OWN CORRESPONDET, East Rutherford | Monday 10.45am.
NIALL Quinn’s record-equalling goal lifted Ireland to a 2-1 victory over Bafana Bafana in the finale of the U.S. Cup 2000 soccer tournament on Sunday night.
The victory in the first meeting between the two nations gave Ireland second place in the four-nation tournament that concluded with a pair of matches before 45008 at Giants Stadium.
The United States (2-0-1) won the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Mexico in the day’s opening match as a makeshift Mexico side finished third at 0-1-2. Winless South Africa (0-3-0) ended up last.
Quinn snapped a 1-1 tie at 69 minutes with a header off a Mark Kennedy free kick about six meters off the left post that beat out of position South African goalkeeper Andre Arendse to the right side.
The goal was the 20th for Quinn, equalling a 10-year mark set by Frank Stapleton who retired from the national side in the run-up to World Cup 1990.
Bafana opened the scoring at 14 minutes through Benedict McCarthy.
The Celta Vigo striker broke through the middle of the Ireland defence before taking a perfectly timed pass from Shaun Bartlett and lashing the ball into the right side of the net from 12 meters.
In the 26th minute, South Africa nearly doubled its lead when McCarthy sprung Delron Buckley on the right side only to have Buckley’s shot from a tough angle glance off the left post.
Ireland equalised in the 43rd minute when Steven McPhail curled a corner kick into the South African goal. Arendse got a piece of the ball but not enough, deflecting it to the top of the net.
Ireland pressed the attack to open the second half but had to wait for Quinn in the 69th minute to grab the lead.
Two minutes from time, Gary Breen preserved Ireland’s victory when he cleared a shot by substitute Patrick Mayo off the line.
”We were missing a lot of top-class players,” said South Africa’s Trott Moloto.
”It was a difficult tournament and yes, we are not happy with our finish. We hope the trip has helped prepare some of our younger players for World Cup qualification, or at least, given them some much-needed international experience.” — Reuters