- 7 months ago
The opening game of Group E played at the Giants Stadium.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Yesterday, Ray Houghton restored to the right of midfield, five in that midfield with Tommy Coyne alone up front, looking no doubt for the likes of Roy Keane and Andy Townsend to make those runs from midfield, but of course how often they will be able to do that in this heat is quite another matter. Young Phil Bab at centre-back alongside Paul McGrath.
00:18Italy, meanwhile, sprang one surprise, Evani gets a place on the left of midfield with Donadoni moving to the right, Roberto Baggio and Signore are their men in attack, Franco Beresi looking after things in defence, as I said, six of that incredible Milan side are in the starting eleven today, and that really is a measure of the task that faced Ireland.
00:48Oh, there's the Irish team, and away we go, Ireland in green, attacking the goal to our left, Owen hitting it long, Houghton already making a break, and Beresi getting back very quickly, Staunton with the shots, oh, the fights, aggressive start there from Ireland.
01:11Well worth an attempt, wasn't it there, very, very unlucky from Steve Staunton there.
01:15Terrific run by Ray Houghton, too.
01:17Yeah, but you see Beresi there, Beresi's trying that Milan tactic of pushing up, trying to play offside, now that's a weak run nicely, I mean, on another occasion that could have spelled a little danger for the Irish.
01:29I mean, we're critical of Beresi, you know, people are critical of Beresi now, defensively, but he's still a great user to do.
01:35Went up towards Coyne, Townsend right in there, Houghton also making his presence felt, there's his shot, it's a goal for Ireland!
01:45The goalkeeper caught badly out of position, and Ray Houghton has made it 1-0!
01:58Well, there's no doubt it's all about the little man there, he's intercepted the defensive header, kicked his spot brilliantly.
02:10Obviously, Pagliuca wasn't expecting that one, and he's a good vision here, three defenders tracking around him, but he's timed up beautifully, that's a great goal.
02:18And the Giants stadium erupted here, in a massive green now.
02:28Well, a fella who started this World Cup campaign when they left Dublin, thinking, I wonder what my future is, Coyne's onside!
02:36Staunton's coming up quickly, but not quickly enough.
02:39Erwin, crossing it in, Staunton caught offside.
02:54You're not, Brian, looking at it, Ireland and Italy, considering that they're all members of the Milan back for.
02:59That VIP trip to the World Cup final, as I say, that's in Pasadena on July the 17th, so stand-by for that, it comes up at half-time.
03:07Coming up now, three-kick for Ireland, Dennis Irwin with it.
03:11Swept across the field here to Steve Staunton.
03:14Knocked back in again there towards Townsend, the flag stayed down!
03:17Townsend on the turn, Pagliuca this time!
03:19That's the problem they've got with the offside.
03:22I actually think Andy Townsend was offside in that situation.
03:24Great curling ball in from Steve Staunton.
03:27Andy Townsend couldn't quite gather it.
03:29But I think he was offside, and so does Beresi there.
03:32But, I mean, that's the problem they're having, Brian.
03:34They're mixed up with it, they're not playing it well.
03:37You know, and you never know, you're running the risk of a linesman,
03:39particularly when linesmen in this competition have been told they've got to favour the attacking player.
03:49Oh, McGrath missed that one.
03:51Baggio getting Signori away.
03:53This could be a problem.
03:54There's his shots.
03:59Goal-kick.
04:05That was a bad error, bad misjudgment by Big Paul.
04:10So passive, pop it about, move it about, try and get Ireland to lose concentration at the back
04:15and play a little through ball.
04:16What I wouldn't be totally happy about if I was Saki, as I say,
04:19would be his defence gives me these shakes, which he never, ever thought he'd seen.
04:24Roberto Baggio.
04:25Okay.
04:26You never, ever thought he'd be saying that again about an Italian side.
04:28He'd be defensively, they don't look good.
04:31But it's that combination that's the threat at the moment.
04:33Baggio and Signori.
04:35Nice little build-up play.
04:37Joins his own pass-up.
04:39And on another day, that goes closer.
04:41What they haven't been able to do at the moment, Italy,
04:44they haven't been able to get anyone else into a tacky position.
04:47Same time added on.
04:49Can't recall a trainer being on, can you?
04:51Only just throw the bottles on.
04:52Only just throw the bottles on.
04:59McGrath with a header.
05:01Coin caught offside.
05:02Half-time whistle as well.
05:09The job is half done for Ireland.
05:12With an excellent team performance in that first 45 minutes.
05:16Capped off by that terrific goal from Ray Houghton.
05:19Half-time then here in the Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
05:23It's Italy 0, Ireland 1.
05:25Thanks a lot, Matthew.
05:33You're making a point, Ron.
05:35Yeah, it looks very much as if Daniel Massara's come on.
05:37Massara is on.
05:41And quickly tangling there with Paul McGrath.
05:44Just have a quick look around and see who they've taken off.
