Two-goal McClean fires Irish
THEY will not be searching for hotels in Russia just yet but Ireland must feel they have taken a big step towards a first World Cup finals in 16 years thanks to two-goal James McClean.
It was not as easy as it should have been against the side 161st in the FIFA rankings; it never is with Ireland.
But as the game drifted towards what would have been a desperate draw, McClean came to their rescue to ensure that an earlier favour from Georgia — drawing against Wales in Cardiff — did not go to waste.
Ireland needed just 116 seconds to go ahead when Shane Long ended an 18-game goal drought for club and country.
Given that Moldova had not scored here for a year, manager Martin O’Neill must have been confident of victory. But, as is Ireland’s way, his side made heavy work of it and Moldova were level by half-time.
McClean, though, was to prove the saviour, prodding home from close range on 69 minutes before following up with his second seven minutes later.
‘This was a big win for us,’ said O’Neill, whose team are level on points with Serbia at the top of Group D.
‘James came up big for us and well done to him for that. It was setback to concede in the manner we did after dominating the first half.
‘But it was important to stay patient and I’m delighted we got the win.’
Ireland were coasting inside two minutes after Long rolled in having been set clear by the recalled Wes Hoolahan, a contender for man-of-the-match until McClean’s late heroics.
The Norwich playmaker was picking holes in a terrified backline and it was from his cute pull- back that Glenn Whelan, unmarked on the fringe of the area, blazed high and wide.
McClean’s aim was equally off after he was sprung clear by Hoolahan.
And so Ireland were to pay the price for such profligacy. The locals were readying themselves for a half- time beer, they certainly needed it on the back of their side’s first-half showing, when a clearance from deep suddenly took the guise of a defence-splitting pass.
Shane Duffy gambled on meeting the ball before Igor Bugaev — and lost — and the forward held his nerve to race clear and slot beneath Darren Randolph. On such moments can qualification campaigns hinge and O’Neill wore a troubled and rueful look as he went down the tunnel.
Whatever message he delivered during the interval did not have the desired effect as, within five minutes of the restart, Moldova twice went close to taking a previously unimaginable lead.
This was all a far cry from events of an hour earlier but, slowly, Ireland began to reassert their dominance.
Jon Walters tore down the right and centred but McClean’s header was weak and straight at goalkeeper Nicolae Calancea. McClean, though, made amends when pouncing on a loose ball to fire in from six yards and the scoring was complete as he met a Walters cross before guiding into the unguarded net. His double might yet prove decisive in Ireland’s bid to make it back to Eastern Europe in two years’ time. MOLDOVA (4-2-3-1): Calancea 6; Bordian 6, Posmac 6, Armas 5 (Golovatenco 35, 6), Bolohan 5; Gatcan 6.5, Cojocari 6; Andronic 6 (Sidorenco, 83), Zasavitchi 6 (Cebotaru 61, 5), Dedov 6.5; Bugaev 7. Scorer: Bugaev 45. Booked: Cojocari, Dedov, Bugaev, Gatcan. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-2-3-1): Randolph 6; Coleman 6.5, Clark 6.5, Duffy 5, Ward 6; McCarthy 6.5, Whelan 6; Walters 6, Hoolahan 7 (O’Kane 86), McClean 8; Long 6.5 (O’Dowda 63, 6). Scorers: Long 2, McClean 69, 76. Booked: Coleman, Walters. Man of the match: James McClean. Referee: Jakob Kehlet (Denmark) 6.