IRELAND WERE UNABLE to record their first win of 2014 as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Costa Rica in Philadelphia.
Kevin Doyle opened the scoring on 19 minutes with a superb header from Marc Wilson’s cross before Celso Borges’ penalty levelled the terms just after the hour mark.
Ireland captain Robbie Keane was denied from the spot soon after by substitute goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton. Pemberton, who replaced Keylor Navas at half-time, was crucial to Costa Rica holding on for a draw, with the Central Americans playing the entire second half with 10 players due to Giancarlo Gonzalez’s 41st-minute red card.
After Borges equalised and Keane saw his penalty saved, Ireland pushed hard for a winning goal with the latter testing Pemberton at the near post before Shane Long unleashed a shot from outside the box – but Costa Rica’s 32-year-old goalkeeper was up to the challenge on both occasions.
Costa Rica entered the friendly with four defeats in their past five fixtures and coach Jorge Luis Pinto made four changes from the starting line-up against Japan.
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill made widespread changes with just Anthony Pilkington remaining from the starting XI that drew with Italy on May 31.
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The Ireland starting XI. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Possession generally remained in the middle third of the pitch for the opening 15 minutes as both sides struggled to break down the opposing defences. But in the 18th minute, Ireland hit the front with Wilson crossing from deep on the left to Doyle, who powered his header from just inside the penalty area past the outstretched left hand of Costa Rica goalkeeper Navas.
After going ahead, Ireland seemed happy enough sitting deep in defence and attempting to hit Costa Rica on the counter-attack. Faced with a packed defence, Costa Rica struggled to get in behind, while the physicality of the Irish clearly made Pinto’s men uncomfortable, who were restricted largely to shooting from long range.
The CONCACAF nation’s best chance of the first half fell to Borges in the 39th minute after Ireland goalkeeper David Forde failed to punch Mora’s cross clear but the Costa Rican midfielder’s attempted overhead kick looped just over the bar.
Costa Rica were reduced to 10 men just two minutes later. Gonzalez was shown a yellow card for an elbow to Doyle’s head, which left the Wolves forward bleeding, and the Costa Rican defender’s criticism of the referee saw him sent off.
On the stroke of half-time, Duarte also had a chance to equalise for Costa Rica but his back-post header from Borges’ free-kick drifted wide.
Costa Rica came out full of intensity after the break with Urena, Joel Campbell and Mora all failing to take their chances, and the nominal hosts needed a spot kick to equalise.
David Forde gives away a penalty. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
In the 63rd minute, Campbell’s fine through ball released Urena and the Krasnodar striker was tripped by Forde, with Borges smashing the spot kick straight down the middle to make it 1-1.
Just three minutes later, Ireland had a penalty of their own when Mora fouled Stephen Quinn but Keane was unable to beat Pemberton from the spot.
Both sides had opportunities to win the match after Pemberton’s penalty save with Campbell curling a shot wide of Forde’s far post before Keane got a toe on James McClean’s cross only to be denied again.
In the 78th minute, Long cut in from the left and smashed a shot on target but Pemberton tipped the ball around the post, and the match petered out to end in a stalemate.
Next up for Ireland is a game against Portugal in New Jersey on Tuesday.
IRELAND: David Forde, Marc Wilson (McClean 40), Richard Keogh, Shane Duffy, Stephen Kelly, Glenn Whelan, Paul Green (Jeff Hendrick 65), Anthony Pilkington (Aiden McGeady 65), Stephen Quinn (Simon Cox 84), Robbie Keane (Wes Hoolahan 84), Kevin Doyle (Shane Long 70).
COSTA RICA: Keylor Navas (Patrick Pemberton 45), Heiner Mora, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Oscar Duarte, Michael Umana, Junior Diaz, Marco Urena (Randall Brenes 77), Joel Campbell (Diego Calvo 86), Jose Miguel Cubero, Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz (Bolanos 75).
very poor showing against 10 men, Costa Rica played with courage and had that will to win that was evidently lacking in the team in black, on a positive note at least Doyle can put d ball in d net still and I’m sure if McCarthy and Hendrick play n d middle with pilkington and mcgeady on d wings we can put it up to teams
Keane is in the twilight of his career but the lack of respect for our record goal scorer is staggering at times. No one else available scores on a regular basis for their clubs, except for Anthony Stokes and he is yet to do it for Ireland. Playing up front for a totally dominant Celtic (lost only 1 game all season) is perhaps not the best gauge. No point putting him out to grass unless there is a better option.
