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13.10.1998 at 19:00 Arklow
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Attendance: 3500 |
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Referee: Ladislav Gadosi (Slovakia) |
European Qualifier / PROG-match |
Relief for Evans as Ireland hit winner in injury-time
Ireland 2 Malta 1
Dave Worrell of Blackburn Rovers gave Ireland an unlikely victory over gallant Malta when he scored six minutes into injury time in this European Championship U-21 qualifying tie at the home grounds of Arklow Town FC yesterday.
The Irish skipper was swamped in a sea of green jerseys as the Maltese players, who probably deserved to get a 1-1 draw out of the tie, sank to their knees in disbelief.
And one had to feel some sympathy for Malta's smart young goalkeeper who certainly lived up to his name - Saviour Daramain.
He had an outstanding match in goal, and at times, stood alone between Ireland a far bigger margin of victory.
"I think you could say that we got our of jail here today," said Ireland team manager Ian Evans afterwards as his side chalked up only their second win in their last nine games.
For Malta, yesterday's defeat has now been linked to two previous defeats in the competition to Macedonia (1-0) and Croatia (3-0).
"We got a bit of luck out there when we needed it. Malta's lead goal stemmed for a little hiccup by Dave Worrell but he managed to put things right at the other end with that late, late match winner.
"I was happy enough in the end as there seemed to be an eternity to go when the added time was put on. Someone said that we scored in the 96th minute and that's fine by me," said Evans.
"Obviously the Slovakian referee was running the game by the book but I was pleased that we came away with a win.
"I was pleased for all my players but Malta did shock us by taking the lead. We had to keep probing away right to the wire to come up with the match-winning goal but it keeps us in the hunt."
Malta played with a decided wind advantage in the first half and their lead goal came totally against the run of play after 27 minutes.
A long ball out of defence was back-headed by Dave Worrell towards his goalkeeper Alex O'Reilly but Malta's alert No 9 Malcolm Licari ran on past Worrell and planted the ball low into the corner of the net.
Ireland were back on level terms inside three minutes when Danny Boxall's cross to the near post was flicked home by Grimsby's Daryl Clare on the half hour.
Alan Lee, Niall lnman, Robert Ryan and Kevin Kilbane all went close to goals as well before Ireland put in a storming finish and had a Stephen McPhail "goal" disallowed in the 89th minute when Lee was adjudged to be backing into a defender.
Ireland survived another tense moment when Licari ran clear from the half-way but this time the striker's attempted chip drifted wide of O'Reilly's net.
It was left to the team skipper to strike home a dramatic winner when Colin Hawkins headed Anthony Folan's corner into space inside the box and Worrell did the rest.
IRELAND — O'Reilly (West Ham United); Boxall (Brentford), Worrell (Blackburn Rovers) capt, Hawkins (St Pat's Ath), Ryan (Millwall); Mahon (Tranmere Rovers), Inman (Peterborough Utd), Morgan (St Pat's Ath), Kilbane (West Bromwich Albion); Clare (Grimsby Town), Lee (Aston Villa).
Subs. McPhail (Leeds Utd) for Mahon (56 mins), Folan (Brentford) for Inman (78 mins).
MALTA: — Darmanin; Camenzuli, Galea, Scicluna, Aquilina, Grimu, Holland, ciantar, Licari, Nwoko, Mallia.
Subs. L. Azzopardi for Ciantar (51 mins), Debono for Holland (70 mins), Mamo for Nwoko (74 mins).
Referee: Ladislav Gadosi (Slovakia)
Estimated attendance: 3,500. |
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