Ireland 2 Bosnia 0
Ireland 2 (Walters 24 PEN, 70)
Bosnia 0
Ireland booked their place at France 2016 with an at times shakey victory over Bosnia at Lansdowne Road on Monday night. Ireland took a first-half lead via a Jonathan Walters penalty. Bosnia fought hard, but Ireland greatly limited the chances they could create with a solid defensive display. A second-half goal from Walters gave Ireland the security to see out the remainder of the game.
Ireland had the better of the early possession, but their first truly potent attack came from a breakaway move. Edin Dzeko won a header to put Senad Lulic in space. James McCarthy did well to close him, win the ball, and break forward. He found Wes Hoolahan, whose cross forced Asmir Begovic into a low save at his right post.
Miralem Pjanic was looking dangerous for Bosnia out right, and he did well to win a thirteenth minute corner for the visitors. Ireland were able to defend it and clear the ball, but a minute later Pjanic was again the provider. His deep cross was headed across goal by Lulic, but McCarthy was the first to react and clear the ball.
A long free from Coleman in the eighteenth minute was headed across goal by Jonathan Walters. Jeff Hendrick got there, but he couldn't control a difficult high ball, and the chance was lost.
Ervin Zukanovic was adjudged to have handled a cross from the right, and Ireland were awarded a penalty in the twenty-third minute. After what seemed like justifiable Bosnian protests, Walters finished the penalty low and left. Ireland now had a real cushion in the tie.
Bosnia nearly responded immediately, after a good solo effort from Dzeko. He outmuscled McCarthy, before rounding him on the edge of the box. His low strike hit the left-hand side netting.
Dzeko turned provider in the thirty-fourth minute as he once again headed down a long ball. Hans Medunjanin couldn't keep his half-volley under the crossbar from twenty yards.
Bosnia had the majority of the possession in the final ten minutes of the half, but Ireland resolutely restricted their chances in the final third.
A Medunjanin free-kick in the third minute of the second-half was nearly headed into his own goal by Ciaran Clark. Five minutes later, with Bosnia dominating possession, Edin Visca cut in from the right, but his dangerous cross was blocked by Richard Keogh and Ireland could breath a sigh of relief.
Medunjanin was again the provider in the fifty-ninth minute, as his low cross was met by Pjanic from ten yards. His effort was blocked by a wall of Irish defenders.
Seamus Coleman showed great composure four minutes later to clear a bouncing ball on the edge of the Irish box. James McClean did really well to win a corner in the sixty-fifth minute following a long clearance from Hendrick.
Ireland put one foot in the finals in the seventieth minute. Brady finally put in a dangerous cross, which was touched on by Ogryen Vranjes. Walters met the ball with a volley into the far corner, and the stadium erupted.
Shane Long should have put the tie beyond doubt five minutes later as he chased a long ball, cut inside, and ran for goal. Under pressure he fluffed his lines, putting the ball wide with the goal gaping.
Three minutes later Randolph and McClean combined to keep Bosnia scoreless. The goalkeeper punched a corner clear, before the winger won a throw-in on the left touchline, to the delight of the packed Aviva.
A long ball forward by Spahic with four minutes to go forced another Bosnian corner out left. Ireland initially failed to deal with the ball, which bounced around in front of the goal. Randolph took the situation by the scruff of the neck, jumping on the ball to relieve the pressure, and slow the game down.
Walters went for a speculative half-volley from the halfway line in the final minute. On a night where it would have given him his hat-trick it was well worth a go. Needless to say, the effort didn't end up troubling his former club teammate Begovic.
The final whistle put Ireland into only their third ever European finals. They will be fourth seeds, but any Irish fan would have taken this situation after Scotland took a point from Dublin in June. This game had a real changing of the guard feel about it, with the likes of O'Shea and Keane left on the bench, while Keogh and Hendrick excelled on the park. All roads lead to the continent now.
Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Whelan (c) (O'Shea 90), McCarthy, Clark, Murphy (Long 55), Walters, Brady, Hoolahan (James McClean 55), Hendrick
Subs not used: David Forde, Stephen Henderson, Marc Wilson, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane, Cyrus Christie, Stephen Ward, Darron Gibson, Harry Arter
Yellow cards: Whelan 84
Bósnia: Begović, Spahić, Kolašinac, Vranješ, Lulić (Ibisevic 80), Zukanović, Cocalić (Besic 46), Medunjanin (Djuric 68), Pjanić, Višća, Džeko
Subs not used: Buric, Sehic, Bicakcic, Hodzic, Susic, Sunjic, Hajrovic, Hadzic, Salihovic
Yellow Cards: Spahic 20, Lulic 23, Dzeko 93, Djuric 93
Referee: Bjorn Kulpers (NED)
Attendance: 50,500
Bosnia 0
Ireland booked their place at France 2016 with an at times shakey victory over Bosnia at Lansdowne Road on Monday night. Ireland took a first-half lead via a Jonathan Walters penalty. Bosnia fought hard, but Ireland greatly limited the chances they could create with a solid defensive display. A second-half goal from Walters gave Ireland the security to see out the remainder of the game.
