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New look Ireland draw with Ecuador

Thursday 24th May 2007, 3:18 am

Kevin Doyle, Ireland.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Steve Staunton handed out eleven debuts as Ireland drew 1-1 with Ecuador in New York's Giants Stadium. A high tempo game saw Ireland improve as the game progressed.

Ireland started brightly and forced some early pressure in the less than half full New York venue. Stephen Hunt had a second minute free kick deflected just over the Ecuadorian bar after Kevin Doyle's presence had won the set-piece.

Andy Keogh had the Ecuador defence worried as he harried in the box in the fifth minute before an important clearance. Cristian Benitez almost got in at the other end as he chased a low cross into the box as the early portion ebbed and flowed.

Ireland's good start to the game almost produced an opening goal in the ninth minute when a marvellous through ball from Stephen O'Halloran set up Kevin Doyle and the Reading striker slipped the ball through the legs of Elizaga in the Ecuador goal only to see the ball clip the upright and rebound wide.

Ecuador broke down Ireland's right side to open the scoring on 13 minutes as a disorganised Irish defence got their offside trap all wrong. Benitez tore into the Irish box unchallenged before slotting home under the dive of Colin Doyle.

Daryl Murphy headed over from a Kevin Doyle cross just a couple of minutes later as Steve Staunton's side began looking for an equaliser. Murphy was one of the seven new faces in the starting eleven and the former Waterford United man performed well.

An offside flag on the half hour saved any questions of a potential penalty as Kaviedes and Alex Bruce collided in the Irish box. Keogh was forced to clear as Ecuador again applied pressure a couple of minutes later.

A Darren Potter free kick caused some concern for the Ecuador keeper although he did manage to get a strong hand to punch away. Benitez could have made it 2-0 on 39 minutes as he broke through the offside trap before dragging the ball past the post.

An Irish leveller arrived in the last minute before half-time as Kevin Doyle dived in to head home superbly from Murphy's inch perfect curling cross into the box. Doyle's three international goals to date have now all come from headers.

It might have been even better for Ireland before the break with Keogh having a chance cleared off the line by Montano.

Murphy continued his good work after the break and almost forced something as he broke in from the left wing in the first minute. At the other end Kaviedes almost caught the Irish defence out but his attempted lob was easily grabbed by Doyle.

The second half was controlled much more by Ireland although Ecuador did look dangerous when they were allowed to push forward. Darren Potter attempted a cheeky chip back across goal only to narrowly miss the top of the target. Kevin Doyle was withdrawn after collecting plenty of punishment during his hour of play. His replacement Shane Long just overhit a cross for Keogh shortly after following more good work from Murphy.

Just prior to that Alex Bruce had acrobatically taken the ball away from Benitez in a dangerous position in the box and later O'Halloran got back brilliantly to hook the ball away from the same player as he tore into the Irish box.

Alan Bennett came close to marking his senior debut with a goal but saw his header from Hunt's corner saved just in front of the line. Joe Gamble got in on the action with just over twenty minutes remaining and knocks for Kilbane and O'Halloran handed Joe O'Cearuill and Stephen Gleeson their first caps too. Following Kilbane's departure, Potter took over the captaincy, capping a magnificent debut. US college player Joe Lapira stepped out of relative obscurity to become an Irish international in the closing five minutes.

Salas flicked the ball just off target with an ambitious effort with just over ten minutes left on the clock. An Anthony Stokes through ball sent Long on his way in the closing ten minutes only to see Ecuador keeper Elizaga come racing off his line to intercept.

A foul by Carlos Castro on Gamble in stoppage time saw the Ecuadorian pick up his second booking and a red card.

All in all, Irish manager Steve Staunton will be more than satisfied with the result. His makeshift team not only achieved a very respectable result - but performances will have given him great hope for the future.

Ireland : C Doyle, Kelly, Bennett, Bruce, O'Halloran (O'Cearuill 73), Potter, Kilbane (Gleeson 79), Hunt (Gamble 69), Keogh (Stokes 69), D Murphy (Lapira 85), K Doyle (Long 60).