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Ireland defeat Andorra more convincingly than the 3-1 scoreline suggests ...

Read more: Doyle’s stunning goal a highlight as Ireland win

Slovakia caused a major upset this afternoon when they travelled to Moscow and defeated the Group B favourites Russia 1-0 to upset predictions in Ireland's group of the UEFA 2012 Championship qualifying series.

Slovakia scored the critically important goal in the 27th minute of the match through Miroslav Stoch and while Russia were on top for much of the game afterwards they failed to claim an equaliser.

Stoch cut into the Russia defence from the left wing and hammered a right-foot shot high into the far corner for a goal that was calculated to inspire.

Stoch was a youth sensation and made his debut for Slovakia as a 16 year old. He was signed by Chelsea ahead of a clutch of other top clubs and last season was out on loan with Twente Enschede in Holland. The team was managed by England's former coach Steve McLaren and they won the Dutch championship with Stoch playing a significant role.

Russia's Manager Dick Advocaat declared himself happy with the return when he guided Russia for the first time in their opening match in the qualifying series and they defeated Andorra 2-0 in Andorra.

They came back strongly against Slovakia as they sought an equalising goal. They had the ball in the net in the second half but their claims were correctly disallowed because of an offside decision.

The result should be a huge incentive for Ireland for it confirms that Russia, who are going through a period of transition, may not be as strong as was originally feared.

What is certain, obviously, is that a young Slovakia team will make a bold bid to upset the expectations and qualify for the finals of the 2012 UEFA Champinship in Poland/Ukraine.

The qualification they earned for the World Cup finals in South Africa was their first since they gained independence from Czechoslovakia. On their way to the World Cup finals they defeated the Czech Republic and Poland.

Then, in South Africa, they drew 1-1 with New Zealand, lost 0-2 to Paraguay and defeated Italy to qualify for the second round. There they were defeated 1-2 by Netherlands, the eventuall runners-up, in the Round of 16.

Slovakia competed in the World Cup finals in South Africa in June and they showed the benefits of regular matches together. Their win over Russia meant they went to the top of the table in Group B, a position Ireland can take from them if they succeed in defeating Andorra by more than one goal.

Slovakia won their opening game of the tournament when they scored a goal in added time to defeat Macedonia 1-0.

Ireland go into Andorra tonight at the Aviva Stadium in the EURO 2012 qualifier as roaring favourites but the Spurs forward is taking his granted his 43-goal record will be enhanced against the group's bottom seeds.

He said: "As a striker, it is always important to score goals and get your confidence up, but whether I score or anyone else, the most important thing is the three points.

"Our aim is to win every game by scoring as many goals as possible, but under different circumstances in different games, it is not as easy as you think.

"Certainly, international football now is not as easy as it used to be - even six, seven years ago. Teams are a lot tighter now."
Keane is sure to be on the end of chances on Tuesday as his progression to reach the half-century of goals intensifies.

Last time out at Lansdowne Road, Keane fired a hat-trick when fellow minnows San Marino were the opposition but the Dubliner is loathe to make predictions of his peronsla haul.

He said: 'At the end of the day, I never set targets. That would be very naive of me and disrespectful to the other team."

EURO 2012 Qualifier - Group B
Republic of Ireland        3-1   Andorra
Kevin Kilbane 14                      Christian Martinez 45
Kevin Doyle 40
Robbie Keane 54

Kevin Kilbane scored his eight international goal on his 105th senior appearance to set the Republic of Ireland on their way to a win against Andorra at the Aviva Stadium and full points from their opening pair of European Championship qualifiers.

His namesake, man of the match Kevin Doyle, put the Irish in full command with a five six minutes before the break - as his left-foot drive from 25 yards arrowed high into the top corner.

However, the deficit was halved by the group's bottom seeds in the final minute of the half when Shay Given was beaten from the edge of the box by Christian Martinez's snap-shot.

Ireland's bright opening was rewarded on 14 minutes when the Hull City full-back timed his run perfectly to meet a Liam Lawrence corner and guide his header high into the back of the net past visiting goalkeeper Josep Anton Gomez.

Enlivened by their group opener win over Armenia on Friday, Ireland led from the front with danger inside the Andorra box inside the first minute when captain Robbie Keane won a free-kick near the end-line.

Much of Ireland's attacks have been sourced through Aiden McGeady on the left flank and the Spartak Moscow man had the Gomez beaten with an 11th minute shot from 30 yards that flew past the near post.

McGeady created the corner kick which led to the opening goal after he skipped past two defenders and tried to pick out Keane in the centre. Referee Leontios Trattou from Cyprus deemed that the last touch came off Ildefons Lima before it diverted behind, much to the Andorran skipper's annoyance.

While they were still protesting with the referee, Lawrence lofted the corner in from the left towards the front post where Kilbane connected on cue.

Two minutes after falling behind, Andorra produced their first effort on target when Shay Given was forced to turn behind a stinging shot from Sergi Moreno.

The boys in green regained their dominance, with Lawrence dinking a close-range shot into the side-netting before the industrious Doyle added a second.

Sergi Moreno looked to clear the ball but the Wolves man scooped the ball away from the winger and thundered a strike beyond Gomes with deadly accuracy.

Andorra hit back to reduce the arrears on the stroke of the break. Richard Dunne towered above Marc Pujol to head clear but it only went as far to Christian Martinez's whose first-time effort from 20 yards sailed high into Given's net.

Robbie Keane made 3-1 nine minutes after the restart, chipping past the advancing netminder from an angle following Aiden McGeady's threaded pass into the right side of the penalty area.

Keane might have added his 45th international goal approaching the hour when he his shot was denied from point-blank range.

The Irish also had legitimate claims for a penalty kick away seven minutes later as Doyle was hauled down in the area by Silva while the same player flashed a left-footed shot just beyond the far post eleven minutes from time.

Kilbane was presented with the opportunity of making it an unlikely brace on 86 minutes only for his header from McGeady's centre to clear the crossbar.

Republic of Ireland: Shay Given (Manchester City), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Sean St Ledger (Preston NE), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Kevin Kilbane (Hull City); Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Paul Green (Derby County), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow); Robbie Keane (Spurs), Kevin Doyle (Wolves).

Subs: Darron Gibson (Manchester United) for Whelan - 61 mins, Stephen Kelly (Fulham) for O'Shea - 74 mins, Andrew Keogh (Cardiff City) for Doyle - 83 mins.

Andorra: Josep Anton Gomez, Bernaus, Christian Martinez, Lima, Pujol, Escura, Sebastia Gomez, Ayala, Vieira, Moreno, Silva.

Referee: Leontios Trattou (Cyprus).

Attendance: 40,283

Republic of Ireland defender Paul McShane insists he would happily settle for a narrow victory over Andorra...

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