Robbie rescues Republic in Italy

01 April 2009 22:15
Robbie Keane grabbed a late equaliser as the Republic of Ireland earned a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with 10-man Italy in Bari on Wednesday.The Tottenham striker stabbed home an 87th-minute shot at the San Nicola Stadium to claim a point that keeps Ireland within touching distance of the Italians at the top of Group Eight.It also ensured manager Giovanni Trapattoni a share of the spoils against his home country and the man who replaced him as national boss, Marcello Lippi.The reigning champions took an 11th-minute lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta despite having had striker Giampaolo Pazzini sent off with only three minutes gone.But the Irish refused to give up and got their reward at the death as they retained their foothold in the race to make it to South Africa next summer.Early drama has become a feature of Ireland's recent games with Poland and Georgia stunning the hosts at Croke Park by taking the lead within minutes of kick-off and the Republic reversing the trend with Richard Dunne's opener only 40 seconds into Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria.However, with Italian coaches Lippi and Trapattoni having prepared painstakingly for an eagerly-anticipated contest, both had their plans ripped apart before their players had broken sweat.Kevin Kilbane, whose late own goal had handed the Bulgarians a point on Saturday, clattered into Pazzini within a minute and was perhaps fortunate to escape a yellow card.The striker, making his first senior start for his country, was not quite so lucky two minutes later when he caught John O'Shea with a flailing arm, which drew blood and the red card from German referee Wolfgang Stark's pocket.Replays suggested the decision had been harsh, a view certainly shared by the home supporters, who had earlier jeered Lippi for his refusal to select Bari-born Antonio Cassano.But if Trapattoni sensed an opportunity, his hopes were dashed within eight minutes as the world champions demonstrated their class in devastating style.The mercurial Andrea Pirlo received the ball from full-back Fabio Grosso and delivered it perfectly back into the defender's path to allow him to drill a cross through the ineffectual Paul McShane.Iaquinta was unmarked in the middle to dispatch the simplest of chances and any perceived advantage for the visitors had been wrenched from their grasp.Despite their numerical disadvantage, it was the supremely organised and technically gifted Italians who were dominating the game and Trapattoni uncharacteristically opted for a change with only 22 minutes gone.The Republic boss has stuck rigidly to his favoured system since deciding that was how best to make use of the players at his disposal.But in withdrawing Andy Keogh, who had started wide on the right in place of the injured Aiden McGeady, and sending on Hull striker Caleb Folan, he shuffled his pack.Keane dropped into the hole between a three-man midfield and frontmen Folan and Kevin Doyle, and the change at least gave them a foothold in the game.Midfielder Keith Andrews scuffed a 31st-minute effort wide when he should have done better and Stephen Hunt forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon with a half-volley five minutes before the break.Few in green either on the pitch or in the stands would have been too disappointed to see Pirlo replaced by Angelo Palombo for the restart and he was quickly followed by Darron Gibson and Andrea Dossena as the two managers sought to out-manoeuvre each other.Hunt, who was soon to be joined on the pitch by brother Noel as Doyle made way, had ambitious appeals for a 56th-minute penalty waved away after he went[LNB]

Source: Eurosport