The Republic of Ireland took a giant step to returning to the European Championship for the first time in 24 years, defeating ten-man Estonia 4-0 away on the first leg of their playoff tie here on Friday.
Goals from Keith Andrews, Jon Walters and a double from captain Robbie Keane in the second half left Giovanni Trapattoni's men sitting comfortably ahead of the return leg in Dublin on Tuesday.
Anything short of a massive upset next week means Ireland will next year be competing in Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, bringing to an end a long wait for Irish fans who have not seen their team in the final since 1988.
Estonia, who were already rank outsiders going into the game, had the odds against them extended considerably in the 35th minute when Andrei Stepanov was shown his second yellow card after taking down Keane outside the box.
They were down to nine men in the 77th minute when skipper Rraio Piiroja was given his marching orders too.
Ireland's opening goal came in the 13th minute when Ipswich midfielder Andrews rose high above the Estonian defence to latch onto a well placed chip into the box from Aiden McGeady, sending the ball past a sprawling Sergei Pareiko into the back right corner of the net.
Following that goal Estonia began to lift their attack with Konstantin Vassiljev showing why he has been the Blueshirt's leading goal scorer in this campaign to date, with the Amkar Perm midfielder reminding the Irish they could ill afford to be complacent.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Estonia continued to attack but when halftime arrived they would have little to show for their efforts.
They continued to attack in the opening stages of the second half but when Stoke City forward Walters headed home in the 67th minute it was a long way back for Tarmo Ruutli's men.
Aiden McGeady initially shot from just inside the box but his shot was deflected away by Pareiko, only for the deflection to go to Keane who in turn lobbed it high to Walters who was standing on the right post to head the ball over the line.
Four minutes later and Pareiko was once more being made to pay for an inability to control the ball.
An Andrews free kick from outside the box rocketed into the legs of the goalie and the LA Galaxy star Keane was once more on hand to tidy up, firing the deflection into the back of the net, marking his sixth goal of the campaign.
It was the captain once more who stepped up to put the icing on the cake two minutes from time when he hit home from the penalty spot after Ats Purje let his frustration get the better of him, taking down Stephen Hunt inside the box.
Source: DSG
