Republic of Ireland vs Sweden match report: Ciaran Clark own-goal sees opportunity missed for Irish
Republic of Ireland 1 Sweden 1: Ireland took the lead through Wes Hoolahan and looked to be on course to exercising their Paris demons when Clark headed into his own net
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Your support makes all the difference.They managed to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet and give themselves hope of Euro 2016 progression, but when it comes to the final reckoning, the Republic of Ireland may ultimately regard this 1-1 draw against Sweden as a missed opportunity to plant their flag firmly in French soil.
Ciaran Clark’s own goal nineteen minutes from full-time in the Stade de France cancelled out Wes Hoolahan’s second-half opener and left Martin O’Neill’s side clutching a point when their deserved performance merited three.
What is it about this stadium in Saint-Denis and Irish heartbreak? Seven years after Thierry Henry’s sleight of hand denied Ireland a place in the 2010 World Cup, Clark’s mis-directed header may yet crush hopes of progression from Group E.
The result means Ireland must now avoid defeat against Belgium in Toulouse on Saturday to retain realistic ambitions of making it to the second round.
Having allowed themselves to be overcome by a frenzy of nervous excitement at the start of their Euro 2012 campaign, it was crucial that the Irish learned the harsh lessons of four years ago if they were to avoid a similarly damaging blow to their hopes against Sweden.
Back in 2012, Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland raced out of the traps in the opening game against Croatia in Poznan, backed by over 30,000 supporters, and proceeded to concede inside just three minutes.
It did not get much better after that, with Ireland losing all three group games in Poland, and the memories of opening game victories against the likes of England and Italy in previous major tournaments became dim and distant memories.
Could the Irish make amends in Paris and turn back the clock to the days when Ray Houghton secured legendary status with his winners against the English and Italians at Euro 88 and the 1994 World Cup?
They certainly began better than in Poznan four years ago, with Martin O’Neill’s bold decision to play with the handbrake off, giving Hoolahan and Robbie Brady the licence to run at the Swedes, enabling Ireland to dominate the first-half.
The impressive Jeff Hendrick forced a save from Andreas Isaksson with Ireland’s first chance of the game on nine minutes when the Derby County midfielder connected cleanly with a Jon Walters knock-down.
John O’Shea, captain in the absence of the benched Robbie Keane, would have put his team ahead eight minutes later had he possessed the predatory instinct of the LA Galaxy forward.
But with Ciaran Clark heading Brady’s corner on towards the far post, O’Shea fell inches short of guiding the ball into the net from three yards.
Ireland were on top and Sweden, despite the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the focal point of their attack, appeared listless, unable to repel Irish pressure.
It left O’Neill’s team facing the challenge of capitalising on their dominance before Ibrahimovic and the Swedes woke from their slumber.
Brady was next to go close, cutting in from the left before sending a right foot strike over from 20 yards on 29 minutes.
And Hendrick then prompted 35,000 Irish supporters to jump to their feet when his effort from 25 yards moments later crashed against the top of Isaksson’s crossbar.
Ireland could not make the breakthrough before the interval, but rather than use the half-time break to re-focus their efforts and devise a strategy to stem the green tide, Sweden emerged with the same half-hearted approach in the second-half.
And after Hendrick saw a low shot saved on 47 minutes, Hoolahan gave Ireland a deserved lead sixty seconds later with a stunning finish from Seamus Coleman’s cross.
Hoolahan, a player who has taken time to live up to his potential, cleverly found space at the far post as Coleman jinked into the penalty area.
And with the Everton full-back delivering a perfect cross, Hoolahan was able to guide a right-foot half-volley beyond the grasp of Isaksson and into the far corner of the net.
It was a sweet moment for the Irish, with Hoolahan’s goal nestling in the same net which Henry so infamously teed up William Gallas’s goal in that unforgettable World Cup play-off in November 2009.
It was a jolt for the Swedes, one which finally sparked them into life, and they almost equalised within two minutes when it took a reflex save from Darren Randolph to keep out Clark’s sliced attempt at a clearance from a corner.
Randolph could only palm the ball clear, seeing it drop loose at the far post, but Ireland were let off the hook by a woeful piece of finishing from Emil Fosberg, who shot high and wide from inside the six yard box.
Clark was not so lucky on 71 minutes, though, when his attempt to head Ibrahimovic’s cross away from danger saw him instead guide the ball past the helpless Randolph.
It was a crushing blow for the Aston Villa defender who, alongside O’Shea, had done well to shackle Ibrahimovic, but at this level it is the fine details which matter and this one went against him.
It also left Ireland cursing two points dropped and, with Belgium and Italy still to play, the one they earned in Paris may ultimately be all they get.
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