is that he has just won himself a week's supply of free fish and the freedom of all the pubs in the Faroes. Fair play to him.
RESULT: FAROE ISLANDS 1-1 NORTHERN IRELAND
1752 And, it's all over in the Faroes. Brian Kerr has pulled of a shock of the highest order. Faroe Islands 1-1 Northern Ireland.
1751 Armenia have beaten Andorra 4-0. The last goal came from Pizelli on 52 an that's it. Armenia go to of Group B.
1750 Ninety-four minutes almost up.
1749 Brunt crosses deep for NI, the ball is nodded back to Corry Evans. He steps up and smacks it, but a brave Faroe defender gets a strong block in.
1748 Chance for Laffety. The Rangers player gathers on the outskirts of the penalty area, he fends off his marker and finds some daylight. With a glance at goal he has a pop but it is fairly handy for the keeper.
1747 Northern Ireland hammer the ball over the crossbar. They have produced zilch in the dying moments so far. Four minutes of injury time will be played.
1746 Last minute of normal time in the Faroes.
1745 Elsewhere, Hungary are 1-0 ahead against Finland. That one is in Scandinavia with a half an hour left to play.
1744 Incredibly Azerbaijan are still 1-0 up against Turkey. If that one stays the same it will be a seismic shock.
1743 Five minutes left on the clock, no more chances of note. One would imagine Northern Ireland will lay siege to the Faroe goal in the dying minutes.
1742 Justinus Hansen is on for Faroes' goalscorer Holst.
1740 Corry Evans is on for Niall McGinn.
1738 Pictured below: Kyle Lafferty gets a shot off against the Faroes. Northern Ireland's goalscorer, Lafferty, was self-appointed tormentor-in-chief of the Faroes defence in Toftir; however, he was met with stout opposition throughout.
1732 GOAL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND: Lafferty has equalised for Northern Ireland. He made the chance by cutting back across goal to the left and laying it off to Baird. Baird beat one man and rolled it into the path of Lafferty. Twenty yards from goal he looked up, fancied his chances and smacked it. The shot evaded numerous players and rebounded into the net off the far right post. Superb finish from Northern Ireland's best player today.
FAROE ISLANDS 1-1 NORTHERN IRELAND (Lafferty 76)
1729 Yet another chance for Northern Ireland! A deep cross into the Faroe box falls to Jonny Evans, the defender creeps in at the back post and gets a head to it. The ball loops over the keeper and looks like it is going in; but, it doesn't - it ends up dropping a half-yard over the goal and onto the top netting of the goal. This is getting ridiclous now! It could easily by 1-5 to the Northern Irish by now, but it's not.
1726 Brunt has a shot blocked in the penalty area as the Faroe defenders smell the blood of their foes; the fishermen are putting their bodies on the line for this one!
1724 Stat fans, check this out: Northern Ireland's worst defeat in their history was a 13-0 drubbing against England. That defeat took place on 18 February 1882 - the match was also the first in their history.
1723 Worthington's men have 25 minutes to pull back a goal and avoid what would surely be the worst result in their history.
1722 Northern Ireland have two chances in quick succession. Brunt has one of them, but they are seriously on the rack here.
1717 GOAL FOR FAROE ISLANDS: A harmless ball is played into the Northern Ireland box from the left and after some pinball defending from the men in green the ball is not cleared. After three attempts to clear, the ball falls to Christian Holst, who has had a great game for the Faroes. Five yards from goal, he steadies himself and picks his spot in the bottom-right corner - goal!
FAROE ISLANDS 1-0 NORTHERN IRELAND (Holst 60)
1717 Best of luck ye boys in Green! I'll be anxiously watching this one as we really need a solid away victory: Denis (Orlando, Florida).
1714 Woah! What a save from Mikkelsen. The ball was played into the Faroes baox from Chris Brunt and was met by Lafferty - a perfect header from Lafferty, but Mikkelson anticipated it well and was jumping as the header was directed towards the top-right corner of the net. The keeper got up to the shot, saved it and pal med it away from the danger area. Outstanding goalkeeping.
1712 I hope the Faroes get a result, since Nigel Worthington said that Brian Kerr was a British manager in the weekend press. Keep up the good work Brian Kerr from Ireland! From Dave Dolan aka Luimneach Man.
1710 The tempo in this match is non-existant; the Newtown Park Nursing Home annual five-a-side would have more punch to it.
As I write that David Healy turns and has a snap shot at goal, the keeper scrambles across his line to gather well.
1706 Brilliant chance for McGinn. A long ball is played over the top to McGinn and he races on to it on the right-hand side of the box. He lets it run ahead of him as keeper Mikkelsen comes out to meet him. McGinn does the hard part and rounds the keeper, but from an acute angle he smashes the ball into the side-netting. Big chance for Northern Ireland.
1705 I just want to say good luck to the boys in green today. Let's hope that they can improve from Friday's showing, and give us something to cheer about!:Ronnie, Tryon, North Carolina, USA.
