After Ireland’s 3-0 win over Scotland in Inver Park, Larne, and Lithuania’s 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland the two sides couldn’t be separated via goal difference, head-to-head or goals for/against.
It came down to which team had the least yellow cards and it was Irish discipline that came through.
But for Shamrock Rovers’ Ogbonna’s stoppage-time goal, and a 90th-minute consolation goal from Paul McGovern for Northern Ireland against Lithuania, O’Brien’s team would have been heading out of the qualifiers and miss next summer’s tournament in Albania.
However, they will be in December’s draw for next spring’s Elite Phase for a chance at another European Championship journey.
The day had started off straight forward for Ireland. Win their game against Scotland and hope Northern Ireland could thwart a Lithuania win.
Ireland U17 head coach Colin O’Brien talks to his side after they qualified for the next round of the U17 European Championships
Ramon Martos got his team going with a fine finish after cutting in from the left and finding the bottom corner for 1-0 in the 36th minute.
That was the score at half-time at Inver Park, but news was coming through from Seaview that Lithuania were 2-0 up on the hosts.
By the 67th minute, it seemed to be all over when Lithuania took a commanding 3-0 lead.
Back at Inver Park, Michael Noonan converted from the spot in the 76th minute to keep Irish hopes alive after Billy O’Neill was brought down in the penalty area. It was Noonan’s third goal in as many games.
However, it would be in a four-minute window where the whole complexion of the group changed.
Lithuania conceded in the final minute to bring their goal difference to plus one, meaning Ireland needed just one more goal to level up the group.
With seconds remaining, Ogbonna netted a third goal for Ireland in the 94th minute that would ultimately put Ireland second and in a qualifying spot.
When the final whistle went, Irish players and staff huddled around the centre of the pitch as they awaited their fate.
And after some 20 minutes, news came through that due to receiving less yellow cards than Lithuania they finished in second place – sparking jubilant scenes.
Scotland: Graham, Glasgow, Carrol (Barr, 79), Osborne, Williams (Loney, 79), McCallion, Masson (McAllister, 46), Smith (Burke, 59), Hamill, Hislop (McDonald, 56), Boyd (C).
Ireland: A. Noonan, Sherlock, McDonagh (C), Leonard, Canny, Finneran (Brown,76), Martos, McDonnell (Ogbonna, 76), Umeh (O’Neill, 62), Lee (Solanke, 88), M Noonan.
Referee: Heini Ziskason Viðoy (Faroe Islands).
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Publish date : 2024-11-03 16:00:00
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