TROY PARROTT CAPPED a momentous few days with a goal, as a superb second-half display saw Ireland beat Sweden 4-1 to end 2019 on a high.
Ireland produced a lethargic first-half display in this U21 Euro 2021 qualifier, and while Sweden also rarely threatened in the opening 45, they took the lead thanks to Viktor Gyokeres’ clinical finish amid a swift counter-attack.
Stephen Kenny’s side delivered a much-improved performance after the break and ultimately tore the Swedes to shreds.
Connor Ronan’s half-time introduction added greater creativity to Ireland’s midfield, with well-taken goals from man-of-the-match Adam Idah, Lee O’Connor, Troy Parrott and Zach Elbouzedi ultimately saw them prevail comfortably.
It ended a particularly memorable week for O’Connor and Parrott, both of whom made their senior debuts against New Zealand last week.
Ireland went in to the game top of Group 1 on 13 points after six games, though with at least one game more played than all their rivals
Sweden, for instance, had played just three matches before tonight, with their only loss suffered at home to Ireland, as Kenny’s side secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory in Kalmar.
24 hours after watching on from the bench as Ireland drew 1-1 with Denmark, Parrott was handed a surprise start after returning to the team.
Another player who recently became a senior international, O’Connor, came straight back into the team, while Conor Masterson returned for the suspended Dara O’Shea after missing the Armenia game through injury.
Both sides struggled to create chances amid a scrappy opening. The hosts, though, appeared to gradually gain control, with Conor Coventry and Jayson Molumby seeing plenty of the ball and dictating play.
Out of nothing though, Sweden took the lead on 18 minutes. O’Connor was dispossessed on the right wing and the visitors countered. Viktor Gyokeres received the ball down the left, cut inside Nathan Collins and fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net.
Ireland took a while to recover from that setback but had one promising moment just before the half-hour mark, as Parrott threatened to wriggle away from a couple of players before eventually being crowded out.
The home side continued to toil, but initially lacked the wit and sharpness they previously displayed in the campaign. Some players seemed sluggish, before being rejuvenated after the break.
The crowd came alive eight minutes before half-time though, as Parrott showed Anel Ahmedhodzic a clean pair of heels down the left wing. The Spurs man’s low cross found the onrushing Adam Idah, but the Norwich youngster’s first-time shot could only find the side netting.
The Swedes then almost doubled their advantage just before half-time. A well-worked free kick saw Daleho Irandust play a low ball in to Jake Larsson, whose first-time shot went arrowly wide.
Ireland were dealt a further blow at half-time. Conor Masterson, who picked up a knock in the first half, was replaced by UCD’s Liam Scales. Meanwhile, captain Molumby, who had been a doubt going into the game, was also taken off, with Connor Ronan coming on in his place.
Straight away as the second half began, Ronan played it to Elbouzedi on the break, but the Waterford man could not find the target with his drilled shot from a tight angle.
Ireland equalised moments later though. Adam Idah escaped the attentions of John Bjorkengren. The striker’s cross was then converted coolly by O’Connor to get his team back in the game.
The goal visibly boosted Ireland, as they improved immensely in the second half. Ronan, in particular, was making a difference, showing some nice touches after being introduced.
They went close on the hour mark. After a surging run forward from the imposing Scales, Elbouzedi whipped in a cross that missed the head of Idah by a matter of inches.
The Norwich starlet was not to be denied moments later though. Elbouzedi beat Bjorkengren down the right and the winger’s cross was fired home by Idah for his third goal of the campaign and first since the opening win over Luxembourg.
As Sweden pushed bodies forward, they were hit on the counter-attack after 73 minutes. Ronan produced a super pass that the defender’s header only deflected into the path of the onrushing Parrott. The Tottenham youngster then curled the ball home into the corner of the net from the edge of the area to give the Irish some breathing space.
Kenny’s side continued to push for a goal despite their healthy advantage, and went close again with 10 minutes to go. O’Connor played through Elbouzedi, whose shot was saved by the feet of Pontus Dahlberg, before being headed over the bar by a relieved Swedish defender.
They nearly scored again in the 83rd minute. Elbouzedi burst towards goal before playing it to Idah, whose cutback was fired just wide by Ronan.
Parrott was then replaced in the dying stages, going off to appreciative cheers from the crowd after a momentous few days that the 17-year-old won’t forget too soon.
The crowd’s roars did not end there. Ronan broke free down the left and crossed for Elbouzedi, who slotted home for a goal his lively performance deserved. It was the icing on the cake, as Ireland and Kenny reflect on a largely positive night and 2019 campaign in general, as they consolidated their place at the top of the group.
