Rajko Mitic Stadium
had a day under the weather, after torrential rains punished the capital city of
Belgrade, leaving the prospects of cancelling the scheduled match, due to its aftermath
left with a much-damaged field.
The heat was on for the
match referee Viktor Kassai, after seeing the damages left by Mother Nature, he
had his doubts, as this match to play in such conditions, that at the end the official
in charge surrendered and gave his OK.
Game on, as the scheduled
encounter between the Republic of Ireland and Serbia was under way after its initial
delays.
For Martin O ‘ Neill
the Republic of Ireland Boss after taking over the reins of this squad and
doing it with lots of style after qualifying the Boys in Green into Euro 2016
and now another major challenge to overcome with his squad.
Now the Green Army if
its ambitions are to qualify for Russia 2018, once again the pressure will be
on the Eire Boys Boss, especially if he wants to make an all-around impact in
his group of play and score another historic feat in qualifying in back to back
international events.
As Group D take off with
Austria, Serbia, Wales, Moldova and Georgia, the prospects of the Emerald Island
squad netting its ticket into the grand fete of world soccer is about to be
seen with the type of competition in front of them.
No draw or loss were
among the plans of the man from North Ireland and his initial eleven playing as
an away squad and what seems to be a very tough place to play due to the locals
not so hospitable ways but a bit hostile.
Still the match went
on with an empty stadium with just a few souls to witness this one of a kind
match put on by both squads in a cold and damp evening.
With the match under way,
the Republic of Ireland its immediate presence felt with an early goal by midfielder
Jeff Hendrik who beat the local’s keeper Pedrag Rajkovic for the 1-0 and
putting the Boys in Green ahead in the scoreboard.
As the Republic of
Ireland initial eleven especially its defensive backfield played a one of a
kind match, as the local Serbian strikers with a series of counters and plays
their presence felt an pressuring the posts defended by the Hammers man Darren Randolph.
Still the conditions
of the field prevented both squads of putting far superior performances, although
this match considered a one of a kind and amazing for both squad efforts in the
field.
As the second half started the Serbs went to work
in their offensive essential and by orders of their Manager Muslin, the results
were immediate with a goal by Filip Kostic to tie the match.
As Filip Kostic
suddenly taking matters into his own hands and started causing havoc on
Irelands defense, exposing its weak sides, it’s when one of Ireland’s defenders
trip him inside the area and became a PK to be scored by Dusan Tadic.
The goal by the
Southampton man put the Serbian Eagles ahead in the 70th minute with
a 2-1 score and despite the pressure and attempts by the Boys from Eire to try to
put the score even, at the end they just labeled as simple efforts.
Still for the Republic
of Ireland Boys, their attempts not taken lightly and it is when Daryl Murphy
coming as a substitute of Hendricks the man that scores the first goal in international
play and with the Republic of Ireland becoming the hero of the match.
Scoring in what
seemed an opportune goal that gave Martin O’ Neill and the Green Army a valuable
point and keeping this squad faith to their upcoming match to be play at Aviva
Stadium in Dublin, Ireland against a hardened Georgia.
That leaves the door
open and the prospects for the Boys in Green of getting their first three
points in their group of play and moving up in the overall table and within
contention of getting one of the direct tickets to Russia 2018.
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