Stokes hasn’t been given a chance as yet.. MON would want to start thinking about something quick because we’ve no chance of reaching the Euros if our run of draws continue
Ritchie granted it was a friendly,but when a team ranked 70th plays a team
ranked 27th who are competing for world cup places and gets a draw,in my
books it’s a confidence boosting result,yes there is a long way to go to reach
the euro finals
To be fair, their world ranking and place in the World Cup is more down to their geographical location than their quality as a football side. Costa Rica would really struggle to get out of the European Qualifiers.
Their ranking is down to where they are from and the teams they play as is ours. They are minnows in World football and will do extremely well to get a point in these finals. They were down to ten men after the 41st minute. We missed a penalty and failed to win and you still think that is a good result ?? You are very easily pleased .
Encouraging performance despite the result I thought, we looked to play a bit of football which was much better than the tripe we put up with under Trap, a few things didn’t work but this is the time to try new things, onwards and upwards for the Euro qualifiers
To be honest I’ve seen very little difference so far from the trap era. Very familiar template, draws against teams ranked higher than us are considered good performances. I’ve lost count of the number of times Ireland have started brightly against decent sides, gone 1-0 up and then played shite for the rest of the match and fail to win.
Based on team and squad performances so far, I wouldn’t rely on us to get anything more than draws against Scotland or Poland. We never come from behind to get a result either. Always trying to hang onto a 1-0 lead. I know it was a friendly tonight but the game followed the same pattern as so many others over the last decade. Frustrating. Also I wish people would stop having digs at trap. It’s almost a year since he left now. Move on.
The media love in with MON and RK will prevent them for pointing out that we are going nowhere at the moment. The players just aren’t good enough to kick on at international level.
What’s the solution Jason? Pull out of international competition until better players come along? Replace MON and Keane with management that relect our standing?
Look we all know we’re up against it in terms of lack of quality and particularly depth in the panel but these games are about the management getting a good look at their options, so that hopefully, they can make a best out of our limited options when it matters. No one is under any illusions that we’re lacking quality, but if the lads can gel, we have a chance.
Ah lads, look at the players we were missing last night, McCarthy, Coleman, O’Shea, Brady, Gibson, Walters, Reid, Dunne, then left on the bench to try others Hoolahan, McGeady, Long, Hendrick, Meyler. The game changed when Wilson (who did very well) got injured and McClean came on (who’s not a LB). Think we can also take positives that Duffy and Keogh looked solid. Poor aul Forde had a mare tho and Robbie was anonymous, but it’s not all bad.
The simple fact is the players are just not good enough This team would struggle in the the Championship. We are not ranked # 70 for no reason. Even still a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica is very disappointing.
Good result ?? They’ve lost four of their last five and were down to ten men after 41 minutes. I don’t care what their ranking is . This is Costs Rica we are talking about . Still it’s only a friendly . Good result my a**e .
A second string against minnows who were down to ten men after 41 minutes . Throw in a missed penalty and someone says it’s a good confidence building result. It’s not the result or the team that gets me, it’s the silly comment about a confidence building result,
Everyone knows we have a poor squad and no manager no matter how good can make bad players play well but everyone still acts like we should win 1000000000 – 0 against any team we play. Cop on the managment are doing the best they can with what they have. It’s no like they left messi and ronaldo on the bench. Oh and remember your best has you posting here instead of playing or managing. What happened the Irish who celebrated getting to the quarters in 1990??
Ritchie granted it was a friendly,but when a team ranked 70th plays a team
ranked 27th who are competing for world cup places and gets a draw,in my
books it’s a confidence boosting result,yes there is a long way to go to reach
the euro finals
Ive been watching Costa Rica play for the last 9 years, and I can tell you they are a poor side, with little structure to their game. However they were missing two of their better players last night and when down to 10 men we should have cruised to a win but they walked all over us for 30 in the second half. I think things will improve when we find our starting 11, these are after all trials for fringe players. We’re going to have serious problems if we continue with Whelean, Green and even McClean (worst performance of an Irish player in years). I believe we need to adapt to playing a 5 man midfield so we can defend and break on the counter. Players like Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Myler, McCarthy, Gibson in that midfield should improve things if the management finds his starting 11 for the qualifiers. Also Grealish looks like a player we need to throw into the mix soon, a player that can create a spark.
