Lawrence seals rare South American win

Rep of Ireland 2 Paraguay 1:After a difficult week for Giovanni Trapattoni and his squad there was plenty to smile about at RDS, thanks to a rare win over South American opposition.

Shane Duffy’s injury at Malahide last weekend put things like missing out on next month’s World Cup into perspective. Similarly, a win over a side going through the paces ahead of South Africa should be taken on its merits.

Nonetheless, Trapattoni will be pleased by the hunger of his frontline players at the end of a long season and the resolve they showed in the face of a second half fightback from Paraguay.

The Irish began like they were the ones playing for places in a World Cup squad, with Lawrence linking well with Doyle, who was proving handful for the visiting defence on the ground and in the air.

The homeside were first to threaten when Lawrence and Doyle combined before Glenn Whelan lifted a ball over the top, only for the Stoke man to be flagged offside.

He was involved again when Ireland took the lead in the seventh minute, tipping a free to Damien Duff before the Fulham winger curled a tame cross into the box.

After Paul McShane missed his attempted overhead, Roque Santa Cruz headed off his own bar and Doyle bravely finished the rebound, making heavy contact with the post for his troubles.

Jonathan Santana could well have equalised when the ball was laid off for him at the edge of the box a minute later but his strike flew over Keiren Westwood’s bar.

Paraguay pressed, mainly through Boca Juniors’ Claudio Morel, whose runs down the left flank were causing Stephen Kelly problems and both Lawrence and Duff were drafted into help out on occasion.

At the other end, the two wingers combined to create another opening for Ireland when Lawrence’s rolled a free for Duff on the edge of the box, but the Dubliner’s shot was high and wide.

Yet another free won at the expense of Enrique Vera on the right handside caused more problems for Paraguay and Santa Cruz nearly made another telling contribution but got away with his clumsy tackle on Lawrence in the box.

Despite having their share of possession, Paraguay still struggled to create, with Cristian Riveros often picking the ball up deep in midfield but finding little to aim at. Santa Cruz was also eager to get on the ball but was regularly crowded out by Whelan and Keith Andrews.

Paraguay’s best outlet always looked the left and when Kelly took down Rodolfo Gamarra, the latter’s free-kick very nearly found Paulo Da Silva at the backpost.

Their lack of ambition was punished in the 38th minute when Kelly’s cross was beautifully chested down by Doyle and Robbie Keane left it for the onrushing Lawrence who finished with aplomb from a tight angle.

Westwood was forced to tip Antonio Alcaraz’s effort around the post but that was the best the visitors could muster before the break.

Ireland were on target twice early in the second half, first when Doyle’s turn and shot was saved comfortably and then when Duff’s effort had to be parried Bobadila after Whelan’s measured pass.

There was more purpose at Paraguay after the break, however, and they got one back through Barrios after Santana burst through to get his own pass back from Gamarra, before feeding the striker.

Whelan and Sean St Ledger stood off and Barrios fired across Westwood into the bottom corner.

After Keane was replaced by Cillian Sheridan and Whelan made way for Paul Green, Gamarra was involved again when his deft cross almost crept in at the backpost. The pressure was mounting on Ireland with the defence sitting ever deeper.

Doyle was always willing up front and his composed touch created a number of openings but none bore fruit and were never likely to once Duff and Lawrence were replaced by Keith Fahey and Kevin Foley respectively.

Man-of-the-match Doyle was then replaced by Shane Long, who was lively in his brief appearance and might have had a penalty at the death. Though it wasn’t needed.

The attendance at the match was 16,722.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Westwood (Coventry City); Kelly (Fulham), McShane (Hull City), St Ledger (Preston North End), O'Shea (Manchester United); Lawrence (Stoke City) (Foley 83), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Whelan (Stoke City), Duff (Fulham) (Fahey 76); Keane (Tottenham Hotspur) (Sheridan 62), Doyle (Wolves) (Long 87).

PARAGUAY:Bobadilla; Paulo Da Silva, Denis Caniza (capt), Antolin Alcaraz, Claudio Moral, Enrique Vera, Cristian Riveros, Jonathan Santana, Roque Santa Cruz, Lucas Barrios, Rodolfo Gamarra