CHRISTIE FROWN
It’s Ry left foot as Cherries ace breaks Ireland hearts from the spot on night players can feel hard done by
RYAN CHRISTIE’S 82nd minute penalty condemned Ireland to a harsh Nations League defeat at Hampden Park last night.
The Bournemouth midfielder’s cool finish sent Gavin Bazunu the wrong way after Swiss referee Sandro Scharer adjudged Alan Browne’s raised arm was in an unnatural position inside the box as it blocked Scott Mctominay’s header.
A check by VAR agreed with the ref ’s decision and the game’s latest laws would back up the officials even if the furious response from the Irish players reflected the view that it was tough on the visitors.
But as the Boys in Green reflect on the cruel twists that football can inflict, the reality is that this third defeat in five Group B1 games leaves Stephen Kenny’s (right) side battling relegation against Armenia on Tuesday night.
This performance by the Irish had much to offer in the first half that saw John Egan score in the 18th minute.
But the home side levelled through Jack Hendry’s 49th minute and they will argue that their second period display merited the three points that takes them to the top of the group.
Steve Clarke’s men go to Krakow on Tuesday to face Ukraine knowing a draw will see them be promoted to League A.
For the Irish, avoiding defeat against Armenia will see them stay up but it’s hardly a ringing endorsement of this campaign.
The Scots – buoyed by their superb 3-0 midweek defeat of Ukraine- started brightly and Mctominay’s low eighth minute cross might have caused problems but for Dara O’shea’s timely connection that took the sting out of the delivery to allow Bazunu to comfortably collect.
The lively Michael Obafemi latched on to O’shea’s pass to race towards Craig Gordon’s goal, finally finishing into the net only for the linesman’s flag to be correctly raised for offside.
Obafemi was again the thorn in the Scottish defence in the 17th minute, his pace putting real fear into Scott Mckenna and Jack Hendry as he teed up Troy Parrott whose shot from an angle was blocked by Mckenna at the expense of a corner. James Mcclean’s arrival from his left wing berth to deliver the corner from the right in front of the loudest section of the Tartan Army triggered the expected chorus of boos. Mcclean directed his corner to the far post where Lyndon Dykes’ header cleared the immediate danger only for Jayson Molumby’s determined header to send the ball back into the throng of players. Nathan Collins reacted first to tee up Egan whose instinctive right foot drive beat Gordon low at his near post to register his second Ireland goal.
The strike stunned the Scots while injecting further belief into the Irish.
The home side were building momentum but the 41st minute loss through injury of Kieran Tierney meant Steve Clarke had now lost his second left wing back following Andy Robertson’s earlier ailment.
Josh Cullen’s silly booking during first half stoppage time for kicking the ball away might have been followed by a second 45 seconds later for a bad foul on Aaron Hickey.
Clarke’s first period touchline frustrations obviously sparked a few choice words in the dressing room at the interval for his side was transformed on the restart.
By the 49th minute they were
level when Christie was given far too much room by Matt Doherty whose dinked cross picked out the unmarked Hendry with the centre half heading home at the far post.
Doherty sought to repair the damage with a fine run deep into the Scottish half but his curling shot flew wide when he was fed by Molumby’s pass.
John Mcginn then fired narrowly wide with the game once more opening up.
O’shea’s strong evening continued when he expertly blocked Dykes shot on the turn in the 55th minute but a minute later Parrott’s composure completely deserted him when sent in one on one on Gordon by the outstanding Obafemi.
With ample time to seek to round the keeper, his rushed shot was easily parried by the keeper at the expense of a corner.
Obafemi made way for Chiedozie Ogbene on the hour mark with the Swansea striker obviously tired although Parrott might have been a better option at this stage.
Ogbene’s blistering pace immediate forced substitute Anthony Ralston to hit a pacy back pass to Gordon with the keeper striking Ogbene with his rushed clearance, the ball fortunately, for him, flying into his hands.
But it was the Irish goal that then began to lead a charmed life as Collins and O’shea made superb clearances from under their own crossbar in the space of a few minutes.
Kenny then sent in Callum
Robinson, Seamus Coleman and Alan Browne for Parrott, Doherty and Molumby in the 78th minute.
Unfortunately, within two minutes Browne handled Mctominay’s header from Mcginn’s corner with the resulting penalty somewhat harsh but within the current laws of the game which VAR then confirmed.
Christie stroked his spotkick home to leave the Irish with a huge task to salvage a point.
But while the visitors did mount a decent finale, they failed to test Gordon.
Adams spurned a decent opportunity to add to Scotland’s lead deep into injury time while substitute Robbie Brady’s booking summed up a half to forget for Kenny’s men.