Mcgoldrick rescues Ireland after Schar’s clinical goal
It was only a point but it should not be played down
It was a goal that had not looked like coming in a game they looked like they had lost, but David Mcgoldrick’s header salvaged a point against Switzerland that should act like a shot of adrenalin in the Republic of Ireland’s qualification campaign
As the ball looped high in the air after Glenn Whelan had smashed a shot against the crossbar, Mcgoldrick stood his ground at the far post. Waiting for James Mcclean’s deflected cross to drop, he timed his leap to perfection. The noise was deafening. Not since Ireland beat Bosnia here almost four years ago has the air vibrated with the sound of euphoria like this.
It was only a point, but the importance should not be downplayed. Their automatic qualification hopes remain intact. “This was an Irish team’s performance and I’m incredibly proud of them,” said manager Mick Mccarthy. “We’ve got a point against a very good side. The noise at the end, that was like the good old days. You’re going to have to put us down before we give up.”
Mcgoldrick has had to wait a long time for this moment, his first Ireland goal coming in his 11th game of international football, but the Sheffield United man’s popularity across the Irish Sea had already soared before this intervention.
Mcgoldrick played the best football of his club career under Mccarthy at Ipswich. Reunited at Ireland and Mcgoldrick has impressed time and time again as a lone striker in emerald green. “I’ve always trusted Mcgoldrick, he’s always been a great player for me,” said Mccarthy.
He deserved this sliver of glory for all the unselfish, unflattering hard graft he has put in before it. Ireland deserved it, too.
They were outplayed by Switzerland, but hung in there when things got tough and, having conceded a late goal when Newcastle’s Fabian Schar finished off a sublime onetouch passing move, the Irish rallied to rescue what could prove to be the most precious of points.
Mccarthy’s men had their moments in the first half. Some nice interplay between Callum Robinson and Jeff Hendrick saw the latter skip past a challenge. Space opened, Mcclean galloped into it and prepared to shoot, but was tackled.
But Switzerland looked the better team. In the space of a few seconds, Shane Duffy, Richard Keogh and goalkeeper Darren Randolph all made goal-saving interventions. At the other end, a great run from Mcgoldrick was wasted when his pass was too strong for Robinson.
With half an hour left, Ireland were not excelling, but luck was their friend. When Breel Embolo was presented with the night’s best, he fell over. It was a shocking miss and, when Ricardo Rodriguez and Remo Freuler were denied, Swit
zerland must have wondered if the win was going to pass them by. Ireland were dropping too deep and Switzerland sliced through them as Schar applied a fine finish. The Swiss thought that was it, but Mcgoldrick had other ideas.