Last-gasp Ireland avoid embarrassment

Stephen Ireland spared the Republic of Ireland's blushes with a last-gasp winner as Steve Staunton's men ground out a 2-1 victory over Euro 2008 qualifying Group D minnows San Marino.

The hosts looked like clinching the first European Championship point in their history when Manuel Malina cancelled out Kevin Kilbane's opener four minutes from time.

But just eight seconds from the end of stoppage time, midfielder Ireland tapped home a simple chance from inside the six-yard box.

The Irish may have dominated throughout, but the football they served up was disappointing.

Damien Duff scuffed an early fourth-minute shot, swiftly followed by Lee Carsley firing an 18-yard drive that shaved the crossbar.

San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini then made two good saves, first denying Ian Harte from a 25-yard free-kick before thwarting Duff from 10 yards. Captain Robbie Keane should then have buried a 15th-minute opportunity, but instead he drilled his shot narrowly wide of the post.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 49th minute following a fine right-wing ball from Steve Finnan. Debutant Shane Long managed to flick the ball on to the far post where Kilbane headed home his seventh goal for his country.

Duff also showed his class in the 56th minute when the Newcastle winger brilliantly retrieved a Harte free-kick from wide on the left that cleared the heads of everyone in the area. He then surged past two defenders before driving a right-foot shot across the face of goal but Keane failed to connect from a yard out.

The missed chances came back to haunt them in the 86th minute when Marini capitalised on a mix-up between Paul McShane and goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.

At that point San Marino stood on the brink of history as they had previously lost all 37 of their European Championship qualifiers. But instead, they were robbed by Ireland's last-gasp goal.