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09.09.2013 at 19:45 Showgrounds Sligo
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Attendance: |
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Referee: Domagoj Vuckov (Croatia) |
European Qualifier / PROG-match |
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None. |
Leitner 12 Mins,
Volland 22, 24 Mins
Hoffman 83 Mins. |
Republic of Ireland 0 Germany 4
Germany have knocked Ireland off top spot in their European Qualifying group following a comprehensive 4-0 win in Sligos Showgrounds.
Ireland had the first half chance with six minutes gone. Aiden O Brien ran at the defence and out-muscled centre half Antonio Rudiger. The Crawley striker got his shot away but it ran weakly into the arms of ter Stegen.
The opener came on 12 minutes. A good Germany move saw the ball make its way to Moritz Leitnar 25 yards out. The Stuttgart midfielder had time to take a touch before firing a rasping shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net past the despairing Aaron McCarey.
Eight minutes later, Ireland an excellent opportunity of their own. A good exchange of passes between O Brien and Sean Murray led to a shot from Watford man that was well saved by ter Stegen. Samir Carruthers blasted the rebound over.
Germany s second was disastrous from a defensive point of view for Noel King s side. Anthony O Connor sliced a routine-looking clearance into the path of Kevin Volland who was left with luxury of strolling in and tapping it home unchallenged.
It quickly went from bad to worse for the Irish as Volland grabbed his second just two minutes later. This time a cross from Armin Younes found the head of the Hoffenheim striker who dispatched the ball unchallenged.
Horst Hrubeschs team were now dominating proceedings and were unlucky not to grab a fourth on 31 minutes when Eric Durm found himself in acres of space on the edge of the area but he only succeeded in firing his shot into the side netting.
The second half began in much the same vein as the lively Nico Schulz burst through the Irish cover. His shot was well blocked by Shane Duffy, who was probably Irelands best player.
Germany were keeping their opponents penned back and threatened constantly.
The first bright moment of the half for King s men came on the hour, when a neat passing move gave half time substitute Connor Smith space for a shot which forced ter Stegen to scramble down to his right to save.
Ireland were reduced to 10 men two minutes later as Carruthers was shown a second yellow for a late tackle on another substitute, Leonardo Bittencourt,
The Germans were able to take their foot off the gas after that without ever looking seriously threatened. The fourth did eventually come with six minutes left. A slip from Smith let the ball fall for the newly-introduced Phillip Hoffman on the edge of the area and he smashed a powerful drive low past McCarey.
That rounded out the scoring and left Noel King with plenty to ponder ahead of his side s next qualifier against Romania next month.
Republic of Ireland: Aaron McCarey; Michael Harriman, Shane Duffy ©, Anthony O Connor, Sean McGinty; Matt Doherty, Samir Carruthers; Sean Murray, Callum Reilly (Jack Grealish 78), Anthony Forde (Conor Smith 46); Aiden O Brien (Graham Burke 82).
Germany: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Eric Durm, Antonio Rudiger, Shkodran Mustafi, Michael Vitzthum; Moritz Lietner (Robin Knoche 74), Leon Goretzka; Jonas Hoffman (Danny Viera Da Costa 46), Amin Younes (Phillip Hoffman 66), Nico Schulz; Kevin Volland ©.
Referee: Domagoj Vuckov (Croatia)
From UEFA.COM
A pair of Kevin Volland goals in Sligo helped secure a second comfortable Group 10 win in four days for Horst Hrubeschs men.
Kevin Volland struck twice in three first-half minutes to take the wind out of Irish sails as Germany cruised to another comfortable Group 10 win in Sligo.
Already ahead through Moritz Leitner, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim forward Volland struck in the 22nd and 24th minutes to put the visitors well in command. Samir Carruthers was dismissed after the break for the hosts before Philipp Hofmann rounded off a second simple win in four days for Horst Hrubeschs charges.
With Ireland themselves coming off a big win in the Faroe Islands things were not expected to be easy for the visitors, but the hosts gave Germany a generous hand. On 12 minutes Leitner collected a clearance 25 metres from goal before zipping off a shot which keeper Aaron McCarey allowed to slip under his body.
A defensive mix-up presented the visitors with a second as Anthony O Connor sliced an attempted clearance over the outrushing McCarey which allowed Volland to head his first into an empty goal. Moments later Amin Younes trickery on the left bought him enough room to whip in a cross which the No9 met at the front post and guided into the net with a precise header.
Carrutherss second yellow on 61 minutes triggered further intense pressure on the home goal, and Germany got the fourth their dominance deserved on 83 minutes when substitute Hofmann hammered a low shot into the net, securing an early three-point lead in the section for his side. |
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