IS THIS THE beginning of an unlikely comeback from the brink?
Or merely an inglorious end to a forgettable campaign.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the match. E-mail sean@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
That’s right. We showed up.
Sweden may have already put us on the precipice of an early qualification knockout with wins in Dublin and Astana, but we’ll be bringing you news of every kick from Austria.
Bill O’Herlihy has just opened what seems to be a formal debate between Giles and Brady.
We’ve opened a pool on how long it takes for Dunphy to jump over the fence and start throwing pens around.
Here’s how the teams will line out.
Ireland: Forde, Coleman, O’Shea, Dunne, Wilson, Walters, Green, McCarthy, Pilkington, Keane, Long.
Austria: Almer, Garics, Dragovic, Prödl, Fuchs, Baumgartlinger, Kavlak, Harnik, Alaba, Burgstaller, Weimann.
Before RTE cross to the Ernst-Happel stadium Liam Brady, despite a staunch defence of the Trap regime, predicts an Austrian win.
The players are on the field and Robbie reads his homework out in fornt of the class before the Nadia Forde-less anthems blare out into the cooling Vienna night.
Apparently the Vienna crowd are being whooped into a frenzy with the cry ‘it’s about to start’.
Can’t see it catching on at Croke Park, not until the five minutes after the scheduled kick-off.
The home side go on the early attack. Ireland win the ball back but are put under pressure by a sliced Forde kick out.
Ireland have responded well and even go on the attach with Seamus Coleman raiding into the box on the end of a Keane pass.
He’s tackled, the ball shoots into the air and Coleman handles as he wrestles with Fuchs.
The boys in, eh, black are actually passing the ball fairly confidently now in the opposition half.
Pilkington showing a decent touch in possession, but Paul Green is forced to pass the ball way way back and the follow up move end with Robbie Keane wagging his finger at the linesman as he is flagged offside.
Zinger of the night (so far) goes to The Irish Sun.
A scare down our end as a ball is chipped over Dunne’s head, but Burgstaller can’t do anything bar let it bounce between his legs and on to Forde.
John O’Shea strides forward and majestically intercepts an Austrian pass… then he majestically over-hits a long ball over the top for Long to think about chasing.
A bit of a lull in proceedings, so time to tweet photos from the game.
#COYBIG.
After the lull, chances at either end. Alaba and Burgstaller threatening our goal and a long ball from Wilson to Keane isn’t cleared and the captain lobs a cross in for Long at the far post.
Long doesn’t seem to attack the bouncing ball, but Keane has been flagged offside anyway.
GOAL! .. in Torshavn. Faroe Islands 0 – 1 Germany (Mertesacker ’25)
LONG BALL = CHANCE
Forde booms a free-kick into the final third. It bounces, and Robbie Keane is already instinctively wheeling in behind the defenders. His volley from a tight angle goes across goal. Nice effort though.
Say what you like about Ireland’s style, this kit is the business.
OOH!
Great industry from Pilkington, he pounces on a loose touch from the defender after Shane Long cuts a cross back. The Norwich man wheels back to make space on his right foot and flashes a low shot in to ripple the side of the net.
Another nice move almost brings a chance, McCarthy whipping the ball into Keane.
At the other end, the crowd are finally encouraged to make some noise as Alaba skips past a black shirt and fires a rasper of a dipping shot which forces Forde to parry his save to the left.
Nice reactions from Forde as Alaba fires another shot on goal. The keeper dives behind the blocked shot, but he is up in time to get a strong hand on the follow up shot from the edge of the area.
This is turning into a good game. End to end stuff.
McCarthy plays a fine ball down the right-hand channel for Long. Unlike Friday night’s debacle, the striker lifts his head and crosses across the six yard box, but the keeper reaches out to stop Walters scoring a certain goal.
YELLOW CARD: John O’Shea will miss our date with Germany in Cologne.
Harsh, perhaps. Though he had his paws all over Burgstaller as a long ball was played up field.
HALF TIME: Austria 0 – 0 Ireland
We end the half with a poor cross from Coleman. Our official player rating commissioner has marked him down for that one. Tough man to please.
YELLOW CARD: Robbie Keane gets flashed a card on his way off at half time.
He’s not happy about that, our Robster.
We’re seeing a bit of confusion on Twitter from people unfamiliar with international or European football.
Thanks to @NiallMacSuain for clearing this translation breakdown up for the nation.
Right, now that’s sorted out here comes the second half.
Where’s your money, Ireland?
In your pocket?
Figured.
Substitution: After another threatening turn from Alaba, John O’Shea hobbles off injured. Ciaran Clarke is in the game.
There’s our John, explaining his strain to the physio.
Despite the number of chances in the first half, none have been gilt-edged. So, as the latest long-range shots from Walters and Wilson fly (well and just respectively) over the bar, you can’t help but feel we’re floating inexorably towards a stalemate.
YELLOW CARD: Richard Dunne joins O’Shea on the suspended list.
Handball called on the honey monster as Burgstaller tries to nip the ball past him.
Who’s looking forward to having Clarke and O’Dea in central defence when we play Germany in Cologne?
George Hamilton saying the words ‘danger zone’ more than Kenny Loggins. This time it’s merited though as the ball drops to Pilkington near the by-line left of goal.
The bearded lad blasts a low cross in, but a defender slides and manages to muffle the danger.
Best chance of the game.
Fuchs raids down the left and cuts the ball back for Weimann. it’s on his left foot and he had defenders and a keeper to beat, but the Villa man really should have found the net.
Ooomph!
Harnik blazes high and wide from five yards on the angle. He put absolutely everything into that shot. So much so that his whole body seemed to spin after he made contact.
Substitution:
Pilkington’s full debut comes to an end after 72 minutes. Bad Boy James McClean retakes his spot on the left wing.
PAUL GREEN THE SAVIOUR FOR IRELAND
Well, he managed to clear the ball off the line after the hosts came close to scrambling the ball in.
James McCarthy wins ta brilliant near-post header ont eh follow up corner, but Ireland are under the kosh.
Seamus Coleman comes up with a massive block from a thunderous volley. Irish hopes hanging by a fine thread.
Nice close-up from Donall Farmer of INPHO here.
The man with the VIP accreditation has just made his final substitution: Conor Sammon replaces Shane Long.
GOAL: Austria 1 – 0 Ireland (Alaba ’84)
Wilson meets a cross from the left square and swings a weak right foot to attempt a clearance. The ball flies across goal and the ricochet lands at the worst possible pair of feet for Ireland.
David Alaba took a touch to set himself and absolutely thumped the ball into the roof of the net.
Altogether now: Goodnight, Vienna.
We’re into stoppage time now with black shirts hoofing balls at Conor Sammon in the area.
But the whistle comes and Ireland are out (bar whatever mathematical equation you want to pull up) and will not qualify for Brazil 2014.
FULL TIME: Austria 1 – 0 Ireland.
Here’s the table.
Two wins for Ireland in the final two games would put us on 17 points.
Sweden need one point from two home games to qualify.
That’s it from me, folks. And it might even be it from Trap.
We’ll have all the reaction from Vienna, so stick with us as we sift through the wreckage… or as Liam Brady might call it; a work of art.
