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Home , Angelo Ogbonna, Robbie Brady, Salvatore Sirigu

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 47 Brady heroics take Ireland into last 16

LILLE: Robbie Brady struck with just five minutes remaining as the Republic of FAN FERVOR Ireland claimed a dramatic 1-0 win over in Lille on Wednesday to reach the knockout phase of Euro 2016. Brady’s goal arrived just when it looked as if Ireland were heading out due to a combination of Italy goalkeeper and Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan. Ireland had to win the match at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy against an Italian side already assured of first place in Group E and got the win they needed to set up a last-16 tie against hosts France. Before Brady struck, Sirigu, standing in for in the Italian goal, made a superb save to deny while Hategan twice waved away Irish penalty appeals in the first half. “It’s what dreams are made of. We have done the job for everyone who came to see us and all the Irish fans around the LILLE: Ireland’s Robert Brady scores a goal past Italy’s goalkeeper world,” said Brady. “It is a proud night for Salvatore Sirigu during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Italy myself and fantastic for the team.” Coach and Ireland at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq.— AFP Martin O’Neill made four changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Belgium last weekend a vast support behind them. The roof was tipped over by Sirigu. in Bordeaux as Ireland looked for their first closed at the stadium, a decision which win over Italy in a competitive match since had the effect of raising the noise levels Penalty controversy the 1994 World Cup in the United States. but also helped to protect a shocking Ireland were the better side and were James McClean and Daryl Murphy pitch from further deteriorating before it is twice left fuming at the match officials as started while it was all change in central replaced for the knockout rounds. penalty calls went against them in the final defence with and Shane The surface may not have lent itself to five minutes of the half. First the Romanian Duffy chosen to partner one another. With flowing football but showed referee and his assistants failed to spot top spot in the group sewn up and with great technique to fashion a shooting wrestling with Murphy one eye on their last-16 tie against Spain opportunity on his left foot that flew inch- in the area and then he ruled that Federico next Monday, Italy coach es wide from 20 metres out early on. Bernardeschi played the ball fairly as he made eight changes to his side. Murphy, who had never scored for Ireland took out McClean. The lack of rhythm of what was essen- in 21 previous appearances stretching In between those two incidents which tially an Italian B team played into the back nine years, came closest to breaking increased the temperature inside the are- hands of Ireland, who came out of the the deadlock in the first half with a header na, Italy threatened as shot traps flying, adrenaline pumping and with from Brady’s 21st-minute corner that was narrowly past from 25 yards. —AFP Chile down Colombia to reach Copa final

CHICAGO: Chile stormed into the Copa the remaining 45 minutes. Pizzi said. “Just sitting in the dressing America final here Wednesday, beating However a break in the weather room waiting for something.” When Colombia 2-0 in a weather-disrupted allowed teams of ground staff to set play got under way both sides produced semi-final that took more than four about clearing excess water from the one of the most entertaining halfs of the hours to complete. The defending field, and after a delay of two hours and tournament, Colombia attacking relent- champions advanced to a repeat of last 25 minutes, the second half resumed at lessly in an effort to get back into the year’s final against Argentina on Sunday 10:25pm local time (0325 GMT). “It was match and Chile chasing a third goal to after a whirlwind start left Colombia hard to stay focused, for those hours,” kill the game off.—AFP chasing the game. Chile, who had destroyed Mexico 7-0 in the quarter- finals on Saturday, picked up where they left off, scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes to take a grip on the contest. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Charles Aranguiz opened the scoring in the sev- enth minute before Jose Pedro Fuenzalida made it 2-0 after 11 minutes. “It’s a good feeling to be back in the final again after overcoming difficult opponents,” Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said. “We got off to a good start, played aggressively and had a lot of anticipation. That helped us score the goals.” Chile’s explosive start to the con- test was overshadowed by the interven- tion of Mother Nature at half-time, as a powerful electrical thunderstorm rolled into downtown Chicago and halted play. Tens of thousands of spectators were ordered to take shelter inside the stadium, leaving the ground empty as torrential rain pounded the stands. For a while it looked as if play would be aban- CHICAGO: Chile’s Charles Aranguiz (C) dribbles past Colombia’s Edwin Cardona doned, with the teams forced to return and Daniel Torres (R) during the Copa America Centenario semifinal football to the venue on Thursday to complete match. — AFP