Boro keeper shocked by Irish defeat
Darren Randolph has admitted his shock at the manner of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off nightmare.
Martin O’Neill’s men secured a 0-0 draw in Denmark, but were crushed 5-1 in Tuesday’s Dublin return.
Middlesbrough keeper Randolph said: “It’s extremely disappointing, obviously. We didn’t see that coming whatsoever before the game. “But it’s done now.” Had Ireland managed to get to half-time with their lead in- tact, courtesy of Shane Duffy’s early goal, things might have been very different.
However, luck was against them when Andreas Christensen’ s shot came back off the post, hit Cyrus Christie and ended up in the net. Worse was to follow when Christian Eriksen swept the visitors into the lead.
Knowing that a score draw would be enough to send the Danes through, O’Neill made a kill or cure decision and ultimately ended up on the wrong side of the equation, with David Meyler and Harry Art er replaced by the more creative Wes Hoolahan and Aiden McG ea dy, but the move left his side wideopen and the Danes exploited the extra space with relish.
Randolph said: “We needed to try and get back into the game, so you’re going to leave yourself open.
“We got punished. They got two goals in quick succession, we had to go and do the same.
“But it obviously didn’t pan out that way. And then what happened, happened.”
Mile Jedinak hit a hat-trick as Australia beat Honduras 3-1 yesterday (3-1 on aggregate) to win their Asia/Concacaf playoff, becoming the 31st team to qualify for the finals in Russia.