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Robbie Brady was knocked off the crossbar when the Republic of Ireland Nations League campaign ended with a groan to leave manager Stephen Kenny awaiting his first win.
One night when victory would have secured Ireland’s place in the second pot for the next World Cup draw, they couldn’t find the back of the net for a seventh game in a row (now they haven’t scored in 11 hours of soccer ) as they ruled their way to an uneventful 0-0 draw with Bulgaria in Dublin.
Brady’s effort in the 68th minute was the closest they came to ending Kenny’s sterile streak on the eighth attempt, but avoiding defeat means Ireland will remain in League B, if only fair, at the expense of the Bulgarians.
Such has been the commotion on Ireland’s pitch as a result of positive coronavirus tests and injuries in the past 10 days that two members of the starting lineup, rookie Ryan Manning and 19-year-old Derby midfielder Jason Knight, neither they were even included in the starting kit.
The home team started nervously and could have had to pay when Brazilian full-back Cicinho was allowed to run into the penalty area and retrieve the ball for forward Bozhidar Kraev, though his attempt was blocked at the source.
Ireland repeatedly gave up possession cheaply as they tried to establish a rhythm and it was Bulgaria, with Kristiyan Malinov leading from midfield, who looked more fluid as the half progressed.
James Collins only failed to reach teammate Ronan Curtis’ deflected cross in the 17th minute at the far post, but goalkeeper Darren Randolph, who won his 50th international, had to field Dimitar Iliev’s deflected effort 10 minutes later. of Knight, who seemed safe up to that point. point, he played a blind pass on his way in an attempt to find captain Shane Duffy.
The half hour mark came and went with Kenny’s men having produced as lukewarm and incoherent a display as they had during the new manager’s reign to date, and Duffy’s header on a 32 minute free throw. , apparently his main route to goal. – Did little to ease the boredom.
Defender Kristian Dimitrov landed a header in the 35th minute on the roof of Randolph’s goal, but Collins could have done better at the other end six minutes before half-time when he encountered a cut Daryl Horgan cross at the far post, but he couldn’t contain his effort. .
Collins hooked Dara O’Shea’s cross in the 54th minute at the side net, but it was Curtis who should have broken the deadlock seconds later when, after being played by Knight, he jumped high from the edge of the area with just Lukov. . overcome.
Randolph nearly compounded the forward’s error when he made a mess with a kickback attempt with Kraev closing in on him, and Duffy had to lunge in the way of Dimitrov’s shot at point-blank range after he allowed himself a corner in the 67th minute to catch him on the far pole.
Ireland’s response was instantaneous and Brady had the desperate misfortune of not opening the scoring when he cut into Aleksandar Tsvetkov and unleashed a shot that went through Lukov but off the crossbar.
Kenny’s men threw everything they had in search of a winner when time ran out, but they didn’t.
PA media
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