Rep of Ireland U-21 0-1 Portugal U-21
The Portuguese under-21 side dictated matters to their Irish hosts at Tolka Park tonight and went home with a deserved victory thanks to an excellent 39th minute strike from Barcelona’s Simao Sabrosa.
He poked the ball underneath Joe Murphy in the Irish goal after an exquisite through pass from Benfica’s Ednilson.
The visitors confirmed what they had initially demonstrated in Portugal last October: that they are a supremely gifted side.Players like Simao, Ednilson, and, especially, Athletico Madrid’s spell-binding play-maker Hugo Leal, were a class above their diligent opponents.
Which is not to suggest Ireland, particularly Andy O’Brien and John O’Shea at the heart of the defence, were anything less than admirable, simply that Portugal were at times majestic.
Portugal came close to opening their account in the 19th minute. Leal unleashed a shot from 25 yards which flew just inches over Joe Murphy’s goal.Six minutes later, the Tranmere keeper was forced to make a brave block from another stinger, this time from the sparkling centre-forward, Sergio.
Seconds before the half-time break, Simao could have scored a second after some dazzling work on the right flank by Candido da Costa, but he aimed his header straight at Murphy.
For Ireland, Clinton Morrisson has made an encouraging debut and attracted robust Portuguese attention every time he received the ball.Morrisson looked the most likely source of an Irish goal, until, in the 60th minute, Reid smacked a stupendous 30 yard free-kick which hurtled just over the bar.
And 11 minute later, he went even closer.Graham Barrett played a slightly fortuitous one-two with Morrison then nicked the ball into the path of Reid, but Portugal’s goalkeeper charged from his line to pounce on the ball just as Reid tried to get his shot away.
The match flowed with pleasing speed and the crowd were getting full value for their money.Luis Monteiro, da Costa, and Leal all went close to increasing Portugal’s lead.
Fifteen minutes for time, local patrons got more cause for satisfaction when their demands for the introduction of Shelbourne’s Richie Foran were finally met.As in Cyprus, Foran performed well, though within two minutes of his arrival he got involved in a bout of ‘handbags’ which had the locals baying for him to "keep his head".
But the man whose five red cards this season have earned him an unenviable reputation was not necessarily to blame - there had been a spate of jagged tackles in the second half, mainly from Ireland, and the Portuguese anger was coming to the surface.
The forceful challenges were a reflection of both team’s total commitment. And that, unfortunately but not shamefully, was perhaps the only department of the game in which Ireland were not outclassed.
Rep of Ireland U-21: Joe Murphy, Barry Quinn, O'Shea, Andrew O'Brien, Clarke, Byrne, James O'Connor, Healy, Reid, Barrett, Morrison. Subs: Roche, Reddy, Foran, Foy, Butler, Goodwin, Delaney.
Portugal U-21: Leite, Ferreira, Caneira, Tonel, Fredy, Leal, Candido Costa, Ednilson, Sergio, Sabrosa, Montero. Subs: Marcio Santos, Carreira, Alhandra, Tiago, Semedo.
Referee: G Kaznaferis (Greece)