Live Match Update - Ireland v Australia
Don't miss all the action of Australia's friendly match against Republic of Ireland from 4.30am Thursday morning.
Full-time: Australia 3-0
No time to re-start as referee blows full-time.
What a goal from David Carney, who strikes a beautiful shot from 30 yards into the top corner with Westwood no chance.
93' Goal - Carney
93' Corner Aust - St Ledger just clears as Kewell about to pounce on Carney cross.
89' Shot - James St. Ledger - long throw is flicked on and St. Ledger has free header directly in front from edge of the 6-yard box but goes straight to Schwarzer. Should have scored.
89' Aust sub - Jedinak off - James Holland on
88' Corner Ireland - cleared by Australia
88' Shot - Andrews - from edge of the area, hits the post.
Jedinak off the pitch getting treatment at the moment... he has worked very hard in midfield.
85' Corner Ireland - played short and they win another corner. Schwarzer fists away.
81' Ireland sub - McGeady off - Shane Long on
80' Shot - Kewell - ambitious strike from 30 yards, hits well but goes wide.
78' Aust sub - Bresciano off - Nick Carle on
77' Corner Ireland - and win another corner as Madaschi clears away.
74' Corner Aust - comes to nothing in the end.
72' Aust sub - North off - Matthew Spiranovic on
70' Play stopped at Jade North receives treatment for what looks like a cut on his cheek.
69' Shot - Keane - great little turn in the box and shot is blocked by Carney.
68' Ireland sub - Given off - Keiran Westwood on
63' Kewell brilliant ball for Holman, but the AZ Alkmaar forward can't get a good forst touch that would have taken him through on goal.
62' Ireland subs - Gibson & Kilbane off - Keith Andrews & Eddie Nolan on
Hunt certainly made a difference for Ireland as he looks positive every time ball goes forward
60' Shot - Hunt - great counter by Ireland, Keane back heels the ball to Hunt, who takes one touch but sends shot across the face of goal.
59' Free kick - Ireland - but Schwarzer takes comfortably
55' Shot - Holman - good work again by Australia and Holman cuts back onto his left foot on edge of the box, but shot straight at Given
54' Rukavytsya good work on the left, cross to Holman, who lays back to Rukavytsya whose first time low cross just misses Bresciano in the box.
51' Shot - Hunt - after initial corner cleared, ball out to substitute Stephen Hunt who tries a low shot which Schwarzer does to smother.
50' Corner - Ireland
Aust subs - Cahill, McDonald and Kisnorbo off - Nikita Rukavytsya (debut), Adrian Madaschi and Brett Holman on
There have been a few subs at half time for both teams.
Ireland kick-off second half
What a first half from Australia and Cahill. The Everton man has shown once again just why he is so important for Australia and why he is one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the world with two terrific strikes late in the half. Australia's makeshift defence has also performed very well, with Wilkshire and Jedinak superb in midfield. Australia look dangerous on the break and while Ireland had a few moments they really only tested Schwarzer once.
There goes half time whistle.
44' Williams does brilliantly to nip in and get the ball ahead of McGeady and drives into the box and hits a superb left foot shot at goal. Given blocks shot but ball falls to Cahill and he hits low shot past Given to make it 2-0 to Australia.
Goal - Cahill
43' Another counter and Cahill tries spectacular overhead which is blocked.
42' Shot - Kewell - Bresciano fk into box is met by Kewell header which is powered over the crossbar.
41' Foul on Williams after neat one-two with Bresciano
38' Australia break quickly with Cahill and McDonald and the latter comes back inside and lays off to Cahill on edge of the box. He takes one touch onto his left foot and places his shot perfectly inside Given's right post.
Goal - Cahill
Kisnorbo off the ground at the moment receiving treatment for a cut on his head.
34' Corner Ireland - played short and McDonald comes in and breaks up attack and break quickly
32' Shot - McGeady - goes over the bar.
Ireland coming into the game more after good start by Australia.
23' Shot - Keane - Schwarzer denies Robbie Keane after the Tottenham striker did brilliantly to create space for himself in the box.
22' Shot -Kisnorbo... big defender heads Bresciano's corner goalward and Given has to dive and save down low.
21' Corner Aust... after Dunne dispossessed Cahill in box.
20' Corner Ireland... Schwarzer claims but only after colliding with Cahill
19' Foul on Kewell... fk is cleared by Irish defence
18' Poor free kick by Carney and sails way over the crossbar.
17' Foul on Williams on edge of box by Kilbane.
17' Rhys Williams dispossessed on edge of box as about to shoot
16' Foul on Bresciano
14' Foul on Bresciano wide on right... good ball in by Carney but Australia ruled offside.
