Under 20 International / Rep of Ireland 0 Paraguay 1: It wasn't quite the send-off Gerry Smith had wanted for his under-20 squad, which leaves for the World Youth Cup today, but last night's defeat by Paraguay at Richmond Park, in the final warm-up game before the tournament, should, at least, have given his players some idea of the quality of opponent they might meet should they progress to the latter stages in the United Arab Emirates.
Three weeks after beating the reigning UEFA under-19 champions, Italy, 2-0 at Belfield, Smith's team set out to add another notable scalp to its collection - Paraguay finished fourth at the last World Youth Cup and have set their sights on at least matching that placing in this year's tournament - but despite having the bulk of the possession they struggled to find a way through a tidy and disciplined defence. And when they did find a way through goalkeeper Antony Silva invariably denied them.
Paraguay - coached by Rolando Chilavert, brother of his country's most famous player, goalkeeper Jose Luis - got the game's only goal in the 26th minute against the run of play at the end of a 10-minute spell that saw Ireland force Silva into four fine saves, three from long distance efforts by Stephen Capper, Michael Foley-Sheridan and Darren Potter, the fourth a point-blank save from Eamon Zayed whose shot on the turn was brilliantly pushed over the bar by the goalkeeper.
But the South Americans then gave a lesson in the art of speedy counter-attacking, breaking smartly from deep, with an exchange of passes between Erwin Avalos and Julio Dos Santos slicing open the Irish defence to set up an easy chance for Nelson Romero on the line.
Before then Ireland had played with composure and confidence, with David Bell and Darren Potter commanding in midfield, and Willo Flood a menace down the right, regularly feeding the lively Zayed and Kevin Doyle up front.
There was no breakthrough, though, with centre-back Oscar Diaz twice getting in timely blocks on shots by Bell and Zayed.
Smith gave 19 of his 20-man squad a run-out, with only Stephen Paisley (thigh strain) sitting out the game, five of the changes coming at half-time.
Much of Ireland's second-half threat came from one of the substitutes, Cork City left winger Liam Kearney, who set up the best chance of the game, his in-swinging corner on the right giving defender Stephen Kelly a clear header, which he put wide of the left post in the 60th minute.
Ireland persevered but Paraguay defended in increasing numbers and an equaliser proved impossible to find.
Defeat, then, ruined the farewells, but Smith's team could yet come up against the same opponents in Dubai - if Paraguay win their group and Ireland finish second in theirs the teams will square up in the second round on December 8th.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Henderson (Murphy, 45), Whelan (capt), Fitzgerald (McCarthy, 45), Kelly, Capper (Dillon, 55), Flood, Bell (Ward, 75), Potter (Fahey, 51), Foley-Sheridan (Kearney, 45), Zayed (Elliott, 45), Doyle (Daly, 45).
PARAGUAY: Silva, Velazquez, Meza, Martinez, Lopez (Benitez, 87), Avalos, Barreto (Martines, 88), Dos Santos, Diaz, Romero (Perez, 53), Caceres (Andersen, 87).
Referee: Ian Stokes (Ireland).
