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Ireland slip to first half penalty

Wednesday 16th May 2007, 11:05 pm

Anis Ben-Hatira (10) slots home the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Ireland's under 19 side missed out on their chance to clinch qualification for the finals of the under-19 Championship after losing to Germany at Dalymount Park in Dublin tonight. An early penalty from Anis Ben-Hatira settled a match that finished in chaos.

After the day's earlier game ended in a draw, a victory for Sean McCaffrey's side would win the group even ahead of Saturday's final group games.

In the early going Keith Treacy saw his free kick into the box cleared behind before his long shot was saved by German keeper Martin Maennel.

Cillian Sheridan is brought down by German captain Alexander Eberlein - the German was sent off.

Photo by Tom Carey.

At the other end Jerome Boateng brought a good save out of Stephen Henderson with a rising drive at goal.

Simon Madden brought down Sebastian Tyrala in the box after 17 minutes to gift the Germans a penalty. Ben-Hatira stepped up and put the kick beyond Henderson's dive.

Ireland took control after the goal as they upped their performance and Germany sat deep. Anthony Stokes drilled a low shot just wide while Shane Lowry clipped the woodwork after Treacy's corner kick found its way to him.

Both sides made a change apiece at the break while the conditions didn't improve with the North Dublin venue drenched by a constant downpour throughout.

German goalkeeper Martin Maennel.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Germany were reduced to ten men when their skipper Alexander Eberlein - excellent to that point - was sent off after hauling down Cillian Sheridan on his way to goal.

Sheridan was continuing to cause problems and forced a save down low with a free kick before the hour.

Ireland's pressure was almost as constant as the rain and Alan Power, up from the back, saw his shot just deflected past the post.

The German keeper Maennel would eventually claim a deserved man of the match award and never really looked in trouble at any point. He dived out bravely at the feet of Stokes with 15 minutes remaining to thwart another Irish attack.

Ireland were becoming increasingly frustrated and at times it looked as though the visitors might grab a second on the break.

Anthony Stokes gets away from Jerome Boateng to fire a shot at goal.

Photo by Tom Carey.

There were a few scrambles in front of the German goal but it became more and more likely that Maennel would keep a match winning clean sheet. He was again brave at Stokes' feet before the end.

Germany lost their second skipper of the night when Ben-Hatira picked up his second booking of the night in stoppage time. The final whistle eventually blew with play in front of the German bench and after the officials had lost control of the game in the dying moments, it got ridiculous and unsavoury after the final whistle.

The majority of players appeared to get involved in a mass altercation that took several minutes to calm and flared up again as both teams took their time to clear the pitch. On the other hand it was good to see Henderson ignore the scenes around him, walk the entire pitch and congratulate his opposite number Maennel.

Ireland face Hungary on Saturday evening at United Park, Drogheda knowing now that qualification depends as much on the day's other game at Belfield Park between Germany and Bulgaria as their own match in Louth.

Keith Treacy is hacked down by Germany's Sidney Sam.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Speaking after the game Irish boss McCaffrey said, "We had 70% of the possession and deserved to win the game. It was never a penalty but we can still qualify. I'd be confident that we can beat Hungary at United Park on Saturday. However, the control of the group is now with Germany and we need Bulgaria to give them a decent test on Saturday."


Ireland : Henderson, Madden, Nolan, Power, Lowry, Spillane, Judge, Ryan (Cassidy 75), Treacy (Sheridan 46), Stokes, Rooney (Downes 81).
Germany : Maennel, Boateng, Feick, Howedes, Eberlein, Brosinski (Schmiedebach 57), Sam (Kruse 46), Ben-Hatira, Konrad, Tyrala (Falkenberg 71), Sauter.
Referee : P Tagliavento (Italy).