Republic striker Robbie Keane gets a brace in 4-0 win over Gibraltar
REPUBLIC of Ireland moved above Scotland into third in Group D after a 4-0 victory in their European Qualifier against minnows Gibraltar.
Derby full-back Cyrus Christie opened the scoring for the visitors midway through the first half, with captain Robbie Keane putting the result beyond doubt with a quick-fire double just after the break.
Substitute Long rounded off the scoring for Martin O’Neill’s side, heading home in the 79th minute to put Republic of Ireland back in contention for qualification to Euro 2016.
O’Neill’s men, who are now one point above Scotland, face Georgia in Dublin on Sunday hoping to keep pace in the race for automatic qualification.
O’Neill’s side started brightly and they nearly broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when Robbie Brady’s deflected free-kick was well saved by Jordan Perez.
The Norwich full-back was involved minutes later when his cross found Ciaran Clark unmarked in the area, but the Aston Villa defender could only direct his header onto the crossbar.
It seemed to be only a matter of time before the visitors broke the deadlock and they thought they had done just that when Jonathan Walters latched onto Keane’s cross to head the ball into the back of the net only to see the flag go up for offside.
For all Republic of Ireland’s dominance Gibraltar were holding firm at the back until Christie popped up to beat Perez with a brilliant finish with the outside of his right boot.
Seconds later it could have been two when Walters’ long-range effort nearly dipped under the bar but it was Gibraltar who finished the stronger of the two sides.
Shay Given was called into action in the 26th minute when Liam Walker attempted an early shot and the 39-year-old got down well to make a smart diving save.
Gibraltar were building in confidence and just a minute later Roy Chipolina looked poised to head the ball goalwards at the far post when Christie made a crucial intervention.
Jeff Wood’s side would not have wanted the half-time whistle and it proved to be the case as the visitors quickly pulled away from Gibraltar.
In the 49th minute, Walters’ broke free after indecision in the home attack and his cross deflected off the post and into the path of Keane, who tapped into an empty net from close range.
Keane, who took his tally to 67 international goals, doubled his side’s advantage from the penalty after Walker brought down Wes Hoolahan in the box.
The LA Galaxy striker, who scored a hat-trick in his side’s 7-0 win over the same opposition earlier in the campaign, could not repeat the trick as O’Neill withdrew him from the action with 20 minutes left on the clock.
O’Neill and his side certainly had Monday’s crucial clash with Georgia – who beat Scotland earlier in the day – on their mind as they kept control of possession to see out the game.
However, there was still time for Shane Long to head home Jeff Hendrick’s cross from close range to put a gloss on the scoreline as the Republic of Ireland pulled themselves back into qualification contention.
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