Clinton Morrison's goal eight minutes from time
was good enough to give the Republic of Ireland a lacklustre 1-0 friendly
win over China at Lansdowne Road here on Tuesday.
Just days after they'd been held to a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in
Israel, Brian Kerr's men looked well below their best despite the presence
of an impressively large crowd of 35,000.
But Birmingham forward Morrison, on as a substitute, spared Ireland's
blushes with his fourth international goal in six games in the 82nd
minute.
Ireland dominated but failed to create enough real chances to rock a
busy Chinese outfit.
Most of the excitement was provided by Ireland, and the first real
action came after six minutes when Stephen Elliot saw his low cross cut
out by Leilei after a neat through ball by Kilbane.
Elliott had a scoring chance well blocked and Kilbane forced a decent
save from Leilei as Ireland began to turn first-quarter dominance into
chances.
China's rangy
striker Yi Li, who has reputedly attracted the interest of Glasgow Rangers
and Malaga, found himself sucked into midfield as their 5-4-1 formation
struggled to contain the Irish.
Duff probed effectively down the left before switching flanks with Reid
whose eagerness to make things happen - sorely missed last Saturday - was
in evidence.
The best effort of the half, however, came from the Chinese late on
when a cross by left back Xiang was cleared beyond the edge of the box and
Junzhe's low drive forced a fine save at the foot of the post from Kenny.
The Chinese were spurred on
by the effort and closed out the half well though a half volley by Elliott
and a full volley by Reid were the only real threats on goal before the
break.
With Duff substituted at half time, there was a danger that the only
real spark of the game had been extinguished. But Miller, on in his place,
immediately enthused the crowd with a decent shot after a run across the
face of the box and then a cross which Keane almost got a toe to.
A more positive approach from the China manager, Zhu Guanghu, was in
evidence from the restart with both full backs, in particular, pushing
further forward.
And it almost paid dividends when a long through ball was brilliantly
controlled by Xiang who had got in behind Maybury. But his
outside-of-the-boot effort was a couple of feet wide.
Ireland's dominance of the first period resumed but still real chances
eluded them and midway through the half, Roy Keane, Morrisson and Gary
Doherty were introduced to bring some physicality to the Irish game.
Ireland upped the pace and got their reward eight minutes from time
when Morrisson got on the end of a speculative long ball from Maybury.
As Leilei advanced the Irish striker curled his foot around the ball as
it landed and lobbed the keeper who had found himself in no man's land.
It proved the only real high of a match that for Ireland must raise
further worries ahead of the next World Cup qualifier against Israel in
June.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-30 08:24