Get Gerlish in before he switches he said in an interview he stuck around because we offered him a u21 role while Eng only offered u19. he really fancies himself this lad get him nailed down quick
David Forde has been our best player for the last two years. Granted, he had a poor night last night giving away a penalty and missing two crosses. His distribution was first class. We don’t need a new keeper. Everyone has a poor day
Robbin Keane….opportunist….way overrated.Does Martin O’Neill think he can’t manage without him?Anyway same old story for Ireland….unable to press home their advantage…against a Costa Rican team who are not expected to get past the first round of the World Cup!
That typical anti Keane comment? One of the most valuable players we’ve produced and yet ‘fans’ assume he is overrated….He might not cover every inch of grass, maybe he waves his arms around a bit too much but how people fail to see how important he is to the national cause is beyond me?
Ireland vs Germany, Saipan and the final minute of the game, hopeful ball forward to Quinn knocked on to the feet of Keane….The rest is history! But sure let’s begrudge and call overrated to one of the top international goal scorers of all time!
A friend of mine who is living in Philly was at the game. He said the support was very poor considering the amount of Irish living there. As you can see from the photos its a sea of red with speckles of green.
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very poor showing against 10 men, Costa Rica played with courage and had that will to win that was evidently lacking in the team in black, on a positive note at least Doyle can put d ball in d net still and I’m sure if McCarthy and Hendrick play n d middle with pilkington and mcgeady on d wings we can put it up to teams
Keane penalty was piss poor
The record seeking money grabber should be put out to grass now…he has nothing to offer at this level anymore.
Yea because we’ve so many proven goal scorers to take his place ….
We never know shane until we try …
Keane is in the twilight of his career but the lack of respect for our record goal scorer is staggering at times. No one else available scores on a regular basis for their clubs, except for Anthony Stokes and he is yet to do it for Ireland. Playing up front for a totally dominant Celtic (lost only 1 game all season) is perhaps not the best gauge. No point putting him out to grass unless there is a better option.
Stokes hasn’t been given a chance as yet.. MON would want to start thinking about something quick because we’ve no chance of reaching the Euros if our run of draws continue
Ritchie granted it was a friendly,but when a team ranked 70th plays a team
ranked 27th who are competing for world cup places and gets a draw,in my
books it’s a confidence boosting result,yes there is a long way to go to reach
the euro finals
To be fair, their world ranking and place in the World Cup is more down to their geographical location than their quality as a football side. Costa Rica would really struggle to get out of the European Qualifiers.
Their ranking is down to where they are from and the teams they play as is ours. They are minnows in World football and will do extremely well to get a point in these finals. They were down to ten men after the 41st minute. We missed a penalty and failed to win and you still think that is a good result ?? You are very easily pleased .
Encouraging performance despite the result I thought, we looked to play a bit of football which was much better than the tripe we put up with under Trap, a few things didn’t work but this is the time to try new things, onwards and upwards for the Euro qualifiers
To be honest I’ve seen very little difference so far from the trap era. Very familiar template, draws against teams ranked higher than us are considered good performances. I’ve lost count of the number of times Ireland have started brightly against decent sides, gone 1-0 up and then played shite for the rest of the match and fail to win.
Based on team and squad performances so far, I wouldn’t rely on us to get anything more than draws against Scotland or Poland. We never come from behind to get a result either. Always trying to hang onto a 1-0 lead. I know it was a friendly tonight but the game followed the same pattern as so many others over the last decade. Frustrating. Also I wish people would stop having digs at trap. It’s almost a year since he left now. Move on.
Trap was a fool. We have. The. Right. People. Now
Squeak?
Yes??
Would they have drawn under trap? Id say they would have won.
Trap was a genius. Got this crowd if inbasiles to the euros.
The media love in with MON and RK will prevent them for pointing out that we are going nowhere at the moment. The players just aren’t good enough to kick on at international level.
What’s the solution Jason? Pull out of international competition until better players come along? Replace MON and Keane with management that relect our standing?
I’d like people in the media to recognise our players limitations. Trap was condemned for failing to play some of these donkeys at this level.
IMO long and Doyle should start and keane should come on as a impact sub
Look we all know we’re up against it in terms of lack of quality and particularly depth in the panel but these games are about the management getting a good look at their options, so that hopefully, they can make a best out of our limited options when it matters. No one is under any illusions that we’re lacking quality, but if the lads can gel, we have a chance.