13' Keane shot - cross from Kilbane finds Keane but his looping header is well over the bar.
13' Gibson shot - Shot from fk is blocked by Carney
12' Foul by Kisnorbo about 27 yards out.
11' Schwarzer gets his first touch of the ball.
9' Kewell shot - Ball teed up for Kewell from free kick... low shot is safely held by Shay Given.
8' Foul on Cahill 30 yards out
7' Australia started well and picking up a number of fouls.
6' Shot - Wilkshire shot from edge of the box, just wide. Good interplay on left and excellent cross from Kewell.
5' Kewell breaks forward, tries a shot from 30 yards, but blocked away for a throw-in.
2' Aust corner after Kewell cross cut out by Richard Dunne. Carney's corner though goes out of play.
Australia get the game underway in Limerick.
Team News
Pim Verbeek has named a very experimental backline, with no place for regular captain Lucas Neill. Rhys Williams, Jade North, Patrick Kisnorbo and David Carney make up the back four. Williams will play his second international at right back, while Kisnorbo will play his first game since the 2007 Asian Cup, while both North and Carney have not been playing regularly at club level. Luke Wilkshire moves into the centre alongside Mile Jedinak, while the front third at least has many of our big names with Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Scott McDonald.
Squads
Republic of Ireland starting line-up: Shay Given (gk); John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger, Kevin Kilbane, Aiden McGeady, Darren Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle.
Subs from: Kieren Westwood (gk), Joe Murphy (gk); Keith Andrews, Kevin Foley, Stephen Kelly, Eddie Nolan, Liam Miller, Stephen Hunt, Andy Keogh, Liam Lawrence, Caleb Folan, Shane Long, Leon Best
Qantas Socceroos line-up from: Mark Schwarzer (gk); Rhys Williams, Patrick Kisnorbo, Jade North, David Carney, Luke Wilkshire, Mile Jedinak, Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Scott McDonald
Subs from: Oliver Bozanic, Nick Carle, Ante Covic, James Holland, Brett Holman, Danny Invincibile, Adrian Madaschi, Aaron Mooy, Nikita Rukavytsya, Matthew Spiranovic, Dario Vidosic
Stats Preview
AUSTRALIA v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Limerick, Ireland, 12-Aug-2009
HEAD-TO-HEAD Previous meetings: 1 Result: Republic of Ireland 2 defeated Australia 1 (Mark Viduka 49') Date/venue: 19th August 2003, Dublin, Ireland
Australia-s line-up: Mark Schwarzer (gk), Tony Popovic, Hayden Foxe, Lucas Neill, Paul Okon (Vince Grella 67'), Brett Emerton, Stan Lazaridis, Mark Bresciano, Danny Tiatto (Tony Vidmar 69'), Scott Chipperfield, Mark Viduka (John Aloisi 77').
Coach: Frank Farina.
FIFA RANKING (August 2009): Australia 16, Republic of Ireland 37
FORM GUIDE - AUSTRALIA 19/08/2008 D2-2 v South Africa (London) Friendly 06/09/2008 W2-1 v Netherlands (Eindhoven) Friendly 10/09/2008 W1-0 v Uzbekistan (Tashkent) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 15/10/2008 W4-0 v Qatar (Brisbane) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 19/11/2008 W1-0 v Bahrain (Manama) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 28/01/2009 D0-0 v Indonesia (Jakarta) Continental Qualifier 11/02/2009 D0-0 v Japan (Yokohama) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 05/03/2009 L0-1 v Kuwait (Canberra) Continental Qualifier 01/04/2009 W2-0 v Uzbekistan (Sydney) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 06/06/2009 D0-0 v Qatar (Doha) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 10/06/2009 W2-0 v Bahrain (Sydney) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 17/06/2009 W2-1 v Japan (Melbourne) FIFA World Cup Qualifier
FORM GUIDE - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 20/08/2008 D1-1 v Norway (Oslo) Friendly 06/09/2008 W2-1 v Georgia (Mainz) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 10/09/2008 D0-0 v Montenegro (Podgorica) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 15/10/2008 W1-0 v Cyprus (Dublin) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 19/11/2008 L2-3 v Poland (Dublin) Friendly 11/02/2009 W2-1 v Georgia (Dublin) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 28/03/2009 D1-1 v Bulgaria (Dublin) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 01/04/2009 D1-1 v Italy (Bari) FIFA World Cup Qualifier 29/05/2009 D1-1 v Nigeria (London) Friendly 06/06/2009 D1-1 v Bulgaria (Sofia) FIFA World Cup Qualifier