Ireland qualified
for next year's European Championship on Monday as Jonathan Walters returned
from suspension to score both goals in a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina
and secure a 3-1 aggregate win in their playoff.
Walters converted a
penalty in the 24th minute after Ervin Zukanovic was harshly adjudged to have
handled Daryl Murphy's cross.
The Stoke forward
all but confirmed Ireland's ticket to France with his second goal 20 minutes
from full time to set off celebrations at the Aviva Stadium, as well as taking
his tally to five goals in his past six qualifying matches.
"Walters is top
of the lot. He has been sensational," Ireland coach Martin O'Neill said.
It will be Ireland's
second consecutive European Championship, while Bosnia also lost in the
playoffs for Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.
"Obviously I'm
delighted for the nation, we will have a big following in France as befits the
occasion, fans always turn out in great numbers, they were magnificent here tonight,
they kept us going," O'Neill said. "The last 15 minutes in the game
were a long time.
"Mostly I'm
delighted for the players, they have been absolutely fantastic, and if they
hold in me in any sort of regard, it's minuscule by comparison to the esteem I
hold them in."
There was a minute
of silence before the match in honour of the 129 people killed and 350 wounded
in Friday's attacks in Paris.
Ireland made just
one change from Friday's 1-1 draw, with Walters coming in for left back Stephen
Ward, while there were three changes for the visitors with Ognjen Vranjes, Sead
Kolasinac and Haris Medunjanin replacing Mensur Mujdza, Toni Sunjic and Vedad
Ibisevic.
Bosnia have never
qualified for the Euros while Ireland were unbeaten in their past six competitive
matches at the Aviva Stadium and had the advantage of an away goal from the
first leg.
However, Ireland
were not content to sit back and defend and almost took an early lead but
Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic got down well at his near post to block Robbie
Brady's cross.
The game was much
more flowing than the first leg and Ireland had to weather a sustained period
of Bosnia pressure before breaking the deadlock.
Murphy crossed from
the right side of the penalty area and the ball flashed off Zukanovic's arm
from point-blank range, with the Bosnia defender clearly trying to pull his arm
to his chest to avoid handling it.
Walters rolled the
penalty into the bottom left corner, sending former Stoke teammate Begovic the
wrong way.
Edin Dzeko almost
immediately levelled as Bosnia threw men forward in search of the equaliser but
shot into the sidenetting.
Bosnia came out with
renewed intent in the second half and Medunjanin's free kick was deflected just
over the bar five minutes after the break. Moments later Edin Visca ran onto a
through ball and cut back to Senad Lulic, who miskicked in front of goal.
Bosnia's hopes were
all but ended in the 70th minute when Vranjes could only help Brady's free kick
toward the far post, where Walters was on hand to volley home.
Substitute Ibisevic
hooked an effort off the bar from close range deep in stoppage time, moments
before the referee blew the final whistle before the Aviva Stadium erupted.
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