1702 The teams are back out in Svangaskarð. Let's see if Worthington's boys in green can break down Kerr's fishermen.
1701 BREAKING NEWS: Judgement on the Liverpool takeover case will be made by the High Court on Wednesday at 10am.
1656 Pictured below: Svangaskarð soccer stadium in the Faroe Islands. You can just about make out the quarry/fjord in the background, as the Northern Ireland soccer team train.
1648 HALF-TIME: FAROES ISLANDS 0-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
1647 No goals in the first half in the Faroes Islands. The Faroes have given as good as they've got and there is much work for Nigel Worthington's team to do in the second half.
1644 In a shock start Azerbaijan have taken a 1-0 lead against Turkey in Group A - Rashad Farhad Sadygov the goalscorer after 39 minutes of action. Azerbaijan 1-0 Turkey.
1643 Holst for the Faroes and Lafferty for Northern Ireland both have attempts at either end. Two minutes to half-time and it looks like the teams will go in for a cuppa tea scoreless.
1638 Armenia have hit a third against minnows Andorra. We missed the goal I'm afraid so I can't describe the action from the Caucasus. It was scored by Yura Movsisyan after 32 minutes and all but guarantees Armenia will be top of Group B by six o'clock.
In the Faroes, Northern Ireland have had a great chance. The ball was played into the box from a free-kick and flicked on. The flick found Evans in the centre and from a yard out the defender somehow managed to head it over the bar. Glorious chance to take the lead.
1635 The Faroes are very much holding their own here; they're brave and strong in the tackle. They win a free-kick 30 out on the left of the box; however, the ensuing effort is rammed into the wall, it ricochets to a white jersey and the Faroe player in it balloons the ball way way over the crossbar.
1631 Samuleson hits a right-footed effort from 30-yards out on the left, but Taylor claims it.
Northern Ireland go straight back up the other end and Niall McGinn crosses for Jonny Evans, the Man United defender hits it first time from 35-yards out; he strikes it well, but the angle is ever so slightly misaligned.
1630 Nice shot of Brian Kerr giving it socks on the sideline - he's still got the passion.
A ball is lobbed goalwards to Lafferty, but he can't make a connection.
1628 Here is the team news from the Faroes:
Faroe Islands: Mikkelsen, Naes, Jacobsen, Davidsen, Gregersen, Udsen, Benjaminsen, Samuelsen, Holst, Edmundsson, Elttor. Subs: Thomsen, Rubeksen, Bo, Petersen, Justinus Hansen, Mouritsen, Arnbjorn Hansen.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, McAuley, Jonathan Evans, Craigan, Hughes, Baird, Davis, McGinn, Brunt, Feeney, Lafferty. Subs: Tuffey, Clingan, Corry Evans, Healy, McCann, Patterson, Gorman.
Referee: Cyrill Zimmermann (Switzerland)
1624 The Faoes get a good chance to break the deadlock - a free-kick located just outside the box. It's in a tasty location and could be dipped over-and-under, but the kick is given too much power and sails over the bar. Seconds later, the Faroes get a second chance as their shaven-headed number 9 smacks a shot goalwards, it is parried clear.
1621 Still no score in the Faroes. It's all Northern Ireland, but the match so far is distinctly short of pyrotechnics.
1617 Armenia have banged in a second, a fine pass down the right flank of the Andorran penalty area released an Armenian striker, with his first touch his right-footed shot was parried by the keeper, but only back into play and the path of the onrushing Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan clipped the ball towards the bottom-left corner of the net, and despite the Andorran keeper getting a paw to it, the ball nestled in the corner. Armenia 2-0 Andorra - that one looks done and dusted after only 16 minutes.
1614 Not much action on show in the Faroes as of yet, the rain has held off though and conditions are perfect for Northern Ireland to play the ball on the ground. As I write Lafferty collects a midguided defensive clearance and unchallenged has a clear shot on goal. With so much time he guides his effort straight at the keeper - wasteful.
1611 If Armenia follow through and put Andorra to bed they will go top of Group B for the present at least, pushing Ireland down to fourth in the group.
Just to remind you, the Republic's tie against Slovakia kicks-off at 7.30pm, as does the clash between Macedonia and Russia in Philip II Arena.
1603 Armenia have also kicked-off against Andorra in their Group B encounter and within minutes of kick-off have taken the lead. A stunning strike from just outside and to the left of the penaty area has smashed the back of the onion sack. A proper screamer from Gevorg Ghazaryan and it's 1-0. Armenia 1-0 Andorra.
1601 The action is underway in the Norwegian Sea, weather conditions are clement as fans arrive late into the Svangaskarð soccer stadium. From what I can see the stadium is built into a former quarry, or at least the crags of a fjord
1555 While the Republic are in action in central Europe this Tuesday, Northern Ireland venture north to the Faroe Islands.
The group of islands between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean is a weather-beaten fishing outpost, which is unkown for its quality of soccer, but under the tutelage of former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr, the national side have secured a rare draw as well as a victory.
However, these results have been counter-balanced by ten defeats. In short, Northern Ireland should come away with a facile three points - we shall see.
1553 Hello and welcome to our live text commentary on Ireland's crucial qualifier with Slovakia.
