Ireland sunk by Robinho strike
Wednesday 6 February 2008
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Robinho celebrates after scoring the only goal in Dublin (©Getty Images)
A fine goal from Real Madrid CF forward Robinho gave Brazil a narrow friendly victory against the Republic of Ireland in on a night when Denmark and Bulgaria also recorded solid away wins and Cyprus earned a creditable draw against Ukraine.
Visitors on top
At Croke Park in Dublin the home side enjoyed much of the early possession against a Brazil side deprived of Ronaldinho and AC Milan pair Kaká and Pato by injury, although it was the visitors who carved out the better openings throughout. Home goalkeeper Shay Given had to be alert to keep out an effort from VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Josué shortly before half-time, and then produced a fine save to deny Luis Fabiano, but he was powerless to prevent Robinho scoring what proved to be the only goal of the game in the 67th minute. The 24-year-old showed composure and skill to curl a low finish through Lee Carsley's legs and into the corner of the net to give the visitors victory.
Away wins
Across the border in Belfast the game between Northern Ireland and Bulgaria also ended 1-0 to the away side, midfielder Martin Petrov providing the cross which defender Jonny Evans turned into his own net seven minutes before half-time as Nigel Worthington, who was confirmed as the permanent Northern Ireland manager last month, made a losing start to his full-time reign. Denmark were 2-1 winners away to Slovenia in Nova Gorica, Jon Dahl Tomasson opening the scoring from the penalty spot just past the half-hour. Although Milivoje Novakovič quickly levelled, Nicklas Bendtner restored the Danes' advantage early in the second half.
Djukić denied
Elsewhere, new Serbia coach Miroslav Djukić was denied victory in his first game in charge when Nikolce Noveski's 58th-minute equaliser earned F.Y.R. Macedonia a draw in Skopje. Danko Lazović had volleyed the visitors into a 43rd-minute lead. Ukraine were also forced to come from behind as Artem Milevskiy's second-half strike salvaged a draw in Cyprus after Efstathios Aloneftis had opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first period following a foul on Konstantinos Makridis.
Impressive successes
Also in Cyprus, Slovakia and Hungary shared a 1-1 draw in Limassol with Stanislav Šesták providing a cool 64th-minute finish to cancel out Zoltán Gera's header ten minutes earlier. Elsewhere, there were impressive wins for Wales and Latvia, Carl Fletcher and two Jason Koumas strikes giving John Toshack's side a 3-0 victory against Norway in Cardiff while first-half goals from Girts Karlsons, Igors Stepanovs and captain Vitalis Astafjevs secured a 3-1 success for Latvia in Georgia. Finally, Igor Bugaev's early strike proved enough for Moldova to defeat ten-man Kazakhstan in Antalya.
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