Martin O’Neill’s men battled their way to a 2-all draw against Serbia after a drab display from both sides in-front of a surprisingly small crowd inside the Red Star Stadium.
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But Serbia hit back in the second half, first with Filip Kostic and then Dusan Tadic from the spot after a controversial penalty award.
Newcastle’s new signing Daryl Murphy rescued a point for the Republic with an 80th minute equaliser after the visitors had fallen behind to two second half Serbian goals in a seven-minute spell.
Group D rivals Wales and Austria got their qualification accounts off to a winning start against Moldova and Georgia, respectively.
What did you think of Murphy’s performance against Serbia?
The Ireland boss continued: “It’s very hard”. “I was alone and I could have asked him (McGovern) where I should place it”.
Everton had the honour of producing two worldwide captains on one night as Ashley Williams of Wales and the Republic of Ireland’s Seamus Coleman both skippered their countries in World Cup qualifiers with the Blues pair both securing positive results.
Northern Ireland next face San Marino at home on October 8 before travelling to Germany three days later.
Republic of Ireland: Randolph (West Ham); Coleman (Everton), O’Shea (Sunderland), Keogh (Derby County), Ward (Burnley); Whelan (Stoke City), Hendrick (Burnley), Brady (Norwich City), McClean (West Brom); Walters (Stoke City); Long (Southampton). Subs. Quinn 7, Murphy 8, Clark N/A.
Furthermore, Muslin’s charges have hit two or more goals in each of their last 13 home victories and Paddy Power go 13/10 (2.30) that Serbia score a couple of times. That may have deflected off Branislav Ivanovic, but if not, that is Hendrick’s first goal in his 27th appearance. Shane Long had a good chance and if we had taken that, we might have taken a win, but it is good to get a point.
Ireland managed to hold on to the narrow 1-0 advantage until the half-time whistle as Serbia were booed off.
O’Shea got completely outfoxed by Tadic in the box and, with Irish skipper Seamus Coleman having drifted off marking Kostic, the 23-year-old Hamburg midfielder made no mistake from close range.
69′ – GOAL! Serbia 2-1 Republic of Ireland.
O’Neill said the penalty had “looked soft”. Pavlovic is in to run in to Randolph’s spill, but he raps the crossbar from 10 yards out. Daryl Murphy thumps home Brady’s corner to level it up on the night.
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Indeed, Ireland can be backed at a chunky 16/5 (4.20) with Paddy Power to pick up three precious points from this match, while the odds compilers offer 23/10 (3.30) that this Group D curtain raiser ends in stalemate.
