Liam Lawrence’s stunning free kick handed the Republic of Ireland victory and consigned World Cup hosts South Africa to their sixth consecutive defeat on Tuesday.
The Stoke City midfielder’s wonderfully struck first-half effort was the difference between the sides in a competitive friendly at Thomond Park.
While South Africa dominated possession and played some of the more attractive soccer, they were toothless in front of goal, and couldn’t avoid another defeat in their preparations for next summer’s World Cup.
Coach Joel Santana made only one change from the team that lost 2-0 to Germany on Saturday night with Elrio van Heerden replacing Bevan Fransmann.
For the hosts, however, it was all change, with Giovanni Trapattoni making an untypical eight changes to the side that defeated Cyprus in their Group 8 World Cup qualifier on Saturday night.
Gone were the likes of Robbie Keane, Shay Given, Richard Dunne and the injured John O’Shea, with Keiren Westwood, Andy Keogh, Eddie Nolan and goalscorer Lawrence given the opportunity to impress ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifier against group leaders Italy.
South Africa began the brighter when Morgan Gould flashed a volley over Westwood’s bar.
Katlego Mphela fired wildly over soon after while Bernard Parker also had a chance, but mishit when the ball from Steven Pienaar found him free in the Irish box, with the Everton man finding.
Ireland were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty shout on 13 minutes, when Gould sent Caleb Folan to the ground.
South Africa continued to dominate possession but failed to create a clear cut opportunity, and that frustration was shown by Mphela’s effort to win a penalty after a good ball from Pienaar.
The Everton man was in the thick of things once again when he was booked for handling Lawrence’s free kick on the edge of the box — but he could do nothing about the Stoke player’s re-taken effort, and neither could Rowen Fernandez as the ball found the top corner.
Neither side made a change at the break but Ireland looked more comfortable as the second half began. Trapattoni’s men passed more convincingly than in the opening period and contained South Africa’s attacks more easily.
Neither side created much until the hour mark, when Ireland burst into life in front of goal, with Leon Best, Folan and then Lawrence all seeing efforts blocked.
South Africa had their first attempt of the half after a cross by Siboniso Gaxa found substitute Siphiwe Tshabalala, but he diverted his volley wide from close range.
Sean St Ledger and Darren O’Dea then combined to halt a double attack from the visitors as they pushed for a leveler, but the well drilled Irish defense held firm.
“Please love us. Please cheer us on. We have been working hard. Do not give up on us.” Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien’s heartfelt plea echoed across the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 tournament after a historic victory. Rather than boasting, Chen was making an earnest appeal after leading Taiwan to a 4-0 victory over Japan to claim their first major international baseball title at the senior level. Chen’s decisive three-run homer in the fifth inning and his Premier12 leading .632 batting average secured him the Premier12’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) title. He was also named one of the tournament’s outstanding defensive players
WELL-AGED: Although the youngest team in the tournament, Taiwan featured several veteran stars, including Sunday’s home-run hero Chen Chieh-hsien “I will never forget today,” veteran Taiwanese pitcher Chen Kuan-yu said after Taiwan on Sunday night blanked Japan to secure their first ever gold in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 championship. Chen, who at 34 is the oldest member on the team, said Taiwan “made every difficult step to come to today’s victory. I will never forget today.” Taiwan made history when they won their first gold medal of the Premier12 tournament, beating Japan in a 4-0 shutout victory in the final at the Tokyo Dome. It was a jaw-dropping victory for many baseball commentators who went into the game with
Major League Baseball (MLB) star Shohei Ohtani wants his former interpreter to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of baseball cards he says were fraudulently bought using his money. The Los Angeles Dodgers star is also requesting Ippei Mizuhara, who previously pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly US$17 million from the unsuspecting athlete, return signed collectible baseball cards depicting Ohtani that were in Mizuhara’s “unauthorized and wrongful possession,” court documents filed on Tuesday said. The legal filing alleges Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s bank account beginning in about November 2021, changing his security protocols so that he
CLASH OF MANAGERS: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Russell Martin of Southampton accused each other of disrespect, while both were booked Southampton on Friday were denied a priceless victory by a controversial decision as they drew with hosts Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 in the Premier League. Kaoru Mitoma spectacularly headed Brighton into a first-half lead and Flynn Downes hammered home an equalizer an hour in. Minutes later teammate Cameron Archer converted a cross from Saints substitute Ryan Fraser. A video assistant referee check of more than four minutes eventually decided that Archer was onside, but then penalized Adam Armstrong, who was offside, but did not touch the ball, for interfering with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. “I find it hard to accept,” Southampton manager Russell Martin
RSS