THE GROUND SHIFTS UNDER IRELAND
Qualifying hopes take a severe hit as Serbia’s visit to Dublin is now a must-win clash for O’Neill’s men
THERE are times when a draw doesn’t feel like a defeat but this one did even though the Republic of Ireland’s unbeaten away record in the World Cup qualification remains intact.
The performance was shoddy, bordering on inept at times in the first half, and the result was a serious body-blow to the team’s hopes of plotting a way to Russia next summer, either as Group D winners, or via the play-offs.
This was a grim night in the Tbilisi trenches when a little-known midfielder with the San Jose Earthquakes sent a tremor rippling through Irish dreams of reaching Russia.
Valeri Kazaishvilli, the lone MLS player in the Georgian squad, scored the first-half equaliser to shift the plates under Group D.
Now nothing short of a home victory against Serbia, 3-0 winners over Moldova in Belgrade, on Tuesday in Dublin will suffice for Ireland.
If further points are dropped, Ireland could yet face a make-or-break showdown against Wales for a playoff spot in Cardiff next month.
On a sticky night in the Caucasus, Ireland chose the wrong moment to record one of their sloppiest efforts under O’Neill.
Usually adept at protecting a lead, Ireland scored early through Shane Duffy before a collective sense of apa- thy seemed to blight the green shirts.
Across midfield, the visitors were outgunned as Georgia, technically superior, dominated possession and dictated play for the remainder of the half.
For close to an hour, Ireland played second fiddle to Georgia, who fully deserved their leveller, and might have gone in front but for resourceful Irish defending, in which Duffy was immense.
The introduction of Aiden McGeady helped stem the bleeding and in injury time the match-winner of 2014 almost grabbed the headlines again, only to blaze over from close range.
McGeady did enough in his halfhour cameo to make a case for starting on Tuesday as O’Neill must weigh up the toll of this effort, notably the 90-minute shifts put in by Shane Long and Jon Walters.
As expected, Walters was passed fit to win his 50th cap, becoming the 38th Irish player to reach that landmark, with Glenn Whelan keeping the captain’s armband.
O’Neill stressed the need for Ireland to get on the front foot and to try and keep the ball better than they had against Georgia last October.
He couldn’t have wished for a better start as Ireland drew first blood from their first foray into the home territory.
Cyrus Christie pumped a free into the box where Ciaran Clark and Duffy were two on one against keeper Giorgi Makaridze.
As Clark and goalie collided, Duffy towered over them both to direct his header into the net.
The centre-half’s first Ireland goal compensated for the late effort against Austria in June which was controversially ruled out.
It should have settled Ireland but instead it was Georgia who were provoked as they set about in search of an equaliser.
With their full-backs raiding on either flank, Ireland were pinned back for a spell and became reliant on sporadic counter-attacking.
Even so, they should have stretched their lead in the 20th minute when Shane Long and Walters combined on the right and the latter’s cross picked out James McClean in space.
From eight yards out, however, the winger’s header lacked conviction and accuracy. It was a costly miss as Georgia seized the initiative with Spartak Moscow’s Jano Anandize repeatedly picking holes in the Irish cover.
A water break had been due at the 25th minute, but it was cancelled as the temperature in Tbilisi dropped before kick-off. How O’Neill could have done with a time-out to reorganise his troops.
Instead, the white onslaught continued with Anandize, inevitably, involved the 34th-minute equaliser when he ghosted past Irish lines, deftly evaded Christie and teed up Kazaishvili to slip the ball under the advancing Randolph.
Ireland lifted the siege just before half-time when Duffy almost scored again. From Brady’s corner, he sent his header goal-bound but Makaridze beat the ball away.
Initially, the pattern of play continued in a similar vein after the break, but the Irish defence held firm and Georgia found it hard to prise any gaps.
The pace of the game began to slow as the heat sapped tiring limbs, prompting O’Neill to replace Harry Arter with McGeady.
The switch enabled Ireland to seize a foot-hold and set about seeking a second goal. A slick counter attack involving Chrstie and McClean ended with Walters heading a fraction over.
McGeady then saw a right-foot rasper blocked before Brady tested the ‘keeper from distance.
Late on, McClean surged into the box but Makaridze denied him and at the very last gasp, McGeady snatched at his chance for glory.
It was better from Ireland but it was never enough.