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Republic of Ireland see off Montenegro to boost European Under-21 Championship dreams

Updated / Monday, 6 Jun 2022 19:46
Tyreik Wright of Republic of Ireland celebrates with team-mates Gavin Kilkenny, left, and Evan Ferguson
Tyreik Wright of Republic of Ireland celebrates with team-mates Gavin Kilkenny, left, and Evan Ferguson

Republic of Ireland U-21 3-1 Montenegro U-21

The Republic of Ireland boosted their European Under-21 Championship qualifying hopes with victory over Montenegro at Tallaght Stadium.

An excellent first-half goal from Will Smallbone was added to by Liam Kerrigan and Tyreik Wright in the second half to propel Jim Crawford's side into the second place play-off spot in Group F, with one more fixture remaining against group leaders Italy.

Ireland will be assured of a play-off place if third-placed Sweden do not beat the Italians on Thursday.

If that match were to see Italy fail to beat the Swedes, then victory for Ireland in Ascoli next Tuesday would mean automatic qualification to a Euros for the first time in Irish Under-21 history.

The Boys in Green came into Monday's game off the back of a 3-0 home win over Bosnia & Herzegovina last Friday, in which the result was more impressive than the overall performance.

The Montenegrins were expected to provide stiffer opposition, having beaten Ireland 2-1 in Podgorica back in October.

And the opening exchanges at a sun-drenched Tallaght Stadium were closely-fought, with both sides testing each other's mettle down the flanks.

On the Ireland side, Conor Noss, Kerrigan and Wright were the main threats in the early period as Crawford's team slowly began to establish a foothold in the game.

The steady improvement was eventually rewarded with a brilliantly-taken opening goal from Smallbone.

The Southampton midfielder had scored twice against Bosnia and his goalscoring touch did not desert him on this occasion.

Three minutes before the break, he sparked a clever free-kick routine with Wright which was initially cut out, but the ball fell sweetly for Smallbone at the edge of the box.

Under pressure from on-rushing Montenegrin defenders, Smallbone's left-footed strike proved unstoppable for the visiting goalkeeper as the ball nestled into the opposite corner of the net.

Ireland were in the ascendancy but it was Montenegro who started the second half more impressively.

Striker Nikola Krstovic tested Brian Maher's reflexes on 54 minutes, with the Derry City goalkeeper forced into a smart save down to his right.

But a couple of minutes later, Ireland eased any concerns with a second goal from a set-piece. Smallbone delivered from deep on the right flank towards Derby County's Eiran Cashin.

The defender's header across goal fell for Kerrigan and the UCD player bundled in from close range to double the Irish lead.

With 23 minutes left on the clock, Ireland made it 3-0 after Evan Ferguson combined with fellow substitute Gavin Kilkenny before the Brighton striker pulled the ball from the byline for Tyreik Wright to turn home at the near post.

At that point, it appeared as if a fourth goal was forthcoming with Conor Coventry and Ferguson going close.

But it was Montenegro who netted what turned out to be a consolation goal, Viktor Dukanovic converting from a left-wing cross.

There was time for Ferguson to force a save from Montenegro's goalkeeper Nikola Izevic, but a 3-1 victory proved enough to lift Ireland above Sweden and into second place in Group F on 19 points, leaving the possibility for a historic automatic qualification very much alive.

Republic of Ireland: Brian Maher; Lee O'Connor, Eiran Cashin, Mark McGuinness, Tayo Adaramola (Andt Lyons '84); Conor Coventry, Conor Noss (Gavin Kilkenny '65), Tyreik Wright, Will Smallbone, Liam Kerrigan; JJ Kayode (Evan Ferguson '65).

Montenegro: Nikola Izevic; Danilo Pesukic, Ognjen Obradovic, Anto Babic, Dorde Saletic; Milos Brnovic (Srdjan Krstovic '60), Nikola Janjic (Petar Vukcevic '69); Ivan Vukcevic (Lazar Mijovic '61), Zaim Divanovic (Vuk Strikovic '86), Viktor Dukanovic; Nikola Krstovic.

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