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Ireland tops Group 8

Kennedy's goal sinks Yugoslavia 2-1

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Posted: Wednesday September 01, 1999 05:54 PM

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Ireland charged to the top of Group 8 with a 2-1 victory over Yugoslavia in a European Championship qualifying game on Wednesday with Mark Kennedy firing a long-range winner in the 69th minute.

Robbie Keane, Ireland's 19-year-old striker who has just started making an impact in the English Premier League with Coventry, fired the home team ahead in the 54th minute only for Lazio's Dejan Stankovic to head an equalizer six minutes later.

But Kennedy, who plays in England's division one for Manchester City, powered a 25-yard shot home to give the Irish a thrilling victory before 31,400 fans at Lansdowne Road.

The result gives Ireland 12 points from five games while second place Croatia, its next opponent on Saturday, has 11 from six. The Yugoslavs slip to third with 10 from five.

The game had been postponed from June 5 when the Irish government refused visas to the Yugoslav team due to Serbia's role in the Kosovo conflict.

Against an Irish team missing only Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, Yugoslavia was without midfielder Vladimir Jugovic, striker Jovan Stankovic and goalkeeper Ivica Kralj through injuries, while Slavisa Jokanovic and Zoran Mirkovic were out after picking up two yellow cards apiece.

Given's replacement, Alan Kelly, rescued his team with two stunning, one-handed saves only seconds apart from each other when a right wing corner from Sinisa Mihajlovic caused panic in the defense in the 12th minute.

The 'keeper stuck out his right hand to stop a diving header from Dejan Govedarica and then had to block a follow-up shot from Slobodan Komljenovic.

A minute later Ireland almost took the lead when Mark Kinsella's 20-yard shot shaved the post.

The Yugoslavs cleverly set up another move from a huge and accurate clearance by Red Star goalkeeper Aleksander Kocic. But Dejan Savicevic needed too much time in front of goal after being fed by Pedrag Mijatovic.

And the Irish went close again in the 23rd minute when they put together a slick move from deep and Niall Quinn headed wide from a left-wing cross by Robbie Keane.

The Irish went ahead nine minutes into the second half.

Manchester United fullback Dennis Irwin chipped the ball forward and Quinn let it go through to the fast running Robbie Keane who powered a low, first time shot past Kocic from 15 yards.

The Yugoslavs took off their playmaker and captain, the off-form former AC Milan star Savicevic, and almost fell further behind two minutes after the goal, but Kocic rescued his team with an acrobatic tip over the bar from Quinn's clever lob.

But they drew level in the 60th minute when Mijatovic, having taken over the captain's armband from Savicevic, floated a cross from the left and Stankovic appeared behind Steve Staunton at the far post to head past Kelly.

The Irish regained the lead with Kennedy's spectacular effort in the 69th minute. There seemed little danger when the Manchester City winger collected a pass inside from Robbie Keane on the right, but with no Yugoslav defender challenging, he let fly with a rising 25-yard shot which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Tony Cascarino, who plays for Nancy in the French league, made a record 84th appearance for the Irish when he ran on as substitute for Quinn with 12 minutes to go on his 37th birthday

Lineups:

Ireland -- Alan Kelly, Dennis Irwin (substitute Steven Carr, 65th), Kenny Cunningham, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton, Mark Kennedy, Roy Keane (Lee Carsley, 70th), Mark Kinsella, Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane, Niall Quinn (Tony Cascarino, 78th).

Yugoslavia -- Aleksandar Kocic; Slobodan Komljenovic, Drazen Bolic, Dejan Govedarica, Miroslav Djukic, Dejan Stankovic (Nisa Saveljic, 70th), Albert Nadj (Darko Kovacevic, 74th), Predrag Mijatovic, Savo Milosevic, Dejan Savicevic (Ljubinko Drulovic, 54th), Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Referee -- Pierluigi Collina, Italy.

 

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