IRISH EYES ON RUSSIA
Republic hold Danes to a draw in first leg of World Cup play-off
DARREN RANDOLPH was the Republic of Ireland’s hero as they returned from Denmark with a clean sheet after surviving a stern test of their World Cup credentials.
The Middlesbrough keeper made a double save from Jens Stryger Larsen and Andreas Cornelius and then saw Pione Sisto fire wide after he had repelled Christian Eriksen’s well-struck effort at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Ireland created little of note, with full-back Cyrus Christie forcing Kasper Schmeichel into his only genuine save, but return to Dublin for Tuesday night’s second leg with their fate still in their own hands.
So conservative was the visitors’ approach during the first halfhour that Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel advanced fully 40 yards from his line at one point with the ball at his feet before he saw an Irish shirt.
They almost paid dearly 12 minutes before the break when after Schmeichel had scuffed a clearance, Clark returned it straight to Eriksen, whose swerving shot was saved by Randolph only for Sisto to steer the rebound wide of the empty net.
O’Dowda and McClean were both unable to make the most of halfchances as the Republic rallied briefly, but things might have been different had Sisto’s control from Eriksen’s pass not let him down as the half drew towards a close.
Ireland’s best chance of the half came with 43 minutes gone when Christie worked his way inside Larsen and forced Schmeichel into his first save with a stabbed effort from a tight angle.
Denmark returned in equally determined mood to pin Ireland back deep inside their own half with Thomas Delaney sending a looping 48th-minute header well off-target.
McClean briefly threatened to relieve the pressure with an adventurous run up the left two minutes later — but full-back Peter Ankersen was equal to the task after chasing him all the way.
For all their possession, Hareide’s men were creating little themselves and the home supporters were starting to grow restless.
However, Ireland were guilty of surrendering their meagre share of the ball cheaply too often, in the process bringing pressure on themselves.
Christie once again proved a threat in the opposition half when he got forward and sent in a 58thminute cross which Brady managed to recycle to provide O’Dowda with a difficult header, although when the attack broke down, Eriksen very nearly profited from the full-back’s absence at the back.
In a frenetic exchange, Clark blocked another Eriksen shot with Ireland unable to clear their lines, and Christie was left dazed when he took a 63rd-minute shot from Larsen full in the face.
Had Clark been able to take Brady’s long 67th-minute free-kick in his stride, the opening goal might have come at the other end.
The visitors again went close at the death when Duffy headed a Brady free-kick straight at Schmeichel, before Randolph tipped Poulsen’s header over the bar seconds later and Glenn Whelan sliced past his own post.