Murphy’s double strike sets up decider for the Republic
Beating Moldova at home was the easy part, now comes the real test in Cardiff as the Republic of Ireland head to Wales for a game they know they must win to snatch second place in Group D.
It has come as no surprise to Martin O’neill. The Ireland manager always said in private – even when his team were top of the group – that they would need to go to Wales in their final game needing something. It probably should not have needed to be a win.
Ireland were in such a strong position at the end of last year that they were thinking about automatic qualification and although Serbia’s shock defeat in Austria leaves that door slightly ajar, all that matters is beating Wales.
Ireland have stumbled and tripped their way to this point. This was their first win of 2017, but they are still standing, still fighting and it sets up a thrilling battle with Chris Coleman’s Welshmen.
“The most important thing is we go to Monday night with everything to play for,” said O’neill. “We know what we have to do, we have to win and the chance is there. I just feel, when we have to win a game, like we did in Lille when we beat Italy to get into the last 16 of the Euros, we will just go for it.
“I always said this group oup would be very tight, we have a fighting chance. I’ve always suspectedpected it would come down to thiss final game. We will apply ourselves and play really eally strongly. I think we can win.”
Moldova have not won on a competitive fixture for four our years, but they can be a tough nut to crack. Iree land, though, prised them m open within two minutes nutes when Stephen Ward’s long throw was hooked homeme by Daryl Murphy. Murphyurphy scored his second minutes nutes later, heading in Ward’s cross.
The 34-year-old has been een in superb form for Nottingham gham Forest, but these were only his second and third goals for the Republic. With a new two-year contract in place, O’neill has to start looking to the future and that was why Bristol City winger, Callum O’dowda, 22, was preferred to Aiden Mcgeady on the left wing.
O’dowda did not disappoint, firing a shot into the side netting before turning away from a defender on the edge of the area and pic picking out Shane Long with a low cross. The Southampton striker should have scored, but sho shot wide. Moldova, who had Alexa andru Gatcan sent off for shoving his head into the face of Harry Arter late on, almost most pulled a g goal back before the interval but Darren Randolph- tipp tipped Sergiu Platica’s effort over the crossbar.
Republic of Ireland Moldova
Sent off Referee Booked