Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 4 - 0 Israel
Ireland U21: Grego-Cox hat-trick secures Israel win
QPR striker Reece Grego-Cox scored a hat-trick and Everton midfielder Harry Charsley completed the scoring as Ireland stay top of Group Five.
It was a fantastic performance from start to finish as Noel King went with an unchanged team, and they continued their unbeaten run at Tallaght Stadium.
It took just over 40 seconds to go ahead. It was a goal made in Loftus Road as QPR duo forward Ryan Manning found a low cross to Reece Grego-Cox, and he tucked home from six-yards out.
Derry City forward Ronan Curtis should have made it 2-0 eight minutes later when he bustled through two Israeli defenders on the edge of the area, but placed his effort wide of the left-hand post.
Israel were struggling to deal with the Irish front-three of Manning, Curtis and Grego-Cox, and the latter should have added to his tally in the 20th minute, but he couldn't direct Harry Charsley's low cross goal-wards from eight yards out.
It was Charsley who eventually doubled Ireland's lead as the industrious Grego-Cox somehow dug out a cross from the left and after captain Josh Cullen touched the ball on, the Everton midfielder tucked home under the keeper after the half-hour.
Three minutes later, Ireland went into a three-goal lead. Israel lost the ball in defence and after a brilliant through-ball to Curtis, the Derry City forward was fouled by the out-stretched keeper, and the referee pointed to the spot. Grego-Cox took up the responsibility and put Ireland into a commanding lead at the break.
Any worries about a Israeli second-half comeback were quickly extinguished as Grego-Cox claimed his hat-trick. Manning's right-sided corner was only punched away as far as Curtis who saw his shot well saved but Grego-Cox tucked home the rebound in the 50th minute.
Ireland continued to press forward in search of more goals as Manning went close but Ireland secured an impressive victory to stay unbeaten and continue their run at the top of the UEFA U21 European Championship qualifying group five.
Ireland U21 boss Noel King said: "It was a great performance throughout. We kept our discipline throughout the game and to get the fourth goal in the second-half really clinched the game for us.
"We've been in all week and a lot of effort went into it, from the players and the staff as well, so it is a great reward for their hard work. We would have liked to have got two wins in the week but to stay unbeaten and to get 10 points out of 12 puts us in a great position."
Ireland U21 assistant manager Harry McHugh said: "The best thing about this group is that the starting XI know there is so much quality in the squad, that someone on the bench can take their place if they don't perform.
"It's a long campaign and the whole squad will definitely get their chance to impress but it definitely keeps everyone on their toes. I've really been impressed with the whole group and we need to keep that spirit high for the rest of the campaign."
Teams
Republic of Ireland: O'Hara (GK), Kane, Whelan, Donnellan, Sweeney, Cullen (C), Rice (Shaughnessy 77), Charsley (Quigley 80), Grego-Cox (Mulraney 69), Manning, Curtis.
Subs not used: Bossin (GK), Kinsella, Ronan, Delaney.
Israel: Glazer (GK), Meir, Ben David, Ghantus (Gamoun 11, (Nahmias 70)), Bitton, Plakushchenko, Peretz (C), Weissman, Solomon, Nassar, Barshazky.
Subs: Hasson (GK), Hozez, Cohen, Awwad, Avraham.
Referee: Fedayi San (SUI)
2022413
Ireland U21: King aims to continue unbeaten run v Israel
Ireland are set to face Israel at Tallaght Stadium on Monday, October 9th, with kick-off at 3.30pm, after they claimed a point against Norway in a 0-0 draw on Thursday.
Ireland dominated much of the contest against the Norwegians but failed to find the net despite plenty of chances throughout the second-half, but the result saw Ireland stay at the top of Group Five, just ahead of Germany.
Israel are currently fourth in the group but have claimed four points in two games and remain unbeaten during their campaign, and King is expecting a different kind of threat.
The U21s Head Coach said: "We go into the game full of confidence. We did well against Norway and were disappointed not to come out of the game with a win in the end.
"We played really well in patches and created plenty of chances throughout the game so we can use that and go forward into the Israel game tomorrow full of confidence.
"Israel will pose a different kind of threat. They're not as physical as Norway, very technical in their play and we'll have to adjust our approach slightly to face up to that challenge.
"They can give us problems but we can give them problems as well and we can only optimistic going into the game."
Tickets for the game will be available on the day of the game, priced at €10 for adults and €5 for children/students/OAPs. Entry is free for FAI season ticket holders, Shamrock Rovers season ticket holders and IT Tallaght students.
With a number of players vying to breach King's starting XI, the Ireland U21s boss believes the side he puts out will be capable of an all-important victory.
He added: "We've had two elevens the same in the last two games so we'll have to see what happens overnight. We'll name the team before kick-off and whatever team I pick, they'll be capable of getting the job done.
"We've got plenty of threats on the bench to call upon if needed as well. We've been together for nine days and eight nights now so there is one focus, and that is Israel.
"The aim is to get the win of course, to be in a situation with 10 points out of 12 would be great but we can't just talk about, we need to go out there and win it."
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Liam Bossin (G)
- 12 Joseph Quigley
- 13 Liam Kinsella
- 14 Connor Ronan
- 17 Conor Shaughnessy
- 20 Jake Mulraney
- 21 Ryan Delaney
Coach
Noel King
Israel
Substitutes
- 1 Sahar Harel Hasson (G)
- 10 Matan Hozez
- 11 Yonatan Cohen
- 15 Raz Nahmias
- 16 Mohammad Awwad
- 17 Noam Gamoun
- 20 Daniel Avraham
Coach
Marko Balbul
Officials
- Referee Fedayi San
- Assistant Referees Stephane De Almeida
- UEFA Delegate Peter Oskam
- Assistant Referee Two Carmine Sangiovanni
- Fourth Official Lukas Fähndrich
- Referee Observer Leif Sundell
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Israel
Minute by Minute Commentary