The hearts of the small Irish contingent at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan must have skipped a few beats along the way but in the end there was something to celebrate, and that was the main thing.

Had Sunday's game against Mexico gone to plan, this one might have been a fairly relaxed affair but as it was nobody was under any illusions about how important it was to the Ireland team at these championships to beat the Saudis.

That pressure showed at times but as the night went on Brian Kerr's side gradually came to grips with the task at hand. Stephen McPhail turned in the performance of the night, scoring a superb goal from 30 yards four minutes before half-time to put his side in front and setting the second up for Damien Duff midway through the second period.

The Blackburn winger's finishing was flawless: having stolen a yard on his marker he swept the ball low past the Saudi goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner and that really should have been an end to the game as a meaningful contest.

Still, the Irish rode their luck at times. While two in front and looking to be in a position to coast home, Gary Doherty gave away a penalty when he brought down Abdulrahman Al Abeah. Had Bandr Al Mutairi found the net with the spot kick, instead of firing over the crossbar, and Doherty been sent off as he might well have been for he was already on a yellow card, the last five minutes would have been nervous ones indeed for the Irish bench.

Even if the referee had not dismissed the Irishman a late goal would have been a terrible blow. As it is the 2-0 win now leaves Ireland needing only a draw on Saturday against Australia to be sure of a place in the second round - had it been 2-1 last night they would have required another win to be certain of qualification.

It wasn't the most impressive of starts by the Irish either with some sluggish defending over the course of the first minutes or so going close, more than once, to costing them an early goal.

The Saudis' best opportunity to get in front came after just four minutes when Fahad Al Zahrani sent Fouzi Al Shehri clear down the right with a perfectly-weighted through ball for wing back. His cross, in turn, was turned back for Bader Al Hagbani by the head of Mohamad Dabo beyond the far post. The ball looked virtually certain to end up in the net but, with Dean Delaney entirely helpless just in front of his line, the central midfielder blasted his 10-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar from which it crashed down on to the line before being scrambled away.

The scare should have been enough to kick start Ireland's game but there were to be another couple of close shaves before Brian Kerr's side, led by McPhail in the centre, finally began to start playing with a bit of confidence. Across the centre from then on Ger Crossley, Barry Quinn and Duff all did enough to give the Irish the upper hand.

In the centre of defence Jason Gavin was again outstanding while Robbie Keane and Richard Sadlier, though they couldn't quite capitalise on the chances that came their way, gave their marker's difficult nights.

Sadlier really should have opened the scoring in the 19th minute when McPhail's initial ball and Keane's excellent low cross from the left handed his a chance to tap home from just a few yards, but the Millwall striker managed to get under the ball and miss the target.

In the day's other game Mexico beat Australia 3-1 with goals from Rafael Marquez Alvarez, Juan Pablo Rodriguez and Daniel Osorno Calvillo, guaranteeing Ireland's opening match opponents their place in the second phase.

Whether the Mexicans finish first or second in the group will be decided on Saturday. The Australians now need to beat Ireland to be absolutely certain of progressing, although with both teams on three points going into the match, a draw would probably do everybody rather nicely.

Republic Of Ireland: Delaney (Everton); Heary (Huddersfield), Gavin (Middlesbrough), Doherty (Luton), Doyle (St Patrick's Athletic); Crossley (Celtic), McPhail (Leeds Utd), Quinn (Coventry), Duff (Blackburn); Sadlier (Millwall), Keane (Wolves). Subs: Donnolly (Leeds Utd) for Doyle (62 mins); Healy (Celtic) for Crossley and Casey (Swansea) for Sadlier (84 mins).

Saudi Arabia: Zaid; Al Mutairi; Al Shehri, Al Obali, Omar, Al Saqri; Al Zahrani, Al Subaie, Al Hagbani; Dabo, Al Abdulaziz. Subs: Al Shehri for Al Abdulaziz (73 mins), Al Abeah for Omar (83 mins).

Referee: M Gonzalez (Uruguay).