Uruguay too strong for Republic

Keith Fahey (left)
12 April 2012

Shane Long's header and a Keith Fahey penalty were not enough to hand the Republic of Ireland a share of the spoils as World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay's class saw them record a 3-2 friendly victory.

Skipper Diego Lugano handed the South Americans a 12th-minute lead which was cancelled out within three minutes by Long.

Superb finishes from Edinson Cavani and Abel Hernandez gave the visitors a commanding 3-1 half-time lead, but Fahey's 48th-minute penalty kept the Irish in it until the death at the Aviva Stadium.

Defeat in a friendly against strong opposition was no disgrace and Giovanni Trapattoni will have been delighted at the way his fringe players fought in the face of a stern test.

Uruguay went ahead with just 12 minutes gone when Fahey saw his clearing header come back off Cavani and fall invitingly to the unmarked Lugano, who took full advantage.

But Ireland were level within three minutes when Long rose to power a header from Liam Lawrence past keeper Fernando Muslera, who had earlier somehow fumbled a Fahey shot over his crossbar.

However, it did not take the visitors long to re-establish their superiority and they restored their lead with 22 minutes gone when Maximiliano Pereira cut along the edge of the penalty area before picking out Cavani, who passed the ball into the far corner.

Hernandez, who had got gradually closer with three previous attempts, finally found his range with an equally adept finish five minutes before the break after Alvaro Pereira had picked off Fahey's pass to Lawrence and played him into space.

It took Ireland just three minutes of the second half to drag themselves back into the game after Long once again caused problems. The striker broke free down the right and evaded Lugano's attentions before cutting the ball back into the path of James McCarthy and Andy Keogh.

Martin Caceres' desperate challenge only succeeded in bringing both men to earth and referee Said Ennjimi pointed straight to the spot. Fahey obliged to make it 3-2 and rekindle hope among a sparse home crowd.

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