Source: Eurosport
Kilbane absolved of Republic blame
Giovanni Trapattoni has absolved Hull's Kevin Kilbane of any blame for the own goal which cost the Republic of Ireland two World Cup points.Ireland were leading Bulgaria 1-0 at Croke Park on Saturday night and had a top-two finish in Group Eight within their grasp when Tigers midfielder Kilbane, winning his 94th senior cap, unwittingly diverted Stiliyan Petrov's driven cross into his own net.The 74th-minute goal proved enough to secure a fourth successive draw for Stanimir Stoilov's side, who nevertheless remain seven points adrift of the Republic.With Italy, who entertain the Irish in Bari on Wednesday night, having established a two-point lead with a 2-0 win in Montenegro this evening, Kilbane's involuntary contribution proved costly.However, asked if Kilbane could have done better, Trapattoni said: "I don't blame Kilbane for what happened. It was an accident."He did not have time to react. He was trying to stop the ball, but there was not much that he could do."[LNB]
