GOLDEN BROWNE
Super-sub strikes late on to earn Kenny a fine draw
IRELAND looked like being second best to the world’s best until Alan Browne salvaged a draw on a neversay-die night in Dublin.
And it was just the tonic for Stephen Kenny’s (right) team – who stretched their unbeaten run to seven games – as defeat would have haunted the manager and his players.
Particularly having battled back from an early Michy Batshuayi opener, when it appeared Belgium were capable of racking up any sort
of score they fancied. Instead, the hosts refused to lose their nerve and twice came from behind with a spectacular Chiedozie Ogbene overhead kick stealing the show.
And the man-of-the-match then had the presence of mind to chase a lost cause late on, expertly keeping the ball in play and delivering the cross for Browne’s header.
Belgium also cleared off the line to deny Calum Robinson as Ireland pushed for glory in a see-saw clash to mark the FAI’s centenary anniversary.
Yet for the first half an hour, Ireland fans were just worried
how much Belgium would win by.
Calm and controlled in all departments, they bossed the football.
Ireland couldn’t get near the ball and were still trying to figure out what had hit them when Batshuayi scored a deserved opener after 12 minutes.
Belgium counterattacked at speed with Hans Vanaken playing in Batshuayi.
The Chelsea man – on loan at Turkish side Besiktas – cut inside Seamus Coleman and Matt Doherty and beat Caoimhin Kelleher.
It was Batshuayi’s 23rd international goal.
The Boys in Green jolted to life in the final 15 minutes of that opening half.
James McClean and Robinson combined and the ball fell to Ogbene, the Rotherby ham United star had it all to do with his back to goal but yet he executed the audacious overhead kick to perfection.
Ireland kept up that pressure after the break.
But just as they were taking control, they handed Belgium a lead for the second time after conceding a soft goal from a Thorgan Hazard corner.
Ireland’s defence failed to pick up Vanaken and he headed home with the aid of a sizeable Coleman deflection.
But Browne had the last laugh when he headed home from Ogbene’s cross past Mignolet in the dying stages.
And the manof match had the presence of mind to chase a lost cause late on