Bill Barclay
Ireland cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in a World Cup group E match on Tuesday to reach the second round of the tournament for the third time in three appearances.
Goals by in-form striker Robbie Keane, defender Gary Breen and winger Damien Duff meant Mick McCarthy's side finished second in the group behind Germany and they will play Spain or South Africa in the last 16.
Ireland's progress was a triumph for McCarthy, who had to lift his squad after captain Roy Keane was sent home on the eve of the finals following a furious bust-up with his coach.
"We settled in the second half, we were a bit nervous in the first," McCarthy said. "The lads have responded really well, they were brilliant."
Tuesday's win meant Ireland finished on five points from three games, two less than Germany and one more than Cameroon.
It was also the first time in 12 World Cup finals matches that Ireland, quarter-finalists in 1990, had managed to score two goals.
Keane, who grabbed the dramatic last-minute equaliser against Germany in Ireland's previous game, gave them the perfect start after seven minutes.
The 21-year-old superbly volleyed Gary Kelly's hanging cross past flailing Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea.
At a drizzly Yokohama International Stadium, Saudi Arabia, beaten 8-0 by Germany and already eliminated, threatened more as the half wore on.
Nawaf Al-Temyat was at the centre of their best work, often giving Ireland left-back Ian Harte a hard time, and three minutes before the interval he set up Mohammed Al-Jahani who tested Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given with a stinging shot.
BETTER SHAPE
McCarthy responded by removing Harte at halftime and bringing on tall striker Niall Quinn, and Keane, with two sharp efforts, soon threatened to double their advantage.
Ireland suddenly had a better shape, with Kevin Kilbane filling in at left-back and Duff moving back into the midfield.
It was no surprise when Breen diverted captain Steve Staunton's free kick past Al-Deayea for Ireland's second on the hour and Duff claimed the third three minutes from time following a mistake by the Saudi keeper.
The winger's powerful, angled drive should have been saved, but Al-Deayea failed to get a strong enough hand on the ball and it squirmed into the net to the delight of the Irish support in the 65,320 crowd.
