UEFA U17 European Championships Report: Belgium 1 - 1 Republic of Ireland

Brendan Graham reports from Tallaght Stadium

A brave and battling performance from Colin O’Brien’s Ireland side saw them draw 1-1 with Belgium but it wasn’t enough to see them through to the quarter-finals.

Timi Sobowale scored his first international goal 15 minutes from time to cancel out Chris Kalulika’s second-half opener and Belgium held out to top the group, with the Czech Republic finished second.

Ahead of the game, Belgium sat at the top of the group with four points with Ireland level on two points apiece with the Czechs, who faced Greece in Bray, so it was all to play for.

It was a very even opening to the game with both sides sounding each other out in midfield. The first chance of the game came the way of Belgium through Killian Sardella.

The defender did well to get his head on the end of a Wouter George corner but he sent his effort wide of the post.

Matthew Everitt led the line on his own up front for Ireland and battled away in the opening stages in an effort to find a way through a compacted Belgium defence, but found it hard with little support.

The game really started to open up with 15 minutes played, Jimmy Corcoran pulling off a number of saves following fantastic Belgium pressing into the Ireland box.

Corcoran was on top form to deny the lively Jeremy Doku before Joseph Hodge made a fantastic last-ditch clearance off the line to deny Thibo Baeten with the rebound.

Belgium began to crank up the pressure on Ireland with 20 minutes on the clock along with taking a healthy early lead in the possession stats.

Winger Doku was causing all sorts of problems with his pace and trickery down the left wing, with Kalulika and Baeten going close with chances as a result of his accurate deliveries into the box.

Despite having to defend and soak up huge amounts of pressure in the opening 45 minutes, Ireland did manage to create a great chance of their own as the half-time whistle edged closer.

Josh Giurgi did extremely well to round his way into the box and get his shot off towards goal but his effort was well saved by Maarten Vandevoordt in the Belgium goal.

Belgium started the second half as they ended the first, taking control of possession in midfield as they tried to find the opening goal.

Chances fell to Kalulika and Hugo Siquet before Andrew Omobamidele pulled off a fantastic double clearance in front of goal to deny Belgium again.

Their pressure and persistence going forward paid off after 65 minutes with Doku again the creator, weaving past Sean McEvoy after playing a lovely one-two with Ait El Hadj.

Doku saw his effort saved at the near post by Corcoran, but he could only manage to palm the ball into the path of Kalulika, who slotted the ball in to the net to give Belgium the lead.

Ireland did well after conceding to maintain their composure and keep the score at 1-0 heading into the closing stages.

Just ten minutes after Belgium’s opener Ireland were level throug Sobowale, the defender racing onto a James Furlong free-kick before volleying past Vandevoordt to rapturous applause from the home crowd.

The goal really buoyed the home side and the crowd really got behind the Boys in Green but they just couldn’t find that elusive winner that would have seen them qualify for the next round.

Republic of Ireland: Jimmy Corcoran; Sean McEvoy, Timi Sobowale, Andrew Omobamidele, James Furlong; Joseph Hodge, Seamas Keogh (Roland Idowu 85), Sean Kennedy (Anselmo Garcia McNulty 89), Joshua Giurgi (Ronan McKinley 67); Charlie McCann (Brandon Holt 67), Matt Everitt

Subs not used: Gavin Bazunu (gk), Harry Halwax (gk), Luke Turner

Booked: None.

Belgium: Maarten Vandevoordt; Killian Sardella, Jeremy Landu, Hugo Siquet (Yunus Bahadir 89), Rob Nizet; Marco Kana, Wouter George, Anouar Ait El Hadj (Mathias De Wolf 79), Jeremy Doku, Chris Kalulika; Thibo Baeten (Francois Xavier Engolo 70)

Subs not used: Senne Lammens (gk), Tibo Persyn, Ameen Al Dakhil, Samuel Asoma, Franck Idumbo-Muzambo

Booked: None.

Referee: Krzysztof Jakubik (Poland).

Attendance: 4,885 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Jeremy Doku (Belgium).