Ireland brush aside Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further torment
Under-fire manager Stephen Kenny was spared further punishment as the Republic of Ireland eased to a 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying victory over Gibraltar. Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson fired the visitors into an eighth-minute lead at the Estadio Algarve with his third senior international goal before Celtic winger Mikey Johnston, Wolves defender Matt Doherty and substitute Callum Robinson struck to wrap up just a second win of the Group B campaign. Kenny had gone into the game insisting he would remain in charge until a review of his reign has been carried out after November’s fixtures, although a poor result here would only have increased the clamour for change. In the event, Ireland negotiated a game they should have won comfortably with the minimum of fuss to complete a double over the minnows ahead of next month’s trip to the Netherlands. Once again, there will be only pride at stake in Amsterdam, with hopes of automatic qualification having been extinguished by Friday night’s 2-0 home defeat by Greece, and even the possibility of a play-off place looks ever more faint by the day. The games against Gibraltar, who have now played 44 European Championship and World Cup qualifiers and not collected a single point, were never going to be the yardstick for the Football Association of Ireland’s review and, while embarrassment was avoided with ease, difficult questions remain for a manager whose 28 competitive fixtures have yielded just six wins. Kenny, who once again deployed a back four rather than his usual three, handed Johnston a first senior international start in the search for much-needed creativity. However, it was from the opposite flank that the visitors struck first when Chiedozie Ogbene rolled a pass into the overlapping Doherty’s run and the unmarked Ferguson steered his eighth-minute cross past helpless goalkeeper Dayle Coleing. Luton striker Ogbene continued to look Ireland’s most potent weapon from wide on the right and, with Josh Cullen probing from central midfield, they dominated possession without creating clear-cut openings. They might have extended their lead when Ryan Manning’s 24th-minute corner was allowed to travel across the six-yard-box untouched, but Shane Duffy was unable to stab it home beyond the far post. Coleing was forced to palm away Johnston’s swerving attempt after he had skipped past Tjay de Barr and Liam Walker seconds later. The Celtic man did get his name on the scoresheet with 29 minutes gone when Doherty accepted another Ogbene pass in the space between defenders Jayce Olivero and John Sergeant and crossed for the winger to slide in and, after his initial attempt had come back off a post, bundle the rebound across the line. Coleing had to race from his line to prevent Johnston from reaching Jamie McGrath’s defence-splitting pass seven minutes before the break and then blocked Ferguson’s stabbed effort after Johnston had pulled the ball back. Walker mustered Gibraltar’s first effort in stoppage time after De Barr robbed Johnston and ran into space down the right, but the midfielder’s attempt flew harmlessly wide. Coleing plucked McGrath’s header out of the night sky after he had connected with Ogbene’s cross and then blocked Jason Knight’s firm drive, but he was a relieved man when Duffy’s volley from a Johnston corner flew just wide in a flurry of activity at the start of the second half. Knight sent a diving header wide from Johnston’s 51st-minute cross with the Gibraltar defence at sixes and sevens and Ferguson was unable to hit the target with a free-kick from 25 yards as the Republic looked to kill off the game. Johnston saw a shot deflected wide on the hour but then delivered a corner which was cleverly flicked on by McGrath for Doherty to head past the keeper from point-blank range. Substitute Robinson completed the job with an 80th-minute header to match the 4-0 scoreline when the sides last met in Faro in 2015. Read More England Under-21s fall to late defeat against Ukraine A closer look at the five sports given the go-ahead for the 2028 Olympic Games Kyle Walker eyes ‘little bit of payback’ as England host Italy England ‘not too concerned’ despite World Cup hopes hanging by a thread Jordan Henderson set to face Italy despite England boos 5 talking points as Northern Ireland look for back-to-back wins
2023-10-17 05:28
Belgium stadium on lockdown with thousands of fans held inside after Brussels shooting
Thousands of Belgium and Sweden fans were locked inside the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels after a fatal shooting in the city on Monday evening. The Uefa Euro 2024 qualifier was suspended at half-time with the sides drawing 1-1 and later abandoned, with the incident three miles away. The Swedish players told Uefa they did not want to play the second half of the match, with more than 35,000 fans attending, and the Belgium players were in agreement, according to Swedish broadcaster TV6. Brussels shooting - live: Two Swedes shot dead as Belgium police probe possible terror attack Police say two people were killed after a gunman opened fire in the Belgian city, with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo confirming the victims were Swedish. Footage shared online showed a man dressed in an orange jacket unloading several shots, using a large weapon. The man was reportedly seen leaving the crime scene on a scooter Local media outlets said the two victims were Swedish nationals, with the country’s football association urging fans to remain inside the stadium and stay calm. A statement from the SvFF read: “For security reasons, the Belgian police want Swedish supporters to stay in the arena. Take part in information from officials, responsible authorities and SvFF's staff on site. “We will return when the Belgian authorities provide us with new information. Keep calm and take care of each other.” Fredrik Reinfeldt, president of the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), called the news “devastating”. While Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo “offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels. Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.” An hour after the match was suspended, reports suggested the atmosphere inside the stadium was “calm”, though many fans were unable to access the internet. The Belgian FA also confirmed: “Due to the incidents in Brussels earlier tonight, play is suspended. Our thoughts are with all those affected.” While Uefa added: "Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.” Viktor Gyokeres had given Sweden the lead, though Romelu Lukaku equalised for the hosts, who sit top of Group F and already secure of a place at next summer’s tournament in Germany. Read More Northern Ireland U21s lose late on against Serbia Ireland brush aside Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further torment England Under-21s fall to late defeat against Ukraine Northern Ireland U21s lose late on against Serbia Ireland brush aside Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further torment England Under-21s fall to late defeat against Ukraine
2023-10-17 05:27
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Northern Ireland U21s lose late on against Serbia
Northern Ireland Under-21s lost 2-1 to Serbia in their Euro 2025 qualifier after Milos Pantovic struck a late winner at Mourneview Park. Ciaran McGuckin cancelled out Vladimir Lucic’s opener with a second-half spot-kick, but the visitors took full advantage of a moment of Northern Irish indecision to seal all three points. Serbia skipper Lucic handed his side a 1-0 lead with a super strike, dodging his marker before tucking the ball past a sprawling Stephen McMullan, who soon made a good save to deny the visitors a quick second. The hosts came close when Charlie Allen crossed from the edge of the area, looking for Justin Devenny, who was within inches of an equaliser at the far post but the ball instead took a deflection off a Serbian defender before bouncing out of danger. Northern Ireland drew level after the break when Marko Lazetic barged into Tommy Fogarty and, despite Serbia’s protestations, Norwegian referee Kristoffer Hagenes deemed the off-the-ball shove forceful enough to award the hosts a penalty, dutifully struck into the bottom right by McGuckin. It took a fine save by Veljko Ilic to stop a surging JJ McKiernan from handing Northern Ireland the lead before Pantovic pounced on a loose ball inside the box, which appeared to hit his hand as it bounced up before tapping in the winner. No handball was awarded, however, the Serbian’s effort ultimately proving enough to seal the result. Read More I quite like the noise – Ellis Genge ‘fuelled’ by England’s critics Ireland brush aside Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further torment England Under-21s fall to late defeat against Ukraine
2023-10-17 05:19
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2023-10-17 04:45
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2023-10-17 04:28
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2023-10-17 04:26
England Under-21s fall to late defeat against Ukraine
England Under-21s suffered a 3-2 stoppage-time defeat against Ukraine in their Euro 2025 qualifier in Slovakia where they had recovered from 2-0 down. Lee Carsley’s side had coasted to a 9-1 win over Serbia at the City Ground last week to sit top of Group F. Ukraine, though, had also picked up maximum points from their opening two qualifiers and proved a much sterner test for the Young Lions, who trailed 2-0 at half-time before Noni Madueke and Charlie Cresswell looked to have salvaged a draw – only for Ilya Kvasnytsya to strike a late winner. England, captained by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott with Chelsea winger Cole Palmer out injured, created their first clear opening in the 24th minute. A neat exchange saw Jamie Bynoe-Gittens played into the left side of the penalty area and his cutback was stabbed across goal by James McAtee. It proved a costly miss as Ukraine took the lead just after the half hour. England were caught in possession trying to play out from the back and Ukraine swiftly pressed forwards. A ball across from the right dropped through to Nazar Voloshyn at the far post, and he slotted past James Trafford. With half-time approaching, England found space again on the edge of the Ukraine area as Madueke made a smart turn, but the Chelsea forward dragged a low shot wide. Ukraine then doubled their lead with a magnificent free-kick from Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Oleg Ocheretko. Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite was penalised for what looked like minimal contact on Maksim Bragaru out on the right. There did not seem to be the angle for a direct shot – but Ocheretko blasted the ball over Trafford and into the far corner. Following a low-key start to the second half, Carsley looked to inject some fresh life into his side with a triple substitution ahead of the hour mark as Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Liam Delap and Juventus forward Samuel Iling-Junior all came on. England, facing just a third qualifying defeat in 12 years, reduced the deficit in the 67th minute. Hull forward Delap was hustled off the ball at the edge of the Ukraine area, but it fell to Madueke who dispatched a neat finish back into the far corner. Iling-Junior then saw his cross fly through the six-yard box before being touched behind for a corner. England found an equaliser with just a minute left when Leeds defender Cresswell headed in at the far post after a deep cross from Elliott dropped through the Ukraine penalty area. Ukraine, though, snatched victory in stoppage time when substitute Kvasnytsya swept a low shot into the far corner following a quick break – before Delap saw his goal-bound header saved by Ruslan Neshcheret in what was the last action of the game. Read More A closer look at the five sports given the go-ahead for the 2028 Olympic Games Kyle Walker eyes ‘little bit of payback’ as England host Italy England ‘not too concerned’ despite World Cup hopes hanging by a thread Jordan Henderson set to face Italy despite England boos 5 talking points as Northern Ireland look for back-to-back wins The 2028 Olympics could be game-changing for squash – Gina Kennedy
2023-10-17 03:50
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