FT - Ivory Coast 0-0 Saudi Arabia. We're through, now we need to get a 1-1 draw or better to win the group.
Paisley and Elliot sure are doing well in this tournament! A score draw or a win will make up top the group. BTW in another group match that has a bearing on who we play in the next round, USA is leading SKorea 2-0. I think the Winner of the Ireland group plays 2nd of the USA group.
41 min Palacios red carded...... 2nd yellow. More than deserved it, little wanker. Someone needs to give him a good hiding.
85 min Ire 2 - 0 Mex Stephen Kelly.... completely against the run of play...... it's been all Mexico in the 2nd half We're home free now !!
2nd half was all Mexico though, they missed a bnch of chances and Murphy made some great saves. Our 2nd goal was against the run of play, resulted in a blunder from the Mex goalie and a couple of defenders. Still, I thought we defended well enough. The 2nd round game should be available in the states on Galavision for anyone interested, Galavision has been carrying all the Colombia games so far.
I've a slightly different take on the second half. By that stage Ireland could afford to lose by a goal and still qualify and the Mexicans had looked very dodgy in the 1st half; I think Ireland sat back and said to Mexico, 'show us what you got.' As it turns out all Mexico really had was interesting moves (watch me backheel this ball past 3 defenders into the goal!), a few near misses and loads of fouls. A measured defensive performance, but having said that, those reds and yellows will hurt.
For those of us in North America, the game against Columbia will be shown live on galavision at 11:55am EST on Tuesday.
Match against Columbia goes at 5:00 Irish Time, 1:30 in Newfoundland. Columbia are slight favourites, but I think the match is really a toss-up.
Team: Henderson (Aston Villa) McCarthy (Manchester City) Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers) Paisley (Longford Town) Capper (Scarborough) Flood (Manchester City) Ward (Kidderminster Harriers) Bell (Rushden and Diamonds) Foley (Liverpool) Elliott (Manchester City) Zayed (Bray Wanderers).