Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Keane & Co Put Five Past Tuscans


Robbie Keane scored twice as the Republic of Ireland eased to a 5-0 win over a Tuscan select XI in Tuscany.

Keane put Ireland ahead on 18 minutes with a crisp strike from the edge of the box. Simon Cox tapped in a second before setting up a third for Keane on the half hour. 

Second half goals from substitutes Shane Long and Jonathan Walters sealed a comfortable victory on a night free of injury worries.

Discarded defender Kevin Foley played 45 minutes after he was introduced as a half-time sub.

The game, the proceeds from which were being donated to charity in memory of the late Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, kicked off after the two teams observed a minute's silent in memory of the victims of this morning's earthquake, tremors from which were felt on Montecatini, at the Stadio Menali.

Keane set the ball rolling when he capitalised on an error by central defender Federico Settepassi to smash home a rising drive, and he might have made it 2-0 three minutes later after Corrado Colombo, his former Inter Milan team-mate, had hit the post at the other end, but miskicked in front of goal.

James McClean saw a 24th-minute shot beaten away by Francesco Gaffino, who produced a fine save to keep out Cox's effort from Stephen Hunt's cross, only for the striker to fire home the rebound.

Keane did help himself to a second goal after a slick build-up between Paul Green and Cox 14 minutes before the break.

Keane, McClean, Richard Dunne and Keiren Westwood made way at half-time for Long, Walters, Foley and David Forde, and the West Brom frontman hit the bar within three minutes of his arrival.

Forde had to get down well to keep out a 54th-minute strike from Gianluca Bugelli, but Long made it 4-0 after beating the offside trap 10 minutes later.

Green smashed a long-range 80th-minute shot wide after exchanging passes with Long, but Walters completed the scoring four minutes later after Foley's free-kick had been parried by substitute goalkeeper Tomasso Strambi.

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