Shane I believe the majority of Irish fans and the media here are under some SERIOUS illusions about how good we are. That’s the problem
Ah lads, look at the players we were missing last night, McCarthy, Coleman, O’Shea, Brady, Gibson, Walters, Reid, Dunne, then left on the bench to try others Hoolahan, McGeady, Long, Hendrick, Meyler. The game changed when Wilson (who did very well) got injured and McClean came on (who’s not a LB). Think we can also take positives that Duffy and Keogh looked solid. Poor aul Forde had a mare tho and Robbie was anonymous, but it’s not all bad.
Good result me arse, RAM IT!
Players not good enough fans expectations to high……its nobodys fault ….
.
Watched the game, first half ok pretty decent tempo, but the second half we were shocking especially against 10 men.
The simple fact is the players are just not good enough This team would struggle in the the Championship. We are not ranked # 70 for no reason. Even still a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica is very disappointing.
Good result against a team ranked 27th in the world after
a earlier draw against. Italy,will boost the confidence of
the team.
Good result ?? They’ve lost four of their last five and were down to ten men after 41 minutes. I don’t care what their ranking is . This is Costs Rica we are talking about . Still it’s only a friendly . Good result my a**e .
Richie, we fielded a second string team – relax.
A second string against minnows who were down to ten men after 41 minutes . Throw in a missed penalty and someone says it’s a good confidence building result. It’s not the result or the team that gets me, it’s the silly comment about a confidence building result,
Everyone knows we have a poor squad and no manager no matter how good can make bad players play well but everyone still acts like we should win 1000000000 – 0 against any team we play. Cop on the managment are doing the best they can with what they have. It’s no like they left messi and ronaldo on the bench. Oh and remember your best has you posting here instead of playing or managing. What happened the Irish who celebrated getting to the quarters in 1990??
Embarrassing result honestly and whats this obsession with these hideous black jerseys absolute bananas to me!!
Held to a 1-1 draw by the mighty Costa Rica !!! What next !! I bet England are really worried now
I must be missing something here. Was that not a second string line up that drew with CRica and by all means could have won the game.
Ritchie granted it was a friendly,but when a team ranked 70th plays a team
ranked 27th who are competing for world cup places and gets a draw,in my
books it’s a confidence boosting result,yes there is a long way to go to reach
the euro finals
Georgie Burges.
That was A1 Sharon.
Ive been watching Costa Rica play for the last 9 years, and I can tell you they are a poor side, with little structure to their game. However they were missing two of their better players last night and when down to 10 men we should have cruised to a win but they walked all over us for 30 in the second half. I think things will improve when we find our starting 11, these are after all trials for fringe players. We’re going to have serious problems if we continue with Whelean, Green and even McClean (worst performance of an Irish player in years). I believe we need to adapt to playing a 5 man midfield so we can defend and break on the counter. Players like Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Myler, McCarthy, Gibson in that midfield should improve things if the management finds his starting 11 for the qualifiers. Also Grealish looks like a player we need to throw into the mix soon, a player that can create a spark.
Get Gerlish in before he switches he said in an interview he stuck around because we offered him a u21 role while Eng only offered u19. he really fancies himself this lad get him nailed down quick
David Forde has been our best player for the last two years. Granted, he had a poor night last night giving away a penalty and missing two crosses. His distribution was first class. We don’t need a new keeper. Everyone has a poor day
Robbin Keane….opportunist….way overrated.Does Martin O’Neill think he can’t manage without him?Anyway same old story for Ireland….unable to press home their advantage…against a Costa Rican team who are not expected to get past the first round of the World Cup!
That typical anti Keane comment? One of the most valuable players we’ve produced and yet ‘fans’ assume he is overrated….He might not cover every inch of grass, maybe he waves his arms around a bit too much but how people fail to see how important he is to the national cause is beyond me?
Ireland vs Germany, Saipan and the final minute of the game, hopeful ball forward to Quinn knocked on to the feet of Keane….The rest is history! But sure let’s begrudge and call overrated to one of the top international goal scorers of all time!
A friend of mine who is living in Philly was at the game. He said the support was very poor considering the amount of Irish living there. As you can see from the photos its a sea of red with speckles of green.
Ram your arse?
Knocked to the feet of Keane….that says it all!