Ireland 1-2 Netherlands: Gakpo & Weghorst effectively Ireland hopes of Euro 2024
Wout Weghorst broke Irish hearts with the goal that almost certainly ends their hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2024 and piles more pressure on manager Stephen Kenny.
The former Manchester United striker, who struggled to impress during a loan spell at Old Trafford last season and now plays for Hoffenheim in Germany, climbed off the bench at the Aviva Stadium last night to complete Holland’s comeback after Ireland had rocked Ronaldo Koeman’s side by taking an early lead.
It was Ireland’s fourth defeat in five games in Group B and means they now trail Holland and Greece by six points in the race to qualify behind runaway Group B leaders France. Their next games are against Greece and Gibraltar next month, but it already looks like a hopeless task after losing what was dubbed a must-win game.
Kenny had called on Ireland to produce the ‘performance of their lives’ on a par with the famous 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Holland in Dublin 22 years ago this month, and his players didn’t waste any time in rising to the challenge.
The game was seconds old when new Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken played a risky ball out from the back to Frenkie de Jong who was dispossessed by Alan Browne, and Alan Idah fed Chiedozie Ogbene whose effort was blocked by Mats Wieffer.
It was only a temporary reprieve as captain Shane Duffy met James McClean’s corner from the right and Bosnia referee Irfan Peljto ruled that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk had handled inside his own box.
It seemed a harsh decision given that the ball hit Van Dijk’s trailing arm and he had little time to react, but the penalty stood and Idah – deputising for the injured Evan Ferguson – converted from the spot after only three minutes.
It was the catalyst
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