Special Sub-Topic: 2002 World Cup Qualifiers Authored by: Sue16 Sub-topic of: Ireland

Who did Ireland play in their first group qualifier?

Holland. On September 2nd, 2000 Ireland played Holland away. One month later Ireland played Portugal away and four days later Estonia at home. In March 2001 Ireland played Cyprus and Andorra (both away games), and a month later Ireland played Andorra at home. A few months later Ireland played Portugal at home, then Estonia away. In September 2001 Ireland played Holland again, this time at home, almost one year to the day from Ireland's first match. Ireland's final group game was against Cyprus at home.

Were Ireland beaten in the group stage?

n. The 10 group matches finished as follows; 1st match 2-2 (Holland away), 2nd match 1-1 (Portugal away), 3rd match 2-0 (Estonia home), 4th match 4-0 (Cyprus away), 5th match 3-0 (Andorra away), 6th match 3-1 (Andorra home), 7th match 1-1 (Portugal home), 8th match 2-0 (Estonia away), 9th match 1-0 (Holland home), and the last group qualifier was a 4-0 win over Cyprus at home.

In Ireland's match away to Holland they were 2-0 up after the hour mark. What was the final score?

2-2 draw. Ireland played Holland in Amsterdam. Robbie Keane gave Ireland a 1-0 lead after 21 minutes, and Jason McAteer doubled the score after the hour mark. Talan then made it 2-1 with about 20 minutes left and Van Bronckhorst then equalized for the Dutch with less than 10 minutes left.

When Ireland played Portugal away the final score was 1-1. Portugal had taken a 1-0 lead on 57 minutes through Conceicao. Who equalized for Ireland?

Matt Holland. On 73 minutes Matt Holland took a long range shot from outside the box and the the ball flew past the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Four days after playing Portugal away, Ireland were at home against Estonia. Ireland won the match but what was the final score?

2-0. Ireland won 2-0. Goals from Mark Kinsella and Gary Breen either side of the half were the two goals.

Ireland beat Cyprus 4-0 in Nicosia. Who scored two of the goals?

Roy Keane. Roy Keane got his first of the competition near the half hour mark after getting on the end of a cross and squeezing the ball beyond the goalkeeper. Ian Harte got the second just before half time. Gary Kelly made it 3-0 with ten minutes to go and then Roy Keane got his second and Ireland's fourth two minutes before the end of normal time.

When Ireland played Andorra in Barcelona the final score was 3-0. Ian Harte scored the first goal and Matt Holland scored the third goal. Who scored Ireland's second goal and also his first of the campaign?

Kevin Kilbane. Ian Harte scored on 33 minutes. Kevin Kilbane scored after 76 minutes and Matt Holland scored after 80 minutes. The three other options (Damien Duff, Clinton Morrison and Mark Kennedy) never scored during the qualifying campaign. Ireland's 25 goals (23 in group stage and 2 in the playoff) goals came from: Roy Keane 4, Ian Harte 4, Matt Holland 3, Robbie Keane 2, Jason McAteer 2, Kevin Kilbane 2, Mark KInsella 2, Gary Breen 2, plus Niall Quinn, Richard Dunne, Gary Kelly, and David Connoly all scored one each.

Ireland played Andorra in Dublin and the final score was 3-1 - Lima Sola scored for Andorra and Kilbane, Kinsella and Breen scored for Ireland. Andorra scored first, but how many minutes did it take for Ireland to take 2-1 lead?

5 minutes. Lima Sola scored for Andorra at the hour mark and 35,000 people in Lansdowne Road were shocked. However after about two minutes Kevin Kilbane scored making it 1-1 and after a further two or three minutes Mark Kinsella made it 2-1.

When Ireland faced Portugal at home, the final score was 1-1. Which team scored first?

Ireland & I. Roy Keane scored on 68 minutes to give Ireland a 1-0 lead. Luis Figo scored for Portugal after 78 minutes.

In the 1-1 all draw with Portugal at home who scored the goals for the two teams?

Roy Keane and Luis Figo. Roy Keane scored when he turned with the ball, took a shot and it found its way past the Portuguese goalkeeper and into the goal off the post. Luis Figo scored with a header on 78 minutes.

Which defender scored their first and their only goal of the qualifying campaign against Estonia, in Tallinn?

Richard Dunne. Richard Dunne scored from a corner after 8 minutes. The other three players: Gary Breen scored twice in the campaign against Andorra and Estonia (in Dublin), Phil Babb didn't play at all in the qualifying matches, and Gary kelly scored once but it was against Cyprus.

When Ireland played Holland it was one of the greatest Ireland performances I have ever seen. Ireland won 1-0 and finished with ten men. Who scored Ireland's goal, and who got sent off.

Jason McAteer scored the goal, Gary Kelly was sent off. Gary Kelly got sent off after receiving two yellow cards in just under one hour. Jason McAteer scored the goal ten minutes later after latching onto the end of a cross from Steve Finnan (who came on for Robbie Keane as Ireland prepared to defend for the last thirty minutes of the match).

The final group game for Ireland was against Cyprus. What was the final score?

4-0 Ireland. Ireland won 4-0 with goals from Ian Harte, Niall Quinn, David Connoly and Roy Keane.

Ireland were then into a two legged play-off with Iran. The winner qualified for the World Cup. Ireland won the first leg in Dublin 2-0 but what was the problem Ireland faced for the second leg?

Inspirational captain Roy Keane was injured and unable to play. Roy Keane was injured ahead of the second leg. It was believed that he wouldn't play in the first leg but it seemed his injury worries were over. He played in the first leg but his injury got aggravated and he was unable to play.

Ireland were then into a two legged play-off with Iran. The winner qualified for the World Cup. Ireland won the first leg in Dublin 2-0 and, after the seocnd leg, Ireland qualified for the World Cup. What was the final score in the match in Iran?

1-0 Iran. Ireland suffered their first defeat of the whole World Cup qualifying campaign when the lost 1-0 to Iran. Iran scored in the dying seconds of the match but it was too little too late and Ireland won 2-1 on aggregate.