The World Cup qualifying game between the Republic of Ireland and Italy at at Croke Park on Saturday Oct 10, 2009.
Alberto Gilardino ensured World Cup qualification for Italy and left the Republic of Ireland facing the play-offs next month with a 90th minute equaliser for the world champions.
In a gut-wrenching finish for the Irish, Fiorentina forward Gilardino snatched a point for Italy just two minutes after Sean St Ledger’s header appeared to have secured a famous victory for Ireland.
A win would have kept alive faint Irish hopes of automatic qualification, but Italy now progress to South Africa. Ireland must take the back-door route.
Ireland have proven to be notoriously jittery in the closing stages of qualification campaigns. A last minute goal against Macedonia denied progression to Euro 2000 and there have also been agonising play-off defeats against Holland, Belgium and Turkey.
When the Irish last graced the World Cup, in 2002, qualification was secured in Tehran of all places, with Mick McCarthy’s team claiming the final place in Japan/Korea with a play-off success against Iran.
But perhaps the omens are pointing to a less stressful route to South Africa for Ireland. Before a ball had even been kicked against the world champions in Dublin, news of Bulgaria’s unexpected 4-1 defeat against Cyprus in Larnaca had filtered through to Croke Park, confirming at least second place for the Irish and, barring a mathematical improbability, a play-off spot.
So the pressure was off Trapattoni’s team and fear of failure replaced by the relief that there would be no heart-breaking finale to the group stages this time.
Bulgaria’s defeat clearly lifted the mood within the Irish camp and their buoyant start to the game earned its reward when Whelan opened the scoring inside eight minutes.
The goal was both simple and spectacular. Liam Lawrence free-kick, following a foul on Robbie Keane on the right flank, was pulled back to Whelan on the edge of the penalty area, but the Stoke midfielder executed a first time shot perfectly to beat arguably the world’s best goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, from 25 yards.
Trapattoni’s assistant, Marco Tardelli, produced an iconic image of Italy’s 1982 World Cup triumph with a memorable celebration after scoring against West Germany in the final. The Italian was not hiding his delight on this occasion either, dancing some kind of Irish jig behind the more composed Trapattoni following Whelan’s opener.
Italy, without their suspended captain Fabio Cannavaro, were shaken and the penetration of Celtic winger Aiden McGeady was causing the world champions problems down the left.
But left-back Fabio Grosso was proving equally impressive for the Italians with his unchecked runs into Irish territory. One cross from the byline was wastefully spurned by Daniele De Rossi before Grosso forced a fine save from Shay Given with a dipping 20-yard volley.
Sean St Ledger was then forced to block a goalbound Vincenzo Iaquinta shot before Mauro Camoranesi equalised with a header from Andrea Pirlo’s corner on 26 minutes.
Given managed to get a hand to the ball and he should have kept it out of the net, but the Manchester City goalkeeper was beaten too easily.
The Italians spent the early stages of the second-half inside their own half with McGeady continuing to impress on both flanks.
Chances were limited, though, and Ireland’s best hope of regaining the lead appeared to be through a set-piece.
A clumsy foul by Giorgio Chiellini on Keane resulted in an Irish free-kick 20 yards out, but Lawrence’s shot struck the wall, leaving Keith Andrews to direct the rebound over the crossbar.
A victory against the world champions looked to have evaded the Irish until St Ledger’s header.
But just as Croke Park was ready to toast a historic victory, substitute Gilardino silenced the Irish with a 90th minute equaliser.
Match details
Republic of Ireland (4-4-2): Given; O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady; Keane, Doyle. Subs: Westwood (g), McShane, Nolan, Rowlands, N Hunt, S Hunt, Best.
Goals: Whelan (8) St Ledger (87)
Booked: Whelan
Italy (4-4-1-1): Buffon; Zambrotta, Chiellini, Legrottaglie, Grosso; Camoranesi, De Rossi, Pirlo, Palombo; Di Natale; Iaquinta. Subs: Marchetti (g), Gamberini, Bochetti, Gattuso, D’Agostino, Gilardino, Pepe.
Goals: Camoranesi (26), Gilardino (90).
Booked: De Rossi.
Referee: T. Hauge (Norway)
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