Ireland: 1. Gavin Bazunu 2. Lee O’Connor 4. Conor Masterson (Scales ’46) 5. Nathan Collins 18. Thomas O’Connor 6. Conor Coventry 8. Jayson Molumby (c) (Ronan ’46) 15. Troy Parrott (Kilkenny ’86) 12. Jason Knight (Taylor ’90) 7. Zack Elbouzedi 9. Adam Idah (Keena ’90)
Subs: 23. Conor Kearns 21. Liam Scales 16. Jack Taylor 20. Danny McNamara 10. Connor Ronan 17. Gavin Kilkenny 11. Danny Grant, 14. Dan Mandroiu 19. Aidan Keena.
Sweden: 1. Pontus Dahlberg 2. Felix Beijmo 3. Dennis Hadzikadunic 6. Svante Ingelsson (c) (Hansson ’84) 8. August Erlingmark 10. Viktor Gyokeres 13. John Bjorkengren 14. Anel Ahmedhodzic 15. Jens-Lys Cajuste 18. Jake Larsson (Kimpioka ’76) 19. Daleho Irandust
Subs: 12. Viktor Johansson Nil4. Hugo Andersson 5. Thomas Isherwood 7. Emil Hansson 9. Nils Froling 11. Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka 16. Kristopher Da Graca 17. Bilal Hussein 20. Max Svensson
Referee: Karim Abed (FRA)
Attendance: 2,760
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Send those boys to Slovakia!
Zack Elbouzedi is some player MOTM from where I was sitting
@Eoin Murphy: he was excellent against Armenia as well.
@Eoin Murphy: He had a stint with WBA, I guess like Jack Byrne they will be heading back across the Irish sea again….soon!
Terrific 2nd half. Watched few of u21 games this year and they have given me hope COYBIG
I thought Lee O’Connor was terrific as well, a goal and an assist and equally worthy of MOTM.
I was roaring at the telly last night for Mick to bring Troy on in the last few minutes, really believe he could have got us something, well done Kenny and Co. The senior management need to take a leap with some of these young players, some are clearly better footballers than some regulars on the first team. Be brave Mick, we need natural strikers in the team against Slovakia
@Jimjamjim: stopped reading after roaring at the telly
@Jason Oliver: most of us watched it on telly,unfortunately we can’t all go to Dublin on a Monday night and take Tuesday off
@Jason Oliver: never read “after roaring at the telly”
@Pete mc pete: I didn’t get the impression that watching it on telly was the thing he was slagging.
Very encouraging talent in that team, and made all the better by the very smart manager. Kenny can’t take over the senior squad quick enough.
Like the new kit!
A
Such a brilliant send half performance. Ronan was like a man possessed and Parott worked so hard at tracking back. That being said they were helped by Sweden collapsing
Any chance of a look at the goals lads?
They’re all linked from this match thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/coybig/comments/dylpdn/match_thread_ireland_u21_v_sweden_u21_u21s/
If he had brought on troy and Maguire we would have qualified
@Tony O Neill: with hendrick in midfield he wouldn’t have got the ball
@Eoin Murphy:
@Tony O Neill: You must have fallen asleep. He did bring on Maguire.
This is the most excited I’ve been about a group of young Irish players since Brian Kerrs under 16s and 18s in the 90s. Especially the attacking players. To think that we had two premiership strikers missing tonight but still put out the talent we did is crazy. Crazier still is that several of them are still in their teens and could have a couple or more years in the U 21s, though I suspect a few will be fast tracked into the senior squad more regularly.
@Ger: Always good to get your perspective Ger on the matches. I’ll make a few observations from this eventful week for Ireland (all levels). Our U17s beat Israel 4-2. Our U21s beat Sweden 4-1 (7-1 over both matches with them). McCarthy stuck to relying on the same starting 11 he has used for the most part throughout the group games. And yet, probably with a stark reminder and boot up the backside, the same players who could not pass a ball or keep possession, played last night, not with huff and puff, but with confidence, belief, and dare I say, like a team who can boss a match by playing football and even entertain. The same players who looked inept against Gibraltar and Georgia months ago.
There were few poor performances. They just didn’t have that one or two players to make a difference. Whelan is limited, but hats off to the guy. He has often outshone his midfield compatriots this campaign, including Hourihane and Hendrick and McLean. He does his job given by the manager, they don’t.
Like you. I’m positive. I have some serious concerns about Moran and the U19s. They seem out of sinc with the other youth levels. McCarthy can have his March Fair and let’s see where we go from there. By then, Kenny, hopefully, will have the U21s qualified, and ready to move in. It can’t come soon enough and a clearout of at least a third of the current senior squad.
Brilliant performance in the second half! Every single player at least 8/10.
@mar: Unfortunately there are 90 minutes in a match.
Agree with alot of comments here, was at both games, best performance in a good while on Monday, left me thinking about settling for a draw in Georgia, win that game and a draw would have done us. I know people will say Denmark didn’t beat them either but we had a chance and we really didn’t go for it. I thought Browne was excellent on Monday.
As for last night the result and second half performance was very impressive, coming from 1 down and bossing the game was great to see, one person not mentioned in comments was Liam Scales, thought he was terrific when he came on.
Future looks bright
Move all u21s up to senior squad