Following Friday’s defeat to South Africa, coach Greg Yelverton made a number of changes including a return up top for DCU striker Alan O’Sullivan. The selection paid dividends when the striker found the back of the net after just seven minutes of play. The Americans were keen not to fall further behind and were rigid at the back restricting the space for Ireland to probe within in the first half.
The second half started with a bang for the Irish when Emmanuel Lartey’s ball over the top found Ace Phillips and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range with just two minutes gone. It took Ireland until midway through the half to restore the lead when a quick throw-in put O’Sullivan through to finish.
As time began to tick down on the American’s finding another response it was another throw-in that led to the third goal as Shane Daly-Butz twisted the defender inside-out before teeing up O’Sullivan to complete his hat trick from 18 yards.
It wasn’t the end of the scoring for Ireland as NUI Galway wide player Gary Kinneen picked the ball up on the half-way line before driving through the monsoon which had begun in the latter stages of the half to make it four and game over.
Ireland will face Malaysia on Tuesday for 13th/14th place in Chang Gung University Stadium, after the Malaysians forced a penalty shootout with hosts Chinese Taipei after a 93rd minute equaliser and successfully won 3-2 on spotkicks.
Ireland – Molloy, Nugent (Dempsey 86’), Taheny, McLoughlin, McAuliffe, Brookes (Hollywood 82’), Dunne, O’Connor, Daly-Butz (Barry 88’), O’Sullivan, McClelland (Kinneen 80’).
Subs Unused: Kearns (GK), Sloggett, Lyons, Doyle, McKeown.
USA – Watkins, Scott, Lartey, Kurtiz, S Fankhauser (McLaughlin 67’), Hein, Pemberton, Guthrie, Fordham, Tobler, Phillips (T Fankhauser 50’)
Subs Unused: Bagley (GK), Lesuer (GK), Hunter, Whitworth, Miles, Kapisi.
via GET Sportonline
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