Match ends, Republic of Ireland 4, USA 1.
Republic of Ireland 4-1 USA
- From the section Football
- First meeting between the countries for 12 years
- Christie and McGoldrick handed Republic debuts
- Pilkington scores first international goal
- United States suffer second successive friendly defeat
Two goals from Robbie Brady and one each from Anthony Pilkington and James McClean helped the Republic of Ireland to victory over the United States.
Pilkington deftly chipped the ball over Bill Hamid for the opener, but Max Diskerud poked home the equaliser from close range.
Brady's tidy left-foot finish nudged the Republic ahead and James McClean's deflected effort made it 3-1.
A left-foot free-kick over the wall by Brady sealed the Republic win.
Republic manager Martin O'Neill made wholesale changes from the side which lost 1-0 to Scotland in Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier, including handing debuts to Derby County defender Cyrus Christie and Ipswich Town striker David McGoldrick.
The US, who were defeated 2-1 by Colombia at Craven Cottage at the weekend, made a bright start, but were rocked by Pilkington's fine finish for the opener.
McGoldrick provided a glorious through ball for the Cardiff City player, who deftly touched the ball right-footed over advancing goalkeeper Hamid for his first goal for his country.
Jurgen Klinsmann's side, currently 23rd in the Fifa rankings, responded well and Fabian Johnson shaved Shay Given's post with a well-struck left-foot shot.
Daryl Murphy had a left-foot shot blocked by Hamid and Alex Pearce headed over from Brady's resulting corner.
The visitors, who reached the last 16 at the World Cup in Brazil, replied when Diskerud toe-poked home his fifth international goal after Chris Wondolowski headed down Jozy Altidore's cross.
With two minutes of the first half remaining, Altidore rattled the woodwork with a left-foot drive after some neat United States build-up play.
The hosts restored their advantage through Brady after McGoldrick's exquisite inside pass sent him racing through on goal.
The US almost levelled when substitute Bobby Wood burst through on goal, but Given's slight touch was enough to deflect the ball round the post.
Shane Long struck the woodwork with a curling shot and, soon after, McClean's deflected effort from the edge of the area flew into the net.
Brady earned his side the fourth goal their performance merited by finding the top left-hand corner of the net with his free-kick from outside the area.
The Irish are next in action in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Group D leaders Poland in Dublin on 29 March.
The Republic lie three points behind the Poles after four rounds of qualifying fixtures, level on points with Germany and Scotland.
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill: "It was very nice to score some goals and play well, particularly in the second half. We had some fine individual performances and it was a useful exercise, although it is the competitive matches that really matter."
Line-ups
R. of Ireland
- 23GivenSubstituted forElliotat 85'minutes
- 6Christie
- 20Pearce
- 5Clark
- 17Brady
- 13PilkingtonSubstituted forMcCleanat 64'minutes
- 12MeylerBooked at 90mins
- 18Quinn
- 14StokesSubstituted forMcGeadyat 60'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10MurphySubstituted forHendrickat 77'minutes
- 21McGoldrickSubstituted forLongat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Coleman
- 4O'Shea
- 7McGeady
- 8Hendrick
- 9Long
- 11McClean
- 15Keogh
- 16Randolph
- 19Walters
- 22Elliot
USA
- 22Hamid
- 23JohnsonBooked at 90mins
- 20CameronBooked at 85mins
- 5Besler
- 21ChandlerSubstituted forMorrisat 76'minutes
- 15BeckermanBooked at 36minsSubstituted forReamat 87'minutes
- 11Bedoya
- 4MoralesSubstituted forGarzaat 65'minutes
- 10DiskerudSubstituted forRubinat 77'minutes
- 17AltidoreBooked at 65mins
- 18WondolowskiSubstituted forWoodat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ream
- 3Garza
- 9Rubin
- 14Ibarra
- 16Green
- 19Wood
- 24Morris
- 25Johnson
- Referee:
- Pawel Raczkowski
Match Stats
Home TeamR. of IrelandAway TeamUSA
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away15
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 4, USA 1.
Attempt blocked. Alejandro Bedoya (USA) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
David Meyler (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jordan Morris (USA) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by David Meyler (Republic of Ireland).
Booking
Fabian Johnson (USA) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Fabian Johnson (USA).
James McClean (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Rubio Rubin (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by David Meyler (Republic of Ireland).
Booking
Aiden McGeady (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Greg Garza (USA) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Aiden McGeady (Republic of Ireland).
Foul by Matt Besler (USA).
Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, USA. Tim Ream replaces Kyle Beckerman.
Goal!
Goal! Republic of Ireland 4, USA 1. Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
Booking
Geoff Cameron (USA) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Geoff Cameron (USA).
Stephen Quinn (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Robert Elliot replaces Shay Given.
Attempt missed. Alejandro Bedoya (USA) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rubio Rubin.
Offside, Republic of Ireland. James McClean tries a through ball, but Daryl Murphy is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Republic of Ireland 3, USA 1. James McClean (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Robbie Brady following a fast break.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Shay Given.
Attempt saved. Greg Garza (USA) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Morris.
Attempt missed. Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Robbie Brady with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Matt Besler.
Attempt saved. Alejandro Bedoya (USA) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Beckerman with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Jeff Hendrick replaces Daryl Murphy.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Shane Long replaces David McGoldrick.
Substitution
Substitution, USA. Rubio Rubin replaces Mix Diskerud.
Substitution
Substitution, USA. Jordan Morris replaces Timothy Chandler.
Attempt blocked. Mix Diskerud (USA) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bobby Wood.
Bobby Wood (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by David Meyler (Republic of Ireland).
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Fabian Johnson.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Shay Given.