05:47There goes Erwin winning that one in the air.
05:50Albertini.
05:50And now Costa-Curta.
05:54Calsotti on the far side.
05:57In fact, it's on Adoni.
05:59It's Irvani who's gone off.
06:04Baggio.
06:06Albertini has got a great strike from that distance,
06:08but this time plays it to Dino Baggio.
06:10Good challenge there by Dennis Erwin.
06:13Parisi.
06:15Now stomping with the touch.
06:17Poor old Tommy Coyne laboring after that one.
06:21Always outnumbered.
06:23Cutting the whole of that half to cover on his own.
06:27But as I was saying just before half-time,
06:29doing it absolutely superbly.
06:32Here's Albertini.
06:32I think that makes them a lot more potent now.
06:34What they've done,
06:35they're going to switch Signori out to this left-hand side.
06:40That's Maldini, the full-back.
06:42Ported in his tracks by Rahal from the goal scorer.
06:44After 11 minutes.
06:46Italian side.
06:48There he is again.
06:48Donadoni, number 16.
06:56Tries to get Dino Baggio in there.
06:59And a good challenge there by Phil Babb.
07:02I think Irishmen everywhere held their breath for a moment.
07:07One, wondering about the penalty.
07:10Two, wondering whether it was a tackle from behind.
07:12The referee had a good look at it
07:13and decided a corner is enough.
07:16The only place you've got a penalty there, Brian,
07:17is in the San Siro.
07:19Good time tackle there.
07:21But once again, Dino Baggio running on.
07:23Here comes the corner.
07:26Floated in again.
07:28Roberto Baggio with a shot.
07:30Charged away that time by Paul McGrath.
07:32Dennis Irwin.
07:33And they've conceded another free kick
07:35right on the edge of that Irish penalty area.
07:37Are there problems here?
07:47Dino Baggio is behind it.
07:49Massaro is in the box.
07:50Now the kick's going to be taken.
07:56It's Signori and Roberto Baggio
07:59who look to be favours.
08:00I think it'll be Roberto Baggio.
08:02Maybe trying a little curler.
08:03Staunton's on the near post.
08:05Haki Bonner, I hope, has got it covered on the far post
08:07that these could be troublesome moments.
08:12And watch Dino Baggio as well.
08:14Yes, indeed.
08:14Here's Dino Baggio.
08:16He's got an easy pass, an easy shot there
08:19for Bonner.
08:25It's a good set-up for them.
08:27There's plenty of space.
08:28He's got plenty of time.
08:29It's a good press there from the Irishman.
08:30But it's a very weak shot.
08:35McGrath versus Massaro.
08:37Massaro.
08:39Oh, into the path of Dino Baggio.
08:42And out on the journey.
08:44Over the top.
08:45It's not been his day.
08:52No, it would have to have been a miracle
08:53for him to score from that angle
08:54but a lightning break
08:56and all made by the fact
08:58that he's thrust from midfield, Dino Baggio.
09:00There he is.
09:00Teases Terry Phelan in.
09:02Terry Phelan's done well here
09:03to sort of hold two players up
09:05and you wouldn't expect him
09:06to score from that angle.
09:08They have looked a different proposition
09:09in this second half, the Italians.
09:11Long half an hour this is going to be.
09:13There's actually about 26 minutes of it left now.
09:17The only thing psychologically.
09:21Here's Paul McGrath.
09:23Oh, his head will go straight to Signori.
09:25Will he try something extravagant here?
09:27Signori's shot pushed away well
09:29by Paki Bonner.
09:30Very important save that one.
09:32In comes Kane.
09:33The feet were flying here.
09:35They're high there by Signori.
09:38It'll be a free kick.
09:40Well, that's certainly the nearest
09:41they've come to scoring, isn't it?
09:42I mean, Signori.
09:43Ray Houghton was a little bit
09:44frightened to challenge him.
09:45You see Ray Houghton here.
09:46He's afraid of giving the penalty away
09:47so he's got to more or less say,
09:48go on, take your chance from there.
09:50Fortunately, the rebound came back
09:53to an Irish player
09:54but that all started, you know,
09:55going back from the other Baggio,
09:58Dino Baggio.
10:00Well, I think Jack certainly wants
10:01to make the substitution
10:02and he's waving his arms about there
10:04but there seems to be
10:05a lack of communication somewhere.
10:06Up goes Tommy Coyne again.
10:08I'd like to have a pound
10:08for every time Tommy Coyne
10:10has gone up for a ball in the air
10:12and actually has been beaten
10:14most times by Beresi
10:15but it hasn't stopped him trying again.
10:17Here's Coyne chasing this one now.
10:19Will he just hold up?
10:21Houghton again!
10:22Saved that time by Paluca.
10:23He's not quite getting that header
10:31but nicely filled in behind him
10:33by young Phil Babb.
10:35Here's Irwin again.
