Updated at 20.23
IRELAND ENDURED A disappointing 1-1 draw with Scotland at the Aviva Stadium today.
Jon Walters gave the Boys in Green a deserved lead on 38 minutes, tapping home from close range from what appeared to be an offside position.
However, Shaun Maloney’s deflected strike from just outside the box just after half-time crept into the net to draw the visitors level.
The Chicago Fire midfielder’s second-half strike took a massive deflection off Ireland skipper John O’Shea to cancel out Walters’ first-half goal, and the result leaves Ireland five points behind Group D leaders Poland in fourth place.
However, the point will be welcomed by Gordon Strachan’s men, who knew avoiding defeat would make Ireland’s task of going to France next summer incredibly difficult.
Neither manager gave much away in the build-up to this game, keeping their selection cards close to their chest, and it became clear why when the teams were announced.
For Ireland, nothing less than victory would do, and the inclusion of Jeff Hendrick and Daryl Murphy in the starting line-up was unexpected.
Robbie Keane was only on the bench after two of his cousins were killed in a tragic accident earlier in the week, while Aiden McGeady, James McClean and Shane Long were left out as O’Neill plumped for strength and fitness.
Charlie Mulgrew started in central defence for Scotland despite only recently returning from injury, while there was no room for Ikechi Anya or Andy Robertson, with Matt Richie also making a first start.
Just as they had in Glasgow last November, both sets of fans created one of the best atmospheres most observers had seen and the home team justified their promise to start the tie with intensity.
Steven Naismith and Steven Fletcher had the best chances in the opening 10 minutes, but neither troubled Shay Given in the Ireland goal –- and the efforts were against the general run of play with Ireland’s midfield and wing backs controlling the game.
There was passion and patience in Ireland’s play, with Murphy holding possession well up front, while Wes Hoolahan, James McCarthy, Robbie Brady and Seamus Coleman pushed forward at every attempt.
The home support were growing in confidence but Coleman’s crossing in advanced positions was disappointing and it appeared Ireland would not be rewarded for their endeavour.
A Murphy header was palmed over by David Marshall but the breakthrough finally arrived from the resulting corner on 38 minutes, although goalscorer Walters was in an offside position.
Brady’s corner was nodded goalward by Murphy, but it took a nick off Walters and Marshall’s smart save merely pushed the ball back to Walters who prodded home.
- Cruel deflection -
Ireland almost added a second just before the break, when a wicked Brady corner bounced in the six-yard box, but there was no player in green there to finish it off and James Morrison cleared the danger.
Ritchie was replaced at the break by Anya, and the Watford winger’s first touch set up Maloney to shoot in the 47th minute.
His effort was going wide, but a cruel deflection off O’Shea’s back diverted the ball past Given and into the corner of the Irish goal.
Ireland nearly bounced back immediately when Hoolahan broke from midfield, rode the challenge of Scott Brown and found Murphy on the edge of the box. Marshall saved well with his legs and Mulgrew got back to clear Walters’ cutback at the near post.
Anya continued to be an outlet for Scotland on the left wing and provided another half chance on 65 minutes, his chip being batted down by Given before Fletcher’s follow-up overhead kick was cleared by Marc Wilson.
McClean and Keane were introduced by Ireland as they chased a winner, but neither could alter the scoreline as Scotland held on stubbornly to a point that could be priceless come the conclusion of Group D.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
