Rep of Ireland 1 - 1 SwedenRepublic of Ireland give up point to Sweden with Ciaran Clark own goal
Home team scorersWes Hoolahan 48
Away team scorersCiaran Clark 71 o.g.
The Republic of Ireland have not had much luck at the European Championship or, indeed, at this stadium but, for a brief period on a pulsating evening, Martin O’Neill’s players looked set to etch their names into history. They had dominated this Group E opener and, when Wes Hoolahan put them in front with a sumptuous half-volley, they could begin to dream.
Ireland have qualified for this tournament on only two previous occasions and they have one victory to their name – the Ray Houghton-inspired triumph over England at Euro 88. But when Hoolahan struck, everything looked extremely rosy.
It was not so much his timing and the technique; followers of the playmaker have grown accustomed to that. It was the fact that Hoolahan executed the goal of his life – and only the fourth that Ireland have scored at this level – with his supposedly weaker right foot.
And yet it would all end in frustration for Ireland and, particularly, for Ciaran Clark, who proved to be the fall guy. With opportunity knocking loudly, Ireland appeared to be gripped by indecision and Sweden, previously present in name only, clambered back into contention. It was an astonishing turnaround and their equaliser came when Zlatan Ibrahimovic crossed and, with Seb Larsson lurking behind him, Clark lunged and headed into his own goal.
At the venue where Ireland were cheated out of a place at the 2010 World Cup by Thierry Henry’s handball for France, they could reflect on the fact that Sweden did not manage a shot on target. What a wasted opportunity this was and yet, towards the end, Sweden looked the likelier winners. Still, Ireland have not been able to beat Sweden in a competitive game.
When the dust had settled, it was not a particularly good result for either country. The safety net has been stretched wide at this tournament, with only eight teams exiting at the group phase, but nobody was under any illusions as to what was at stake here. With matches against the group favourites, Belgium and Italy to come, players from both camps had spoken about the importance of victory something. In many, respects, it had the trimmings of a knockout tie. Both teams now have to dust themselves down.
O’Neill had arrived at his ideal blend after the qualification campaign. Hoolahan was granted a floating role in front of a tight midfield three and behind the strikers, one of whom – Jon Walters – was asked to drop off to make five in midfield when Ireland did not have the ball. It gives them a resolute look while they always carry a threat on set pieces.
Ireland called the tune up until they went ahead. Where Sweden were disjointed and powder-puff, O’Neill’s team were cohesive and threatening. They created a clutch of presentable chances and they could be disappointed to enter the interval with the scoreline blank.
Wes Hoolahan, top right, puts the Republic of Ireland 1-0 up against Sweden. Photograph: Srdjan Suki/EPA
Sweden had been worried about Robbie Brady’s dead-ball deliveries while their defensive travails on them had been well documented. The clearest chance of the first half followed a Brady corner on 17 minutes, which was flicked on by Clark and John O’Shea looked the favourite to score at the far post. The centre-half could not get his feet into position quick enough and when he lunged at the ball, it squirmed underneath his studs.
O’Neill went through all manner of agonies in his technical area, not least on the O’Shea miss, but he could be pleased at the level of control that his team exerted in the first-half. They hassled Sweden out of their stride but they also put together some slick moves, one of which ended with Jeff Hendrick taking a lay-off from Shane Long and rattling the crossbar with a 25-yard drive. The veteran Sweden goalkeeper, Andreas Isaksson, was beaten.
Hendrick had earlier worked Isaksson with a low shot that bounced awkwardly in front of him while Brady cut inside and hammered a rising shot just over the crossbar. There was also the moment just before half-time when Brady crossed and Long, who looked to have been impeded by Martin Olsson, was inches from making a decisive contact.
Sweden, who lost Mikael Lustig to injury on 45 minutes, could not wait for the interval. They had offered nothing as an attacking force, with Ibrahimovic well-policed by Clark and O’Shea and, as Irish confidence grew, Ibrahimovic could be seen urging his team-mates to calm down.
The breakthrough goal had been signposted but the question concerned whether Ireland could locate it. Hoolahan gave the answer in style. Séamus Coleman tied Emil Forsberg in a knot on the right and his cross was cut back invitingly. There remained much to do but Hoolahan, running towards the ball, showed his class to crash it into the far corner of the net.
Ciaran Clark, scorer of the own goal, shows his dejection at full time. Photograph: BPI/Rex/Shutterstock
Moments earlier, Hendrick had seen another shot saved by Isaksson but Sweden stirred after Hoolahan’s moment of magic. Previously, they had sleep-walked but, rather abruptly, they cast off the shackles. The game turned on its heels. The contrast between what had gone before to what would follow was the most startling feature of the tie.
Darren Randolph was called upon to save brilliantly when Clark sliced an attempted clearance at his own goal (an ominous warning shot) and Forsberg put the rebound wastefully wide, while Ibrahimovic, having got the position he wanted on Clark, volleyed just past the post from Olsson’s cross.
Ibrahimovic had become more of a force and would claim the assist on the equaliser before being inches from snatching victory in the 82nd minute, but he could not get a touch to Olsson’s driven centre.
Guardian