October’s Albion International Round Up: Part One
It was a good first round of October matches for Brighton and Hove Albion’s International representatives as all five were unbeaten and only Beram Kayal’s Israel conceded a goal.
Shane Duffy helped Ireland to a clean sheet and their first UEFA Nations League point as they drew 0-0 with Denmark at the Aviva Stadium.
In a game which managed to do the seemingly impossible and out-bore Croatia v England from 24 hours previously, Duffy played the full 90 minutes and even managed to get himself booked for diving in the box in an attempt to earn the Irish a penalty in the final few minutes. That’s just what you need your centre back to be doing.
It was an historic night for Duffy as his 17th International appearances as a Brighton player set a new record as most caps won while playing for the Albion. The previous record was held jointly by Gerry Ryan and Steve Penney who earned 16 for the Republic and Northern Ireland respectively during their time with the club.
Yves Bissouma was also part of a 0-0 bore as Mali were held at home by Burundi. Bissouma was substituted on the hour mark before Abdoulay Diaby missed a penalty late on for Mali as the game ended goalless.
Leon Balogun was part of a tight defensive performance for Nigeria, although there was slightly more entertainment than in the Ireland or Mali games as the Super Eagles thrashed managerless Libya 4-0.
It was a quiet evening for Balogun as Odion Ighalo netted a hat-trick and Samuel Kalu notched the fourth to leave Nigeria a point behind South Africa in their African Cup of Nations qualifying group.
Bafana Bafana top the table after securing their biggest ever win with a 6-0 hammering of the Seychelles. Percy Tau scored the fourth goal of that romp but could quite easily have had five or six.
He was denied twice by wonderfully named visiting goalkeeper Romeo Barra, missed one gilt edged opportunity and hit the woodwork twice.
The victory is good news for the Albion though as it will push South Africa a little closer to the top 50 of the FIFA World rankings which will ease the path to a British work permit.
Finally, back in Europe and Kayal heaped more misery on Scotland and gave everyone south of the border another bloody good laugh as the Tartan Army crashed 2-1 away at Israel.
Kayal put in a cross every bit as good as that which set up Glenn Murray’s winner against West Ham United which forced Kieran Tierney into conceding a quite brilliant own goal. Scotland had taken the lead through a Charlie Mulgrew penalty but Dor Peretz’s equaliser and Tierney’s comedy moment gave the hosts victory. Tomer Hemed, currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, was an unused sub.
