Robbie Keane scored a dramatic equaliser deep in injury time to secure a draw with Germany and keep alive Ireland's World Cup ambitions in Ibaraki today.
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(© Reuters) |
Ireland looked to have lost, a result which would have sent Germany through to the second round, after striker Miroslav Klose scored his fourth goal of the tournament to give the Germans a 1-0 lead.
But with seconds of injury time left, a knock-on by substitute Niall Quinn left Keane clear and he found the net for a memorable equaliser.
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"I'm so happy for the lads," said manager Mick McCarthy. "We had battered the Germans and we got something out of it with Robbie's goal.
"We had to fight because what's the point of coming here and getting nothing. We've given ourselves a chance."
But his opposite number Rudi Voller said his team were furious at throwing away their chance to secure qualification.
"The anger and disappointment is huge," said Voller. "When you're leading 1-0 and you concede a goal everything collapses in a moment.
"We never really freed ourselves from the pressure they (Ireland) applied on us and them getting the goal was inevitable, I guess."
Sunderland winger Kevin Kilbane said: "We felt like we would never score. Damien (Duff) had a chance and there were a few more after that but Niall (Quinn) came on for us and that changed the game.
"When Robbie (Keane) scored it was one of the best feelings ever."
Earlier, Klose, who scored a hat-trick in Germany's record-breaking 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia, confirmed he could become one of the revelations of the tournament by scoring from a Michael Ballack cross in the 19th minute.
Ireland looked short of ideas down the right flank and were caught out at the back on a number of occasions, most notably when Ian Harte failed to challenge Klose as he beat Shay Given.
Germany recovered from a nervous start to control the game from midfield despite Ireland's best efforts to take the game to their opponents.
Keane missed a bicycle kick just before the break.
Ireland kept plugging away after the interval and were denied a sure goal in the 57th minute. Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn made a brilliant save from Damien Duff’s close range effort.
Germany, who relied on a faultless performance from defence marshal Carsten Ramelow, came close to doubling their advantage when Jancker lobbed Given in the 58th minute, but the ball trickled wide.