Match ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Poland 1.
R. of IrelandRepublic of Ireland1PolandPoland1
- Republic have eight points from five games
- Group leaders Poland remain three ahead of the Irish
- Robbie Brady mistake gifts Poles their goal
- Irish face Scotland next in Dublin on 13 June
Shane Long's injury-time goal rescued a vital draw for the Republic of Ireland against Group D leaders Poland in their Euro 2016 qualifier.
Robbie Brady was caught in possession, gifting Slawomir Peszko Poland's 26th-minute opener.
Aiden McGeady went close for the Irish while Robbie Keane headed against a post with Seamus Coleman missing a great chance before Long's late goal.
The draw leaves the Republic three points behind Poland.
World champions Germany and Scotland earned routine 2-0 and 6-1 Group D wins over Georgia and minnows Gibraltar respectively earlier in the day and it was vital that the Irish got something from the game.
The Republic stay fourth, two points behind Germany and the Scots with the Poles still leading Group D.
Republic manager Martin O'Neill made a number of selection calls with keeper Shay Given handed his his 128th cap and Wes Hoolahan named in an attacking role alongside Robbie Keane as the side showed seven changes from the defeat by Scotland.
With Stephen Ward having scarcely trained during the week because of injury, Hull winger Brady was named at left-back and his mistake allowed Peszko to put the Poles ahead on 26 minutes.
| Republic of Ireland's remaining Euro 2016 Group D qualifiers | |
|---|---|
| Scotland (home) | Saturday, 13 June 2015 |
| Gibraltar (away) | Friday, 4 September 2015 |
| Georgia (home) | Monday, 7 September 2015 |
| Germany (home) | Thursday, 8 October 2015 |
| Poland (away) | Sunday, 11 October 2015 |
Brady had already exhibited nervousness with a few sloppy touches and was finally punished as he was dispossessed by Peszko deep in the Irish half before the Cologne striker fired an unstoppable angled shot past Given.
Even before the goal, the Polish fans had been making most of the noise in the Aviva Stadium and Peszko's superb finish sent them into raptures.
The Poles had bossed possession early on with Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski combining well with Maciej Rybus and only Norwich man Hoolahan looking in any way creative for the home side.
Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak missed a great Poland chance when he headed a Rybus free-kick wide on 20 minutes.
Brady's nightmare moment came six minutes later as he was caught in possession with covering defender Marc Wilson unable to prevent Peszko firing past Given.
Clearly rattled by the goal, the Republic chased shadows over the next 15 minutes before Aiden McGeady went close to levelling with a chipped effort as the Irish produced a late flurry before the interval.
As would have been expected, the Republic continued to raise their tempo after the break with a deflected Brady cross clipping the outside of a post in the 52nd minute.
After Marc Wilson headed a chance straight at Lukasz Fabianski in the 64th minute, Keane nodded against the woodwork on 72 minutes with the keeper getting a crucial touch following a cross from lively Republic substitute James McClean.
Seamus Coleman horribly blazed an even better chance wide nine minutes from time as the suspicion that it was not going to be the Republic's night grew.
However, the Republic refused to give in and their late industry was rewarded as 83rd-minute substitute Long lofted over Fabianski in the 91st minute after a header on from Hoolahan.
The Republic had gone into the game needing three points to put them in a strong position in the group but in the end were mightily relieved with a point which keeps their hopes alive.
Line-ups
R. of Ireland
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 16Given
- 2ColemanBooked at 45mins
- 4O'SheaBooked at 32mins
- 3WilsonBooked at 70mins
- 19Brady
- 14Walters
- 6WhelanSubstituted forLongat 83'minutes
- 8McCarthyBooked at 85mins
- 7McGeadySubstituted forMcCleanat 68'minutes
- 20HoolahanBooked at 25mins
- 10Keane
Substitutes
- 1Forde
- 5Clark
- 9Long
- 11McClean
- 12Meyler
- 13Arter
- 15Christie
- 17Ward
- 18Quinn
- 21Murphy
- 22Keogh
- 23Westwood
Poland
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Fabianski
- 16Olkowski
- 4SzukalaBooked at 59mins
- 15GlikBooked at 50mins
- 14Wawrzyniak
- 17PeszkoBooked at 85minsSubstituted forKucharczykat 87'minutes
- 8Krychowiak
- 6Jodlowiec
- 13Rybus
- 7MilikSubstituted forMilaat 84'minutes
- 9Lewandowski
Substitutes
- 1Szczesny
- 2Cionek
- 3Komorowski
- 5Linetty
- 10Teodorczyk
- 11Maczynski
- 12Boruc
- 18Mila
- 19Janicki
- 20Gajos
- 21Kucharczyk
- 23Wojtkowiak
- Referee:
- Jonas Eriksson
Match Stats
Home TeamR. of IrelandAway TeamPoland
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away19
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Poland 1.
Post update
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Lukasz Szukala.
Post update
Foul by Shane Long (Republic of Ireland).
Post update
Kamil Glik (Poland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Michal Kucharczyk with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tomasz Jodlowiec (Poland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Sebastian Mila with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Poland. Conceded by John O'Shea.
Goal!
Goal! Republic of Ireland 1, Poland 1. Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wes Hoolahan with a headed pass following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
Post update
James McCarthy (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Tomasz Jodlowiec (Poland).
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Michal Kucharczyk replaces Slawomir Peszko.
Booking
James McCarthy (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Slawomir Peszko (Poland) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Poland. Sebastian Mila replaces Arkadiusz Milik.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Shane Long replaces Glenn Whelan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Seamus Coleman (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Robbie Keane.
Post update
Offside, Poland. Lukasz Fabianski tries a through ball, but Maciej Rybus is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Robbie Keane.
