Ireland U21: Crucial 96th minute winner for King's men
A 96th minute goal from Shaun Donnellan gave Ireland a crucial win in their European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Round match in Tallaght Stadium.
Shaun Donnellan got on the end of Ryan Manning’s inviting free kick to scramble home a priceless winner for Noel King’s side.
Up until that point Ireland had been frustrated by the visitors, with Kamran Ibrahimov in fine form in the Azerbaijan goal.
In the opening half, Derry City attacker Ronan Curtis looked lively throughout and his strike on goal could only be parried by Kamran Ibrahimov in the Azeri goal. The onrushing Reece Grego-Cox was first to the breaking ball but Ibrahimov smoothered his close range effort.
Ireland came flying out of the blocks in the second period. Jake Mulraney was unlucky to see his appeals for a penalty waved away while Ryan Manning’s 25 yard free kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Ibrahimov.
Noel King’s side continued to press with Shaun Donnellan and Ronan Hale seeing their shots on goal block by last ditch defending.
However, following a free kick won after Olamide Shodipo was upended out wide, Manning delivered for Donnellan to send the Tallaght Stadium crowd wild.
Republic of Ireland: O’Hara; Whelan, Donnellan, Sweeney, Kane (Hale 82); Rice, Cullen, Manning; Mulraney (Shodipo 56), Grego-Cox, Curtis (Quigley 89).
Substitutes: Bossin (GK), Dimaio, Kinsella, Hale, Quigley, Delaney.
Azerbaijan: Ibrahimov; Krivotsyuk, Sarkarov, Mustafazade, Tashgin; Koekcue (Shahverdiyev 57), Nasirov (Muradov 64), Hajiyev, Aliyev, Madatov; Sheydaev.
Substitutes: Seyidakhmedov (GK), Shavverdiyev, Muradov, Azizov, Maharramli, Buludov.