Kenny's Ireland fall to Dutch defeat in drab Amsterdam affair
EURO Qualifiers
Netherlands 1 (Wout Weghorst, 12) Rep of Ireland 0
A solitary goal was needed for the Netherlands to clinch Euro qualification but the presence of the celebratory props confirmed their confidence of completing the double over Ireland.
Similar to the first game, Wout Weghorst was the matchwinner, belying his reputation as a gangly target man to barge clear and tuck a sumptuous shot into the top corner after 11 minutes.
A slender winning margin but no doubt which of the teams deserve to be in Germany next year.
This defeat ends Stephen Kenny’s era with a record of six losses from their eight qualifiers – the only points coming against a Gibraltar side dismantled 14-0 by France.
That he didn’t even use this dead rubber to introduce Andy Moran – snared from the Under-21s for their defeat in Norway on Friday – adds to the rap sheet of the outgoing manager.
He did his best to bow out resolute until the end.
September’s home defeat, which effectively killed off any hope of recovery from a ropey start, was characterised by Ireland’s lively opening fading into familiar failings.
Something similar unfolded here, only it wasn’t franked with a goal.
Adam Idah grabbed that breakthrough in Dublin and his fellow Corkman Alan Browne was presented with the chance to silence the home crowd on six minutes.
Slack passing out from the back allowed Callum Robinson to activate the press by retrieving possession and freeing Browne through the inside channel.
He opted to shoot early but could only do so with the outside of the boot and Bart Verbruggen was unnerved, standing tall to easily save.
Stephen Kenny had cited Josh Cullen as pivotal to Ireland’s plan of taking control of the proceedings and that was a possibility
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