February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Sans Roy Keane who made his return to the squad in the 1-0 win over Romania at Lansdowne Road two days earlier, Ireland succumbed 3-0 in London last Saturday to a Nigerian team also missing most of its better known players.
Bereft a clutch of other regulars, Kerr was handed his first defeat in a friendly by Bartholomew Ogbeche’s brace (36th, 69th) and another goal by Obafemi Martins (49th), the highly rated 19 year-old Inter Milan striker who was making his Nigerian debut.
The Super Eagles later assured themselves of lifting the inaugural Unity Cup by knocking off Jamaica 2-0 on Monday, courtesy of John Utaka (17th) and Ogbeche again (55th).
Even though his men were brought crashing down to earth after Matt Holland’s late strike (85th) against Romania in Dublin had etched another giddy result against respected European opposition, Kerr had no regrets for playing in the mini tournament with the World Cup qualifiers beckoning.
“It gives players the chance to play and the chance to impress, and it might be in a year’s time, or even two or three years, before we get the benefit of it,” he told reporters in London. “We have to find out if they are going to be good enough down the road when the big stuff starts.”
HOT FRANCE
France, one of Ireland’s two main foes in World Cup qualifying Group 4, blanked Andorra 4-0 in Montpellier last Friday, with forward Sylvain Wiltord netting twice.
Louis Saha and Steve Marlet were the other marksmen for Les Bleus, who expect to get more intense pre-qualifying practice in the European Championship. The French begin their defense of the title with a potential cracker against England on June 13.
Israel, another Irish World Cup qualifying rival, fired warning shots to the group’s favorites by beating Georgia 1-0 on the road. Walid Badir (33rd) bagged the winner in Tbilisi.
NORTH DRAWS
Northern Ireland opened their West Indian tour with a 1-1 draw against Barbados in Bridgetown last Sunday.
The North, reduced to 10-men after the ejection of defender Mark Williams in the 30th minute, were saved blushes by David Healy’s timely equalizer (71st) after Kenroy Skinner had put the home side ahead in the 40th minute. Healy had missed a penalty four minutes earlier.
Lawrie Sanchez’s men dominated proceedings in the second half despite playing a man down.
Sanchez was not a happy camper at the end of the game and lashed out at the quality of the turf and the officiating by Trinidadian referee Neil Brizan.
“The surface was not what we expected, to be honest to you,” he said. “It really affected how we played. The referee also made some interesting decisions and that affected how the team related to him.”
The North meet St. Kitts and Nevis in Basseterre today, on the second leg of their three-match tour, before tackling Trinidad and Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, on Sunday.
Northern Ireland’s Group 6 opponents are not standing pat, either. Azerbaijan had goals from Gurban Gurbanov (31st), Ilgar Gurbanov (64th) and Emin Guliyev (75th) in a 3-1 result over Uzbekistan, whose Zeinaddin Tadjiyev (45th) scored, in Baku.
Poland, meanwhile, topped Greece 1-0 in Szczecin, on Jackek Krzynowek’s 16th minute free kick.
SCOTTISH DOUBLE
In other friendlies, Scotland won twice in three days, edging Estonia 1-0 in Tallinn last Thursday on James McFadden’s effort (76th), and drubbing Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 in Edinburgh on Sunday, thanks to Darren Fletcher (6th), Gary Holt (14th), Gary Caldwell (23rd) and Nigel Quashie (34th).
Stern John (55th) had T&T’s lone response.
Wales also came away from Oslo with a goalless draw against Norway last Thursday to edge Canada 1-0 at Wrexham. Paul Parry scored in the 21st minute.