Ireland had the better of the early possession, but their first truly potent attack came from a breakaway move. Edin Dzeko won a header to put Senad Lulic in space. James McCarthy did well to close him, win the ball, and break forward. He found Wes Hoolahan, whose cross forced Asmir Begovic into a low save at his right post.
Miralem Pjanic was looking dangerous for Bosnia out right, and he did well to win a thirteenth minute corner for the visitors. Ireland were able to defend it and clear the ball, but a minute later Pjanic was again the provider. His deep cross was headed across goal by Lulic, but McCarthy was the first to react and clear the ball.
A long free from Coleman in the eighteenth minute was headed across goal by Jonathan Walters. Jeff Hendrick got there, but he couldn't control a difficult high ball, and the chance was lost.
Ervin Zukanovic was adjudged to have handled a cross from the right, and Ireland were awarded a penalty in the twenty-third minute. After what seemed like justifiable Bosnian protests, Walters finished the penalty low and left. Ireland now had a real cushion in the tie.
Bosnia nearly responded immediately, after a good solo effort from Dzeko. He outmuscled McCarthy, before rounding him on the edge of the box. His low strike hit the left-hand side netting.
Dzeko turned provider in the thirty-fourth minute as he once again headed down a long ball. Hans Medunjanin couldn't keep his half-volley under the crossbar from twenty yards.
Bosnia had the majority of the possession in the final ten minutes of the half, but Ireland resolutely restricted their chances in the final third.
A Medunjanin free-kick in the third minute of the second-half was nearly headed into his own goal by Ciaran Clark. Five minutes later, with Bosnia dominating possession, Edin Visca cut in from the right, but his dangerous cross was blocked by Richard Keogh and Ireland could breath a sigh of relief.
Medunjanin was again the provider in the fifty-ninth minute, as his low cross was met by Pjanic from ten yards. His effort was blocked by a wall of Irish defenders.
Seamus Coleman showed great composure four minutes later to clear a bouncing ball on the edge of the Irish box. James McClean did really well to win a corner in the sixty-fifth minute following a long clearance from Hendrick.
Ireland put one foot in the finals in the seventieth minute. Brady finally put in a dangerous cross, which was touched on by Ogryen Vranjes. Walters met the ball with a volley into the far corner, and the stadium erupted.
Shane Long should have put the tie beyond doubt five minutes later as he chased a long ball, cut inside, and ran for goal. Under pressure he fluffed his lines, putting the ball wide with the goal gaping.
Three minutes later Randolph and McClean combined to keep Bosnia scoreless. The goalkeeper punched a corner clear, before the winger won a throw-in on the left touchline, to the delight of the packed Aviva.
A long ball forward by Spahic with four minutes to go forced another Bosnian corner out left. Ireland initially failed to deal with the ball, which bounced around in front of the goal. Randolph took the situation by the scruff of the neck, jumping on the ball to relieve the pressure, and slow the game down.
Walters went for a speculative half-volley from the halfway line in the final minute. On a night where it would have given him his hat-trick it was well worth a go. Needless to say, the effort didn't end up troubling his former club teammate Begovic.
The final whistle put Ireland into only their third ever European finals. They will be fourth seeds, but any Irish fan would have taken this situation after Scotland took a point from Dublin in June. This game had a real changing of the guard feel about it, with the likes of O'Shea and Keane left on the bench, while Keogh and Hendrick excelled on the park. All roads lead to the continent now.
Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Whelan (c) (O'Shea 90), McCarthy, Clark, Murphy (Long 55), Walters, Brady, Hoolahan (James McClean 55), Hendrick
Subs not used: David Forde, Stephen Henderson, Marc Wilson, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane, Cyrus Christie, Stephen Ward, Darron Gibson, Harry Arter
Yellow cards: Whelan 84
Bósnia: Begović, Spahić, Kolašinac, Vranješ, Lulić (Ibisevic 80), Zukanović, Cocalić (Besic 46), Medunjanin (Djuric 68), Pjanić, Višća, Džeko
Subs not used: Buric, Sehic, Bicakcic, Hodzic, Susic, Sunjic, Hajrovic, Hadzic, Salihovic
Yellow Cards: Spahic 20, Lulic 23, Dzeko 93, Djuric 93
Referee: Bjorn Kulpers (NED)
Attendance: 50,500
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