Republic of Ireland - 1 Nigeria - 2WORLD CUP WARM-UP/Republic of Ireland v Nigeria: Eight years after Croatia came to Dublin and spoilt the send-off party for Ireland's USA'94 squad, Nigeria proved similarly graceless guests at Lansdowne Road last night. Paddy Reilly still sang and the players went ahead with their lap of honour regardless but the expectations have been gently nudged to ground level just as Mick McCarthy takes to the skies for the journey East.
However, the Ireland manager can draw a lot of encouragement from another surprisingly lively World Cup warm-up as Ireland's approach work, though not the finishing, was often excellent. The two first-half goals conceded serve as a timely warning, though, that McCarthy's defence, more than any other section of his team, faces an enormous challenge over the coming weeks.
The Irish looked set to make the sort of start we have grown used to at Lansdowne Road where they had not been beaten in two years prior to last night's game. Within a couple of minutes Damien Duff had signalled that he would again be assuming the role of major creative influence in the side's attack with a piece of trickery just outside the left-hand side of the box that almost set up an opening goal.
The 22-year-old had to work hard to create the opening, dipping one way and then the other before he managed to split the two defenders blocking his path and delivered a great cross. Nigerian goalkeeper Ike Shorumnu probably should have cut out the danger but instead sailed harmlessly through the air. Jason McAteer's headed attempt, however, was almost as baffling with the midfielder turning the ball back towards Robbie Keane when an empty goal beckoned.
It was a startling miss but from the defensive chaos that reigned as the ball was finally scrambled away it was hard not to be lulled into thinking there would be more than one opportunity to make amends.
Sure enough Duff was at it again a few minutes later, darting in from the right this time and slipping the ball low towards Kevin Kilbane who stepped over it only for Robbie Keane, as he attempted to steady himself, to miscue his shot.
With most of the press box by this stage attempting to cook up a nice way of calling the visitors naive defensively, the Irish back four reminded us that it's not just the African defenders that occasionally reside in never-never land.
Julius Aghahowa, to be fair, did well to set up and then score his third goal in two games for his country but the 19-year-old Shaktar Donetsk striker was allowed far too easily to cut in from the left-hand side of midifeld, lay the ball off to Jay-Jay Okocha and then pick up the return pass just inside the area. Kenny Cunningham vainly tried to chase back but the youngster barely hesitated before slipping the ball past Shay Given and into the bottom right corner.
The Ireland team was plunged into what has become fairly unfamiliar territory, chasing a game on home turf, but they continued to coolly dominate against opponents obliged to play a good deal of the game deep inside their own half.
Twice Shorumnu was forced to react sharply to turn close-range attempts on his goal over from Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, as Steve Finnan, Steve Staunton and Matt Holland pushed forward to lend a hand.
Holland and Robbie Keane both forced the Lucerne goalkeeper into further saves but again the breakthrough came against the run of play at the other end when Crewe defender Efe Sodje stunned the crowd with a header two minutes into the second half.
Nigerian skipper Okocha's corner from the right found its way to the unmarked Sodje and with Givens hopelessly stranded, he headed into the empty net.
Steven Reid, a half-time replacement for McAteer, went on to have another good night in an Ireland shirt, consistently causing problems for Femi Opabunmi down the right flank. And he was generously rewarded with a superbly taken second international goal (in five appearances) with a little assistance from a deft Clinton Morrison touch 20 minutes from time.
The goal revived the Irish attack and the Nigerians found themselves forced to defend in numbers. There followed a penalty claim in another sustained period of pressure and two minutes from time David Connolly looked to have grabbed an equaliser when Mark Kinsella's shot was pushed wide by Shorumnu after which Morrison turned it back inside. But he was clearly offside. Connolly then went close with a spectacular volley but Shorumnu was well placed to save.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given (Newcastle Utd); Finnan (Fulham), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Staunton (Aston Villa), Harte (Leeds Utd); McAteer (Sunderland), Holland (Ipswich Town), Roy Keane (Manchester Utd), Kilbane (Sunderland); Robbie Keane (Leeds Utd), Duff (Blackburn Rovers). Subs: Reid (Millwall) for McAteer (half-time), Connolly (Wimbledon), Morrison (Crystal Palace) and Kelly (Leeds United) for Duff, Robbie Keane and Kilbane (61 mins), Kinsella (Charlton Athletic) for Roy Keane (64 mins).
NIGERIA: Shorumnu; Sodje, West, Ikoronkwo, Opabunmi; Ikedia, Yobo, Kanu, Okocha; Aghahowa, Ogbeche. Oruma for Okocha (67 mins)
Referee: Antonia Almeida Costa (Portugal).
