Russian Federation 4 - Republic of Ireland 2

By Cian Duffy
September 7 2002

The Republic of Ireland loose 4-2 to the Russian Federation in Moscow, after a night of violent disturbances in which two Ireland fans were injured...

Ireland got off to a poor start in the Qualification for Euro 2004 in Portugal today, going down 4-2 to Russia. Early goals in the first half from Karayaki, on 21, and Beshantnykh, on 26, went in with little difficulty. Damien Duff picked up an injury. and had to be replaced by Clinton Morrison.

In the second half, Doherty was substituted on for Jason McAteer, and had a shot on goal deflected after only 1 minute. Within 4 minutes of that, Doherty scored a goal, but in the maneuvere following kick-off, Russia's Kerzhakov managed to bring them 2 up again. Ten minutes after that, Clinton Morrison managed to bring Ireland back to within a goal of Russia.

Phil Babb was Ireland';s last substitution, in his first match for Ireland since he and Mark Kennedy were arrested for vandelising the car of a member of the Garda Siochana. In the 85th minute, Kerzhakov made a blantently offside run on goal, which the Referee and the linesman failed to reprimand. He took a shot on goal, saved by Given, but which defelected off the chest of Babb into the goal, putting Russia 4-2 up.

During extra time, the Russian goal keeper was yellow carded for time wasting on taking a goal kick. I can't pronounce OR spell his name, so I'll leave it at that.

Russian Federation 4 - Republic of Ireland 2
Karayaki 21 Doherty 68
Beshantnykh 26 Morrison 74
Kerzhakov 69
Babb OG 85