BBC Sport - Football - Rep of Ireland 3-0 Algeria (original) (raw)

Karim Ziani of Algeria competes against Republic skipper Robbie Keane

An opening goal by debutant Paul Green and two from record scorer Robbie Keane gave the Republic of Ireland an easy win over World Cup-bound Algeria.

Derby midfielder Green headed home Liam Lawrence's 32nd-minute free-kick while Keane looped in a second on 52 minutes.

Keane pounced after keeper Faouzi Chaouchi made a mess of attempting to clear Damien Duff's left-wing cross.

Skipper Keane made it 3-0 to the Irish with an 85th-minute penalty after a challenge by Djamel Mesbah.

It is the first time the Republic have scored three under manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

Just before that Wolves player Adlane Guedioura hit the bar with a header for Algeria.

Having beaten Paraguay, it was the second time in four days Ireland had got the better of a team going to the World Cup finals.

The Irish threatened to make the breakthrough at the RDS in the third minute when Kevin Doyle got on the end of Duff's free-kick but volleyed into the arms of Caouchi.

The opening goal came when Green bravely dived in to meet Liam Lawrence's 32nd-minute free-kick, receiving a boot in the head from the goalkeeper in the process.

It was 2-0 not long after the restart as Duff whipped in a cross and Caouchi punched the ball ineffectually towards Keane, who hooked it back over him and into the net.

Ireland continued to dominate and Keane had three chances to add to his tally, first forcing a good diving save from Caouchi before being denied by the post after running onto Kevin Doyle's flick.

He then only just failed to beat substitute goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi with a cheeky 70th-minute lob.

Guedioura came close to pulling one back for the visitors when he rattled the crossbar with a late header.

Then Mesbah was adjudged to have tripped Keane when he played the ball first and the Tottenham striker stroked home the 43rd goal of his international career from the spot.

Republic of Ireland: Westwood (Joe Murphy 86), Kelly, St Ledger, O'Shea (O'Dea 36), Cunningham, Lawrence (Long 87), Whelan (Andrews 75), Green, Duff (Fahey 65), Doyle (Sheridan 72), Keane.
Subs not used: B Murphy, Foley, Stokes.

Algeria: Chaouchi (M'Bohli 67), Bellaid, Mesbah, Halliche, Belhadj (Boudebouz 67), Mansouri (Kadir 67), Lacen, Guedioura, Ziani, Ghezzal (Abdoun 77), Djebbour (Saifi 58).
Sub not used: Laifaoui.

Referee: Eric Braamhar (Netherlands)

Att: 16,800