Another win for Walters & Whelan + Arnautovic, Ramadan & Verlinden update
Following Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Georgia at the Aviva Stadium, JONATHAN WALTERS andGLENN WHELAN aided the Republic of Ireland’s 3-1 triumph over Moldova away in Chisinau.
Walters played from the right hand side of midfield – with Whelan returning to the starting line-up just ahead of the back four – as a second minute strike from Shane Long was followed up by James McClean’s quickfire brace midway through the second half.
The victory increased Martin O’Neill’s side’s points tally to seven and moved them to joint-top spot in Group D following slip-ups for both Austria and Wales.
After scoring both goals in Thursday’s 2-2 draw with the Welsh, MARKO ARNAUTOVIC was powerless to prevent Austria losing 3-2 to Serbia in Belgrade.
Austria had restored parity twice when Southampton’s Dusan Tadic struck the winner with sixteen minutes to go.
Wales, meanwhile, were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Georgia with JOE ALLEN absent through injury; they now trail Serbia and the Irish at the top by two points down in third.
The Egyptians came from behind to earn all three points with the Stoke winger playing the final eleven minutes in Brazzaville.
At Under-19 level, THIBAUD VERLINDEN featured again for Belgium as they draw 2-2 with Finland.
He came off the bench for the last half hour of action in Tessenderlo and has another game against Russia to come tomorrow before returning to the Potteries.
XHERDAN SHAQIRI is in action for Switzerland in Andorra tonight, whilst GEOFF CAMERONand DANIEL BACHMANN have games for the United States and Austria Under-21s tomorrow.
Source://www.stokecityfc.com/