Republic of Ireland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. European Championship Qualifying Qualifying Play-Offs.
Aviva Stadium.
3-1
Tuesday 17 November 2015 08:39, UK
The Republic of Ireland qualified for Euro 2016 after beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the second leg of their play-off at the Aviva Stadium on Monday night.
Ireland were sent on their way to next summer's tournament in France by Jonathan Walters' penalty midway through the first half, with the Stoke City forward then adding a second after half-time.
And that was enough to see the home side qualify for their second successive appearance in the European championship, the first-ever Republic team to achieve that feat, with a 3-1 aggregate success.
Ireland manager Martin O'Neill surprisingly made just the one change to the side that started Friday night's 1-1 draw in Bosnia, with left-back Stephen Ward being replaced by Walters, with the 32-year-old having returned from suspension.
However, O'Neill opted to leave the experienced trio of Robbie Keane, John O'Shea and Shane Long all on the substitutes' bench, despite the latter two having returned from suspension and injury respectively.
It was the home side who started the better of the two, with Ireland on the front foot right from the very off, pushing their opponents back towards their own goal, while also giving their fans plenty to cheer about.
Robbie Brady, who scored the Republic's vital away goal in Zenica on Friday, created the first opening of the night after breaking clear down the left flank and cutting the ball back for the waiting Walters in the six-yard box, only for Asmir Begovic to read his intentions and make a crucial interception at his near post.
However, it was not long before Ireland made their crucial first breakthrough, although they were grateful to the extra official behind the goal for deciding that Bosnia defender Ervin Zukanovic had intentionally handled Daryl Murphy's cross in the box.
Walters kept his cool though from the spot by sending his former Stoke team-mate Begovic the wrong way from the penalty spot after 24 minutes, with the Aviva Stadium erupting with joy as the ball hit the back of the net.
Nothing had really changed as far as the visitors were concerned, however, with Mehmed Bazdarevic's team still needing a goal to keep alive their hopes of making it to next summer's tournament in France.
But Bosnia, the highest ranked seeds in the play-offs, were largely disappointing throughout and barely threatened Ireland's reserve 'keeper Darren Randolph, standing in for injured first-choice shot-stopper Shay Given.
In fact, their first real opening of the match came after 54 minutes following good work down the right wing by the lively Edin Visca, only for Senad Lulica to completely miss his kick some six yards out.
And that miss was to prove crucial as Ireland then doubled their lead after 70 minutes, and it was that man Walters who was again their hero.
Brady swung in a free kick from the left that was deflected through to the unmarked Potters striker waiting at the far post, and Walters kept his cool to side-foot past Begovic at his near post to all but end the game as a contest.
Bosnia, who were fortunate not to have Emir Spahic sent off after the defender committed a number of fouls while on a yellow card, then threw everything at Ireland in the final 20 minutes.
However, the closet they actually came to scoring was when substitute Vedad Ibisevic hit the bar with a close-range volley with virtually the last kick of the match, although by that point the home faithful were too busy cheering on their side to care.