10:36And a free kick to Italy
10:42as the substitution
10:44is now to be made.
10:47That would have been some send-off,
10:48wouldn't it,
10:49if Ray Houghton had come up there
10:50with another goal under his belt.
10:52Just following the game round.
10:54Well, there's Coyne
10:55taking the ball now from Staunton.
10:59Coyne still waiting in the middle.
11:01Jason McAteers into the box as well.
11:03Here's Andy Townsend.
11:06Just imagine if the Irish
11:07could get another goal.
11:08Oh, this is a good break.
11:09Roy Keane plays it back.
11:12Oh, it's a crossbar
11:13from John Sheridan.
11:18McGrath with the header.
11:20Beresi gets it clear.
11:23Could that be a cruel turning point?
11:252-0 and you really would fancy the Irish.
11:271-0, you've got to have high hopes for them
11:29but the Italians are looking
11:30more and more dangerous.
11:33Aldini wanting his goalkeeper
11:34to come out.
11:35The goalkeeper didn't move
11:36and Ireland get possession again.
11:37Good play there by McAteer.
11:39Knocked in that time by Sheridan
11:40but not firmly enough
11:41to give Tommy Coyne a chance.
11:44Staunton getting there.
11:46But it just shows how poor
11:47they are at the back
11:48in Italy.
11:49They're nothing like the
11:50Italian teams of old defensively.
11:52I mean, superb movements
11:54for them Ireland.
11:54Four or five passes.
11:56Good combination play.
11:57When he got cut back to Shez,
11:58John Sheridan when he cuts
11:59the ball back here.
12:01Great layback.
12:02Little dummy.
12:02Leaves it.
12:03And I'd have put my mortgage
12:04on John Sheridan there.
12:07Keep the defender ready
12:08to bring on.
12:09Yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:11A corner then
12:12for Ireland.
12:18Curled in long
12:19towards Townsend
12:20on the far side.
12:21It caught for a good save.
12:22It got it from Pagliuca.
12:23Babb will cross it in again.
12:28Not very effectively
12:29and it would be nicer
12:30to see Phil Babb
12:30at the other end of the field
12:31defending now.
12:32McGrath's there
12:33but here come Italy in strength.
12:34Mazzara making a great run
12:36on the right-hand side.
12:38Barresi,
12:39they took a little of the steam
12:40out of that movement
12:41but Barresi's got it going again
12:42with Signori.
12:43The challenge by Irwin.
12:45Irwin claiming it was a dive.
12:47The referee from Holland
12:48said no it wasn't.
12:48It's a free kick
12:49and again
12:51just a little bit
12:53of a crisis looming
12:54here for the Irish.
12:58About 13 and a half minutes left.
13:00They still hold
13:02with great determination
13:03to this one goal lead
13:05given them after 11 minutes
13:06of this game
13:06by Ray Houghton.
13:08Dino Baggio
13:09with a free kick.
13:11Curled in
13:11and it was Paul McGrath
13:13so dependable there.
13:14That was a difficult header
13:15but he got in well.
13:17McAteer
13:18called from behind
13:19and a free kick
13:20for the Irish.
13:28On come the water bottles
13:29both for Italy
13:31and for Ireland.
13:43Bearty,
13:45Tassotti
13:45Roberto Baggio
13:49Bearty again.
13:51A lot of possession here.
13:52They can't find
13:52at the moment
13:53the pass
13:53that really might
13:54kill off
13:54Ireland's night
13:57or afternoon
13:58of glory here.
14:00Roberto Baggio
14:01just too hard.
14:04Just coming up
14:05to ten minutes
14:05to six here
14:06in
14:06just outside
14:07New York
14:08and on the four minutes
14:13of this game
14:14left now.
14:16It's the first real
14:16clear sight of the goal
14:18he's had
14:18hasn't it Baggio?
14:20Taking it as quickly
14:21as he can.
14:25No, he still won't blow
14:26that final whistle.
14:27Cagliuca way out
14:30of his goal
14:31a header there
14:32to Tassotti
14:33but I don't begin
14:34to understand this
14:35it's
14:36four minutes
14:38and more
14:38of injury time
14:39now being played
14:40and Andy Townsend
14:43has got the message
14:44from the bench
14:44he's just said
14:45to the referee
14:45hey, when are you
14:46going to blow
14:46that whistle?
14:47He's blown it!
14:50Ireland have won it!
14:51Another great day
14:53of glory
14:53for Jack Charlton.
14:56Commiserations there
14:57for the Italian
14:58manager Saki
14:58but joy all around
15:01for the men in green
15:02and their supporters.
15:04A fabulous result
15:05make no mistake
15:06about that
15:06following a fabulous
15:08team performance
15:09and Ray Houghton's goal
15:10after 11 minutes
15:11gives Ireland lift off
15:13in the 1994
15:14World Cup finals.
15:15Thanks.
Be the first to comment