Duff And Given In Top Form As Irish Pick Up The Points!

Last updated : 16 October 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
Robbie Keane's 35th international goal secured three more World Cup points and handed the Italian a victory in his first competitive match on Irish soil.

That, coupled with the world champions' win over Montenegro and Georgia's home draw with Bulgaria, left the Republic in a strong position with the Georgians and the Bulgarians to head for Dublin in their next two qualifiers.

Giovanni Trapattoni: "Italy is Italy, they are world champions. The other teams - I know Bulgaria, I know Cyprus, and they are good teams, and maybe Georgia.

"We should compete against these teams. Tonight, I am happy because they are a little bit behind us.

"But we shouldn't delude ourselves, we need more again to improve our situation.

"Tonight was important. It was the first game at home against a team who had beaten us 5-2.

"That situation was a little bit dangerous, but the table is good. I am happy because today was very, very important. We have to believe in this."

Keane struck with just five minutes gone, heading home Damien Duff's cross as the Newcastle winger and Celtic counterpart Aiden McGeady caused the Cypriots all kinds of problems before the break.