Republic of Ireland Football Wins Over England
McClean Scores on Penalty
Ireland’s defense was strong.
The Republic of Ireland national football team defeated England 1-0 in a friendly match at Wembley Stadium on Thursday night. James McClean scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 56th minute.
It was Ireland's first win over England since 1949 and their first at Wembley since 1945.
The victory was a major upset, as England are ranked 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Ireland are ranked 33rd.
Match Summary
England began the match strongly, and had several good chances to score in the first half. However, Ireland defended resolutely, and goalkeeper Darren Randolph made several important saves.
Ireland grew into the game as the first half progressed, and they began to create chances of their own. The best of these came in the 25th minute, when James McClean raced clear on goal, but his shot was saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Ireland continued to press in the second half, and they were rewarded for their efforts in the 56th minute when McClean was fouled in the penalty area by Kyle Walker. McClean stepped up to take the penalty himself, and he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
England pushed for an equalizer in the remaining minutes, but Ireland defended heroically to secure a famous victory.
The win was a major boost for Ireland, who are preparing for their UEFA Nations League campaign, which begins in September.
Quotes
"It's a great win for us," said Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. "We defended brilliantly, and we took our chance when it came. I'm delighted for the players and the fans."
"We're disappointed with the result," said England manager Gareth Southgate. "We had chances to win the game, but we didn't take them. Credit to Ireland, they defended very well and they deserved to win."
Goal
Lineups
**England:** Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Henderson, Rice, Mount; Sterling, Kane, Sancho
**Ireland:** Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Stevens; Hendrick, Cullen, Hourihane; McClean, Robinson, O'Dowda
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