Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 Moldova | 2018 - FIFA World Cup | 2017785

European Qualifiers Qualifying Round | Aviva Stadium, Dublin

06 October 2017 - 19:45

Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 Moldova

Murphy(2) Murphy(19) full-time

Report
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Lineups
Minute by Minute Commentary
Statistics
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Ireland MNT: Murphy double secures Moldova win

Republic of Ireland sealed an important three points in their battle for qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Daryl Murphy notched a brace against Moldova.

6th Oct 2017

Murphy scored both goals in the first-half to secure the win ahead of the crunch tie against second-placed Wales on Monday, October 9th in Cardiff.

Fresh from signing a new two-year deal with the Football Association of Ireland, Martin O'Neill selected Callum O'Dowda in the starting XI, who became the youngest player to start a competitive international under the Irish boss.

He also decided to go with two strikers in the starting XI as both Shane Long and Murphy started, and the latter immediately reaped the rewards. With just two minutes on the clock, Stephen Ward's long throw was flicked on by Shane Duffy and the Nottingham Forest striker fired home with a clinical left-foot finish.

Just before the 20-minute mark, Murphy put Ireland into a two-goal lead with his second of the game. Once again, Ward took advantage of the space down the left to get a deep cross towards the back-post and Murphy directed his header brilliantly into the right-hand corner.

Ireland didn't have it all their own way in the first-half as Sergiu Platica unleashed a fierce drive towards the top right-hand corner and Darren Randolph produced an excellent one-handed save to deny him in the 27th minute.

Ireland continued to press forward in search of goals and Shane Long should have added to the scoreline with 30 minutes remaining. Wes Hoolahan danced past two defenders to slide the ball through to O'Dowda who saw his shot saved and Long could only put the effort inches wide of the right-hand post.

With eight minutes remaining, O'Neill handed a senior debut to former Cork City and current Preston North End striker Sean Maguire but Ireland failed to add to the scoreline despite Moldova going down to ten men in the final minute.

Substitute Harry Arter was fouled by Alexandru Gatcan and after getting up, Gatcan put his head towards Arter and the referee brandished the red card.

The result sees Ireland maintain third position on 16 points with Wales one point ahead of them in second and leaders Serbia two points ahead after they suffered a 3-2 defeat in Austria.

Teams

Republic of Ireland: Randolph (GK), Christie, Clark, Murphy (Arter 77), Long (Maguire 82), O'Dowda, Hendrick, Hoolahan (McGeady 78), Ward, Meyler (C), Duffy.

Subs not used: Doyle (GK), Elliot (GK), O'Shea, Keogh, Whelan, O'Kane, Hourihane, Hogan, K. Long.

Moldova: Cebanu (GK), Racu, Epureanu (C), Ionita, Gatcan, Dedov (Cociuc 55), Ginsari, Bordian, Platica (Ambros 78), Anton, Rozgoniuc.

Subs not used: Koselev (GK), Pascenco (GK), Graur, Antoniuc, Cojocari, Pascenco, Ojog.

Referee: Bas Nijhuis (NED)

Tactical Lineups

Republic of Ireland

Substitutes

Coach

Martin O'Neill

Moldova

Substitutes

12 Serghei Paşcenco (G)
23 Alexei Koşelev (G)
3 Dinu Graur
9 Alexandru Antoniuc
13 Andrei Cojocari
15 Eugeniu Cociuc
19 Vladimir Ambros
20 Alexandru Paşcenco
21 Petru Ojog

Coach

Igor Dobrovolski

Officials

Referee Bas Nijhuis
Assistant Referees Joost van Zuilen
UEFA Delegate Luca Zorzi
Assistant Referee Two Charles Schaap
Fourth Official Serdar Gözübüyük
Referee Observer Oguz Sarvan

Minute by Minute Commentary

1" The match is under way.
1" Sergiu Platica (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland).
2" David Meyler (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
2" Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) scores!
3" Artiom Rozgoniuc (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland).
4" Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
8" Gheorghe Anton (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland).
9" Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
9" Ilie Cebanu (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
11" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
14" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) misses the target.
15" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
17" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Vitalie Bordian (Moldova).
17" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
18" Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Vitalie Bordian (Moldova).
18" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
19" Stephen Ward (Republic of Ireland) assists.
19" Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) scores!
21" Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Radu Gînsari (Moldova).
21" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
23" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
23" Ilie Cebanu (Moldova) blocks a shot.
23" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
23" Alexandru Dedov (Moldova) takes the corner.
24" Sergiu Platica (Moldova) misses the target.
24" Alexandru Dedov (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland).
25" Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
27" Sergiu Platica (Moldova) has an effort on goal.
27" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
27" Alexandru Dedov (Moldova) takes the corner.
27" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland).
27" Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
30" Radu Gînsari (Moldova) takes the corner.
30" Alexandru Dedov (Moldova) misses the target.
32" Radu Gînsari (Moldova) takes the corner.
32" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) misses the target.
36" Artur Ioniţă (Moldova) has an effort on goal.
36" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
37" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland).
38" Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Sergiu Platica (Moldova).
38" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
40" Alexandru Dedov (Moldova) has an effort on goal.
40" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
41" Artiom Rozgoniuc (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Cyrus Christie (Republic of Ireland).
41" Artiom Rozgoniuc (Moldova) is cautioned by the referee.
42" Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
43" Petru Racu (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Shane Long (Republic of Ireland).
44" Stephen Ward (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
44" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
44" Alexandru Epureanu (Moldova) blocks a shot.
45" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
45" Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
The referee blows for half-time.
46" The second half begins.
46" Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Vitalie Bordian (Moldova).
46" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
47" Radu Gînsari (Moldova) takes the corner.
51" Radu Gînsari (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland).
52" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
55" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Sergiu Platica (Moldova).
55" Eugeniu Cociuc (in) - Alexandru Dedov (out) (@@teamID)
55" Gheorghe Anton (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
56" Eugeniu Cociuc (Moldova) takes the corner.
58" Daryl Murphy (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
58" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) blocks a shot.
59" Eugeniu Cociuc (Moldova) takes the corner.
61" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
61" Vitalie Bordian (Moldova) blocks a shot.
61" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
63" Eugeniu Cociuc (Moldova) has an effort on goal.
63" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
65" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
66" Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
66" Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
66" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) blocks a shot.
66" Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
72" Eugeniu Cociuc (Moldova) misses the target.
73" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Sergiu Platica (Moldova).
73" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
79" Aiden McGeady (in) - Wes Hoolahan (out) (@@teamID)
79" Vladimir Ambros (in) - Sergiu Platica (out) (@@teamID)
79" Harry Arter (in) - Daryl Murphy (out) (@@teamID)
83" Seán Maguire (in) - Shane Long (out) (@@teamID)
85" Eugeniu Cociuc (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland).
85" David Meyler (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
88" Gheorghe Anton (Moldova) misses the target.
89" Seán Maguire (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Alexandru Epureanu (Moldova).
89" Alexandru Epureanu (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
90" Artiom Rozgoniuc (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland).
90" Callum O'Dowda (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
90+1" Harry Arter (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Artiom Rozgoniuc (Moldova).
90+1" Alexandru Epureanu (Moldova) takes the free-kick.
90+1" Harry Arter (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
90+1" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) is penalised for a foul on Harry Arter (Republic of Ireland).
90+2" Alexandru Gaţcan (Moldova) is dismissed.
90+3" Stephen Ward (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
The final whistle is blown.