The Republic of Ireland have beaten Moldova 3-1 in Chisinau, but for a long time it looked like Martin O’Neill’s side were going to slip on this banana skin.
Here’s how Ireland lined-out:
Shane Long gave the team an early lead, thanks to a wonderful pass from Wes Hoolahan, and Ireland dominated the rest of the half… until Igor Bugayev scored just before the break, thanks to an assist from the Irish central defence.
Two James McClean goals in the last 20 minutes gave Ireland three points, but it wasn’t easy.
Here’s how we rated the Irish players:
Darren Randolph – 5
The West Ham ‘keeper was rarely tested, and was mostly accurate with his kicking, but he was partly at fault for Moldova’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
No-one is expecting him to be Manuel Neuer, and stand thirty yards from his goal when the team are in possession in the opposition half. But Randolph arguably should’ve been more proactive when Igor Bugayev came bearing through on goal as he could see he wasn’t going to be caught by the Irish defence.
However, the initial, and main error, was by the defenders in front of him.
Flapped clumsily at a cross in the second-half, and conceded a corner due to a mix-up with Coleman. He’s cemented his position as Ireland’s number one, but can be prone to moments of slight panic.
Seamus Coleman – 7
Bombed forward at every opportunity, and was unlucky not to get an assist after floating a cut-back into Shane Long in the first-half, but the striker failed to properly connect with his header.
Coleman was determined and combative, and set-up Ireland’s third with a cross from the opposition by-line to James McClean.
Shane Duffy – 4
At fault for Moldova’s equaliser, the Brighton defender needlessly gambled, as he did when he went to challenge Olivier Giroud at Euro 2016 when France equalised.
Duffy has qualities, but can be prone to these types of errors, and probably needs a cool head like John O’Shea beside him.
Ireland were also very high up the pitch for the equaliser, but it’s bordering on criminal to for an international defender to be caught-out by such a bog-standard goal.
Ciaran Clark – 5
Clark was also caught-out for Moldova’s goal. The Newcastle United defender was standing in midfield, despite the fact every Irish player was in the opposition’s half.
A quick look over his shoulder and Clark would’ve realised there was an awful lot of space behind him that needed covering. Yes, Ireland were on the front-foot, playing with an intensity lacking from last Thursday against Georgia, but Clark arguably took a needless risk. If he had’ve been ten yards deeper he could’ve been more alert to potential danger.
Stephen Ward – 6
Started nervously, hitting a few loose long passes, but pushed forward and could’ve got an assist had Walters connected with a cross just after Ireland opened the scoring.
Played a number of dangerous crosses, and is one of Ireland’s most improved players in recent years. Solid.
Glenn Whelan – 6
Another player who was arguably too high for Moldova’s equaliser. Whelan is meant to be Ireland’s deepest sitting midfielder, especially when the team’s full-backs are pushing on, but he was very high in the opposition half for the goal.
The Stoke City midfielder had a number of efforts in the first-half, and reverted to his natural domain at the back of midfield in the second-half.
James McCarthy – 5
It was his shot which hit Jon Walters, who left it for James McClean to score his first goal, but McCarthy was largely anonymous. Which shouldn’t be a surprise given this was his second game since August.
Wes Hoolahan – 9 (Man of the Match)
Hoolahan showed in the first-half why it’s madness to leave him out, especially against weaker teams where Ireland should have more of the ball. The 34-year-old’s perfectly weighted pass for Shane Long set up Ireland’s opener and he was at the centre of everything good from O’Neill’s side.
The Norwich playmaker brought a much need spark to Ireland’s play, drifting into pockets and looking to pick-up on knock-downs from Long and Walters. Hoolahan cut open Moldova a number of times, linked up well with Long, and worked as hard as any of his teammates when out of possession.
More of the same please, Wes. We'll need it https://t.co/8kWONbgSH1
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 9, 2016
Ireland look brainless without him, and it’d be brainless to continue not using him while he’s still capable of making an impact in games.
Faded a little in the second-half, but was involved in Ireland’s third, nutmegging a Moldovan defender before Coleman pushed-on and crossed for McClean to score.
James McClean – 8
McClean’s usual energy and eagerness was on show, but the winger struggled at times to get into the game as nothing seemed to sit right for him for the best part of an hour.
He never stopped trying though, and was in the penalty area to score 20 minutes from time, and again seven minutes later. He appears to have cemented his place in the starting XI and tries at almost every attempt to get into the penalty area and support Ireland’s strikers.
Great stuff, James! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/VJRS3sLUvN
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 9, 2016
Jon Walters – 6
Struggled to get into the game in the first-half, failing to connect with a cross from Stephen Ward early in the second half. This time last year Walters was Ireland’s talisman, but at times during the opening period he looked like a player a few yards short of match practice.
Came into the game more in the second-half, and moved to centre-forward after Long went-off injured, where he made the ball stick when it went up to him. Showed good awareness to leave the ball for the better placed McClean for Ireland’s second goal.
Shane Long – 7
For a player who hasn’t scored since May, Long took his goal very well, slotting home after being played in with a peach of a pass from Hoolahan. The Southampton striker won a number of long balls, knocking the ball down for his teammates and nipping in ahead of the opposition, picking up possession and setting the tempo for Ireland’s first-half.
Worked tirelessly and deserved his goal before going off just after an hour. Went-off with what looked like a hamstring injury after an hour.
Substitutes:
Callum O’Dowda – 5
Played the last 30 minutes on the left-wing, delivered one cross to the back-post for McClean, but was otherwise quiet on his competitive debut for Ireland.
David Meyler – N/A
Replaced McCarthy with 10 minutes to go, not on long enough to rate.
Eunan O’Kane – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
*Feature image via FAI.
Here’s the Group D table after a good day for the Irish team:
#WCQ GROUP D STANDINGS (Europe)
Wales 1-1 Georgia
Moldova 1-3 Republic of Ireland
Serbia 3-2 Austria pic.twitter.com/MWIAqCxJhX— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 9, 2016
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