Football / World Cup: Staunton's strike action

Lithuania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Republic of Ireland. . . . . . . . . . . .1

STEVE STAUNTON'S deflected free-kick five minutes before half- time last night put the Republic of Ireland two points clear of their qualifying group and in pole position to reach the World Cup finals in the United States.

But this latest success in Vilnius - the Republic's third consecutive win on their three-week tour of Eastern Europe - was only achieved with the help of two thick wedges of luck. After Staunton's fierce strike had cannoned in off the outstretched foot of the left-back, Virginijus Baltusnikas, the home captain, Stasys Baranauskas, struck Pat Bonner's right-hand post with a 30-yard free- kick then saw the ball rebound off the goalkeeper's back for Alan Kernaghan to head clear.

With Roy Keane in effervescent form the Irish were nevertheless in command throughout, their only failures were bookings for Ray Houghton and Paul McGrath, the latter's cynical foul on Igoris Kirilovas earning him his second yellow card of the tournament and thus an automatic ban from the return match in Dublin in September.

'The Spaniards and the Danes will be crapping themselves when they hear our result,' Charlton enthused. 'I don't mind the Danes but I can't stand Spain. This has put great pressure on them and I'm delighted.'

LITHUANIA: Martinkenas; Ziukas, Baltusnikas, Mazeikis, Buzmakovas, Skarbalius (Zcancius, 45), Baranauskas, Urbonas (Ramelis, 67), Stumprys, Kirilovas, Slekys.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner (Celtic); Irwin (Man Utd), Phelan (Man City), McGrath (Aston Villa), Kernaghan (Middlesbrough), Keane (Nottm Forest), Townsend (Chelsea), Houghton (Aston Villa), Quinn (Man City), Aldridge (Tranmere), Staunton (Aston Villa). Substitute: Whelan (Liverpool) for Aldridge, 76.

Referee: R Philippi (Luxembourg).