ZCZC
BSP-07
FBL-WC-2022-EUR-IRL-LUX
Rodrigues strikes for Luxembourg in shock win at Ireland
DUBLIN, March 28, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The Republic of Ireland fell to a shock
1-0 defeat by minnows Luxembourg in their 2022 World Cup qualifier in Dublin
on Saturday.
Dynamo Kiev midfielder Gerson Rodrigues condemned the Irish to their
second defeat in as many Group A games with a superb long-range effort five
minutes from the end.
Ireland sit bottom of the group on zero points, four behind leaders Serbia
and Portugal who drew 2-2 in Belgrade.
Luxembourg meanwhile are a point behind the two leading teams after a rare
World Cup qualifying victory for the tiny country.
The win at the Aviva Stadium came thanks to smart play from the 25-year-
old Rodrigues, who pounced on a knockdown to lash home his sixth
international goal.
Luxembourg have never qualified for a major tournament and have little
chance of making it out of the five-team Group G and to next year’s finals in
Qatar.
However, despite hailing from a country with a smaller population than
many provincial European cities, Luc Holtz’s side inflicted an humiliating
defeat on Ireland.
Stephen Kenny is still looking for his first win as Ireland boss, with his
run of games without a win since taking charge last year now at 10.
His next opportunity will come on Tuesday when Ireland face World Cup
hosts Qatar in a friendly in the Hungarian city of Debrecen.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0922 hrs