REPORT | MU19 | Scoreless in Albania
Making just one change to the side that overcame Albania just three days ago – Bohemians midfielder James McManus came in to captain the side in place of Darius Lipsuic – this was another tough game for Ireland to take on with Belgium still to come.
It took Ireland a while to get going, conceding a couple of dangerous set-pieces early on, but as the half progressed the strong midfield pairing of Romeo Akachukwu and McManus began to exert their dominance.
Growing into the game the exciting attackers began to get more involved, including Man-of-the-match against Albania, Franco Umeh, who started to look a threat as he was getting the better of his opposing number in left-back Lan Hribar.
It took until just before the half-hour mark for Ireland to go close when Mark O’Mahony, full of confidence following his brace three days ago, narrowly missed the target before Umeh was denied brilliantly by NK Aluminij stopper Jan Petek.
As the half drew to a close, it became a scrappier affair with the Slovenians showing their strength, doing well to stop the creative forces of Celtic’s Rocco Vata and the in-demand Shamrock Rovers man Naj Razi, while continuing to carry a threat of their own.
Attacking duo of Lucas Macak and goalscorer against Belgium, Jaka Cuber Potocnik, both went close on the stroke of half time – a reminder that any point would have to be well earned.
The tense and tight affair continued into the second half with both sides having good spells. Off the back of an excellent season with his club, Drogheda United, Andrew Wogan was forced into action 10 minutes after the restart but showed all the assurances of a goalkeeper twice his age, deservedly earning his clean sheet.
Just after the hour mark, Ireland forced a spate of corners, but the Slovenian rear-guard stood strong to repel the threat and deny Ireland the opportunity to build up a head of steam.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, and nothing to separate the sides, both managers looked to their benches to make an impact. Another exciting talent in Liverpool’s Trent Kone-Doherty was straight into the action going straight at the heart of the defence.
But frustratingly for Tom Mohan's side, they just failed to make the all-important breakthrough, despite their best efforts.
Showing no signs of fatigue from his Sports Direct FAI Cup Final triumph less than a week ago though, the all action Mason Melia was introduced two minutes from the end and did well to draw a foul from Slovenia skipper Luka Poredos in another dangerous area. Up stepped Razi looking to score what would have been the winner, but again just failed to trouble Petek in the Slovenian goal.
To round off the group, and a very busy week, Ireland now hope that Albania can do them a favour by taking points off Belgium, before playing the Belgians themselves on Tuesday at 13.00, with top spot still to play for in Group 13.
Ireland: Andrew Wogan; Freddie Turley, Lewis Temple. Luke Browne, Cory O’Sullivan; Romeo Akachukwu, James McManus, Rocco Vata (Trent Kone-Doherty 74); Franco Umeh (Sean Moore 63), Naj Razi, Mark O’Mahony (Mason Melia 88).
Slovenia: Jan Petek; Arjan Malic, Luka Poredos, Lovro Golic, Lan Hribar; Riad Silajdzic (Niko Kasalo 77), Timotej Brkic, Miha Trdan, Beno Selan; Lucas Macak (Luka Topalovic 53), Jaka Cuber Potocnik (Aldin Jakupovic 78).
Referee: Miloš Gigovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina).
UEFA European Under-19 Championship Fixtures
Wednesday, November 15 | Ireland MU19 3-1 Albania MU19
Saturday, November 18 | Ireland MU19 0-0 Slovenia MU19
Tuesday, November 21 | Belgium MU19 v Ireland MU19, Egnatia, Rrogozhine, Albania, KO 13:00