Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst successfully ended the Republic of Eire’s Euro 2024 qualification hopes because the Netherlands got here from behind to win in Dublin.
On an evening when Eire merely needed to win, they flew on the Dutch and took an early lead when Adam Idah nervelessly transformed a fourth-minute penalty awarded for handball in opposition to Virgil van Dijk.
Nevertheless, Gakpo levelled from the spot after 19 minutes and after an sad Ronald Koeman had made a double half-time change, substitute Weghorst fired the guests to a 2-1 victory as they recovered from a lower than spectacular opening 45 minutes to carry sway.
For Republic supervisor Stephen Kenny, a fourth defeat in 5 Group B video games and only a single win means a visit to Germany subsequent summer season is barely a mathematical chance, with France having collected a most 15 factors and the Dutch and Greece each sitting on 9.
Appointed in April 2020, Kenny, who acquired a blended response from a crowd of 49,807 when his named was introduced forward of kick-off on the Aviva Stadium, set his sights on constructing a new-look aspect for this marketing campaign however to be to date off the tempo with three video games left to play represents failure in that mission and his future seems to be bleak.
His crew performed with actual endeavour, Idah giving Van Dijk a torrid examination in maybe his greatest senior worldwide show, however they have been painfully uncovered defensively by real high quality for each targets and finally couldn’t discover the innovative to repeat their well-known victory over the Dutch in 2001.
The Netherlands have been lucky to flee a second-minute mix-up on the again when Alan Browne compelled an error and Idah, who had solely the keeper to beat had he turned swiftly, as a substitute fed Chiedozie Ogbene whose shot was blocked.
Nevertheless, from the ensuing nook, Van Dijk mistimed his soar and noticed James McClean’s cross hit his arm, prompting referee Irfan Peljto to level to the spot, and Idah duly obliged by confidently sending keeper Mark Flekken the mistaken approach to get Eire off to a dream begin.
The house aspect maintained their high-octane begin and Browne noticed a Thirteenth-minute header from Ogbene’s inviting cross blocked at supply, however the guests compelled their manner again into the sport with their first transfer of any actual high quality.
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Gakpo’s expertly-threaded go break up the Irish defence and allowed Denzel Dumfries to spherical uncovered keeper Gavin Bazunu, who introduced him down in his efforts to rescue the scenario.
Peljto as soon as once more had little choice to award a penalty and Bazunu was unable maintain out Gakpo’s skidding try regardless of accurately diving to his left.
Van Dijk was lucky to be awarded a free-kick after being dispossessed by Idah on the sting of his personal penalty space, however Nathan Ake was penalised for hauling down the Norwich striker to permit Browne, who together with Jason Knight was making an actual influence, to whip a Thirty third-minute free-kick simply broad.
Ake redeemed himself inside seconds by throwing his physique into the trail of one other Ogbene strike after Josh Cullen had mugged Frenkie de Jong on the sting of the field and fed Idah because the Netherlands performed with fireplace as soon as once more.
Such was Ronald Koeman’s displeasure with what he had seen that he changed Daley Blind and Mats Wieffer with Weghorst and Tijjani Reijnders earlier than the restart, and the modifications gave his aspect a greater form.
It took a fantastic sliding problem by Browne to disclaim Xavi Simons a 52nd-minute strike at aim and an keep away from an extension of Eire’s current file of conceding shortly after the break, however the more and more influential De Jong original the breakthrough 11 minutes into the second half.
The Barcelona midfielder’s lofted ball excessive was completely weighted for Dumfries to show it throughout aim and permit Weghorst to stab previous Bazunu.
Eire’s sense of deflation was palpable and though they battled manfully to the whistle, they have been unable to bother Flekken unduly because the guests eased their manner throughout the end line.