Jonathan Walters proved the hero as his goals sent the Republic of Ireland into the Euro 2016 tournament with their 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in their second-leg play-off.
It was a bright start with Walters having a great chance before firing home the penalty before Haris Medunjanin had a great chance to equalise but the Irish went into the break in the lead.
Medunjanin had a good chance at the beginning of second half before Walters added a second, Shane Long could have added a third but Ireland’s passage into next year’s tournament was secured.
Irish lightning
It was Ireland who got the game off to a lightning start when they had a great opportunity in the ninth minute.
It was great build-up on the left when Robbie Brady pulled it back into the six-yard box to Walters, but Asmir Begovic was there to make a vital interception at the near post.
Walters fires home
It only took 24 minutes before Ireland found the vital lead from the penalty spot, the ball in from Daryl Murphy’s cross which struck the hand of Zukanovic which looked harsh - but Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot.
Walters stood over the ball and did brilliantly to send Begovic the wrong way and sent the Aviva Stadium into a frenzy.
Bosnia pressure
Bosnia almost pulled it back ten minutes from the break when Edin Dzeko head down the long ball into the path of Medunjanin, but his effort from the edge of the area went over the crossbar.
The away side started the second half brightest when they had a great opportunity in the 48th minute Medunjanin tried an audacious attempt from 25 yards out but it didn’t trouble Darren Randolph at the near post.
Walters doubles up
Walters sealed Ireland’s place in next summer’s tournament twenty minutes from the end when he added his second.
Brady curled in a great ball into the area from the free kick that took a deflection that put it through to an unmarked Walters and the Stoke City man did well to curl past his former teammate to double the lead.
Long nearly added a third 15 minutes from the end as he took advantage of Emir Spahic’s mistake as he was one-on-one with Begovic but he fluffed his lines and the opportunity went begging.