Kasey McAteer scored his first worldwide aim for the Republic of Eire as they performed out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Senegal in Dublin.
The Irish delivered a efficiency filled with business of their first-ever encounter with the Senegalese on the Aviva Stadium.
Leicester’s McAteer and Ipswich’s Jack Taylor made their first begins for Eire with head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson taking a look at his choices forward of the start of the World Cup qualifying marketing campaign in September.
Senegal, ranked nineteenth by FIFA, 41 locations greater than the Republic, named an experimental facet with solely two starters remaining from their latest World Cup qualifying win over Togo.
The West African facet began brightly, controlling possession within the early phases and maintaining the stress on Eire with two corners.
Nevertheless, Eire grew in stature all through the primary half and opened the scoring via McAteer within the twenty first minute when Senegal didn’t clear a nook.
Ryan Manning crossed and Nathan Collins headed it on to McAteer. His preliminary header was splendidly saved by Yehvann Diouf, however the ahead saved his composure to manage the rebound and hearth it residence.
The Irish stayed on the entrance foot for the remainder of the half, displaying good vitality as they moved the ball rapidly between defence and assault, seeming to rattle the Senegalese, who had been defending a 20-match unbeaten run.
Antoine Mendy had the guests’ finest probability of the half, however he screwed his shot from the sting of the field excessive and large.
Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, not too long ago signed by Brentford from Liverpool, had just about nothing to do earlier than the break.
The second half began in comparable constructive vogue for Eire and Southampton’s Will Smallbone ought to have doubled their lead however shot straight on the keeper. Ryan Manning tried to fireplace within the rebound nevertheless it was brilliantly blocked by Mendy.
With the sport opening up, Senegal virtually equalised moments later when Kelleher received the faintest of touches onto Krepin Diatta’s header which crashed in opposition to the crossbar.
After the hour mark, each side made a sequence of adjustments, with Senegal introducing promising 21-year-old Lamine Camara, who has already performed within the Champions League for Monaco, and Crystal Palace’s FA Cup winner Ismaila Sarr.
Camara virtually made an instantaneous affect when his shot was deflected onto a submit earlier than being scrambled away by Kelleher.
The risk from Senegal grew as the sport wore on. Nevertheless Ismail Jakob’s bold effort to attain from exterior the field sailed excessive over the bar.
The Irish invited stress by defending deeper late within the second half. McAteer, who had run tirelessly all through, was changed within the eightieth minute as was Smallbone because the Republic turned in the direction of recent legs.
Nevertheless, Senegal’s stress instructed when substitute Sarr poked residence within the 82nd minute shortly after Kelleher had saved along with his ft.
Senegal had a free-kick on the sting of the field deep in harm time as tempers flared between the 2 groups, however Camara didn’t get it over the defending wall.
The match didn’t have the texture of a pleasant as each Eire and Senegal went for the win, however in the end each will probably be glad with the draw.
