Live

LIVE: OTB Weekend

02:30 PM-03:00 PM

LIVE: OTB Weekend
Advertisement
Soccer

Ahead of tonight's game against Scotland, let's look back at some of Ireland's most important goals

Ireland have got off to a cracking start in the qualifiers for Euro 2016, and hopes are high ahea...



Ahead of tonight's game ag...
Soccer

Ahead of tonight's game against Scotland, let's look back at some of Ireland's most important goals

Ireland have got off to a cracking start in the qualifiers for Euro 2016, and hopes are high ahead of tonight's fixture against Scotland.

With the Scots showing similarly good form, the game at Celtic Park looks set to be a defining moment for both team's prospects of reaching the finals.

Neither side has failed to score so far in this campaign, and both Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan are likely to keep the game open.

So in case we have another defining goal to add to our footballing history, let's have a look back at the most important strikes so far.

Matt Holland, Ireland 1 - 1 Cameroon, World Cup 2002

With Saudi Arabia playing the whipping boys and Germany the hot favourites, the fight for second place in Group E was left to Ireland and Cameroon.

A goal by striker Patrick M'Boma just before the half put the African side ahead, leaving Ireland in the lurch. But thankfully a botched clearance gave Matt Holland the chance to smack one in from outside the box, levelling the game and keeping Irish hopes alive.

Jason McAteer, Ireland 1 - 0 Holland, World Cup Qualifiers 2001

In one of the brightest moments of the Mick McCarthy era, Ireland managed to grab a 1 - 0 victory over a Dutch team playing Patrick Kluivert and Ruud van Nistelrooy up front.

It was Jason McAteer's strike on 67 minutes that put would eventually set us up with a play-off place against Iran and a spot in the 2002 finals.

David O'Leary, Ireland 0 - 0 Romania (Penalties: 5 - 4), World Cup 1990

Italia '90 still remains the pinnacle of Ireland's footballing achievement.

After coming through the group stages by grace of a coin toss, Ireland faced a tough Romanian team led by the legendary Gheorghe Hagi. Neither team proved able to break each other down hoever, and so penalties would decide it.

After Packie Bonner saved the Romanians' fifth attempt, the unlikely figure of David O'Leary stepped up to the spot. O'Leary had only come on as an-extra time substitute, but proved up to the occasion, placing the ball to the right and earning the team a place in the quarter-finals.

Robbie Keane, Ireland 1 - 1 Germany, World Cup 2002

Ranking as Ireland's top goalscorer, and one of the top international goalscorers ever, Robbie Keane was always guaranteed a place on this list. 

The ex-Tottenham man's greatest moment in green is definitely his last-minute equaliser against Germany in Japan. Things were looking bleak until a lovely flick-on header by Niall Quinn gave Keane space between the two German centre-backs. Some fine chest control and a great finish past Oliver Kahn gave us a famous result, and by the end of the tournament only Ireland and winners Brazil had been able to avoid defeat against Germany.

Alan McLoughlin, Ireland 1 - 1 Northern Ireland, World Cup Qualifiers 1993

Both McLaughlin and Niall Quinn recently spoke to Off the Ball about their experiences of the game, the most tense of their career. Violence in the North contributed to a deeply uncomfortable atmosphere at the game, in which Ireland needed a result to move ahead of Denmark and into second place.

Jimmy Quinn put Northern Ireland up on 74 minutes, but Alan McLoughlin, who had performed poorly so far in the campaign, smacked a half-volley into the net four minutes later to gain Ireland a point. When players reached the dressing room, news broke that Spain had beaten Denmark by a goal  - and Ireland would be heading stateside for the next year's World Cup.

Ronnie Whelan, Ireland 1 - 0 Soviet Union, European Championships 1988

With Ireland in their first ever major finals, and Ray Houghton's early strike claiming a victory against England in the opening fixture, the Irish team were on a high.

And things looked to be getting even better when Ronnie Whelan's inspired volley from a throw-in gave Ireland the lead against a talented Soviet team. Though it still ranks as one of the most spectacular goals scored in an Irish shirt, Olen Protosov was able to level the game and grab the Soviets a draw. A late goal by eventual winners Holland in the following match would knock Ireland out, but it was an auspicious start to the Charlton era nonetheless.

Ray Houghton, Ireland 1 - 0 Italy, World Cup 1994

The second and last World Cup of the Charlton-era began with a cracker of a match against Italy. With an injured Paul McGrath putting in a heroic shift containing the front line of Roberto Baggio and Giuseppe Signori, only one goal was needed to record one of the most famous victories in Irish football history.

On the 11 minute mark, Ray Houghton, spotting keeper Gianluca Pagliuca off his line, launched an ambitious shot from well outside the box. Looping over the the Italian's outstretched hand and into the net, the shot would produce our only victory in the group stage, which sent us to face Holland in the quarter-finals.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer