Match Report - Wales 2 - 2 Republic of Ireland
17 Nov 2007
Players
| Wales |
|---|
| 1 |
Wayne Hennesey (GK)
|
| 2 |
Neal Eardley
|
| 3 |
Joe Ledley
|
| 4 |
Danny Gabbidon
|
| 5 |
James Collins
|
| 6 |
Chris Gunter
|
| 7 |
Carl Fletcher
|
| 8 |
Jason Koumas
|
| 9 |
Freddy Eastwood
|
| 10 |
Simon Davies
(c)
|
| 11 |
Carl Robinson
|
| 12 |
Andrew Crofts
|
| 14 |
David Cotterill
|
| 15 |
Jermaine Easter
|
| 16 |
Craig Morgan
|
| 17 |
David Edwards
|
| 18 |
Steve Evans
|
| 21 |
Lewis Price (GK)
|
| Republic of Ireland |
|---|
| 1 |
Shay Given (GK)
|
| 2 |
Steve Finnan
|
| 3 |
Kevin Kilbane
|
| 4 |
Paul McShane
|
| 5 |
John O'Shea
|
| 6 |
Lee Carsley
|
| 7 |
Andy Reid
|
| 8 |
Liam Miller
|
| 9 |
Kevin Doyle
|
| 10 |
Robbie Keane
(c)
|
| 11 |
Aiden McGeady
|
| 12 |
Stephen Hunt
|
| 14 |
Anthony Stokes
|
| 15 |
Daryl Murphy
|
| 16 |
Joe Murphy (GK)
|
| 17 |
Darren Potter
|
| 18 |
Alex Bruce
|
| 19 |
Darren O'Dae
|
Substitutions
| On | Off | Minute |
|---|
| David Edwards |
Carl Robinson |
37 |
| Jermaine Easter |
Freddy Eastwood |
59 |
| David Cotterill |
Neal Eardley |
81 |
| On | Off | Minute |
|---|
| Stephen Hunt |
Liam Miller |
59 |
| Aiden McGeady |
Andy Reid |
87 |
Goals
| Wales | Minute |
|---|
| Jason Koumas
|
23 |
| Jason Koumas
(PEN)
|
89 |
| Republic of Ireland | Minute |
|---|
| Robbie Keane
|
31 |
| Kevin Doyle
|
60 |
Cards
| Wales | Minute |
|---|
 |
Jason Koumas |
57 |
| Republic of Ireland | Minute |
|---|
|
John O'Shea |
34 |
Officials
Referee: Oleh ORIEKHOV (Ukraine)
Assistant referee 1: Oleg PLUZHNYK (Ukraine)
Assistant referee 2: Olezsandr VOYTYUK (Ukraine)
4th official: Igorj ISCHENKO (Ukraine)
Other information
Attendance: 24,619
Report: Jason Koumas secured a draw for Wales with a late penalty against the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff.
The Irish, needing a victory in their attempt to come third in the group, had fought back to lead after Koumas had headed Wales in front on 23 minutes.
Robbie Keane quickly got the Irish level and Kevin Doyle netted on the hour to put them 2-1 up.
But when Paul McShane was ruled to have tugged down Welsh sub David Cotterill it gave Koumas the chance to level.
It means the Republic finish their campaign with 17 points from 12 matches and they will have to wait and see if they remain third in the group.
They will be disappointed not to have closed out the victory in front of a third-full Millennium Stadium.
After a low-key opening Wales took the lead in the 23rd minute, with Koumas sending a well-directed header beyond Irish keeper Shay Given after Joe Ledley had beaten Steve Finnan to deliver an inviting cross from the left flank.
It was a sixth goal in 25 international appearances for Koumas who had been left free by a slack Irish defence.
The Republic, though, were behind for just eight minutes as skipper and record goalscorer Keane struck the equaliser.
Doyle set it up with a superbly-weighted through pass and Keane, displaying typical coolness, outpaced James Collins before chipping the ball over the advancing keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Republic caretaker boss Don Givens sent on replacement Hunt for the poor Liam Miller and the move paid instant dividends.
Within seconds Hunt sent in a low ball from the left and Doyle nipped in front of keeper Hennessey to flick home the fifth goal of his Ireland career.
Koumas scored his second from the penalty spot in the 89th minute after McShane's clumsy challenge on Cotterill to give Wales some slight comfort from a disappointing campaign.
UEFA Delegate: Michael Van Praag (Netherlands)
UEFA Referees Observer: John Martin (England)
