Faroe Islands 1-4 Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland put their drubbing
by Germany behind them with a 4-1
victory away to Faroe Islands to ease
the pressure on manager Giovanni
Trapattoni.
After a goalless first period, the
breakthrough finally arrived with less
than a minute of the second half gone,
and it did so in spectacular fashion.
Full-back Marc Wilson picked up
possession wide on the left and cut
inside before shooting right-footed
from 30 yards with the ball clipping
full-back Jonas Naes on the head as it
flew into the top corner.
Robbie Keane had a hand in his side's
second goal three minutes later as
Wilson's left-wing cross was headed
towards goal by Jon Walters and
Keane's efforts to get there before
Gunnar Nielsen put the keeper off and
the ball ended up in the back of the
net, with the Stoke man credited with
the goal.
The Faroes hit back with 22 minutes
remaining when Jonas Tor Naes was
given time to cross from the right and
delivered the perfect cross for
substitute Arnbjorn Hansen to climb
high and head firmly past Keiren
Westwood.
But the Republic eased any nerves with
further goals as Pol Johannes
Justinussen put through his own net
and Darren O'Dea added a fourth with
time running out.
It had been a tumultuous few days for
Trapattoni and there was another twist
even before kick-off when it was
confirmed that the post-match de-brief
he usually holds with the media a day
after a game, and which had been
planned for Wednesday evening in
Dublin, had been cancelled with the
manager due to fly straight back to
Milan.
Football Association of Ireland chief
executive John Delaney refused to
discuss the matter as he sat stony-
faced in the crowd before kick-off and
as he left after the final whistle having
applauded the team off the pitch.