Keane at the double for Ireland

The Republic of Ireland recovered from the shock concession of a goal after 51 seconds to go joint top of World Cup qualifying Group 8 with Italy – but needed a controversial penalty decision to go their way deep into the second half along the way.

Robbie Keane’s conversion of the spot kick raised Ireland’s confidence at a crucial stage of the game and the Ireland captain, sent back to Spurs having failed to impress at Liverpool, added a second four minutes later to prove his personal point.

The Georgians had every reason to feel aggrieved when Jouni Hyytia, taking charge of his last competitive international, awarded a penalty for a handball from a pass that was destined for Keane standing in an offside position.

To add insult to injury the ball appeared to strike Ucha Lobjanidze’s shoulder.

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni accepted the penalty was fortunate but refused to see it as a turning point as his team pummelled the Georgian defence for the majority of the second half.

“I think we got the luck but every Sunday in every country there are situations like this. “In the first half we deserved not lose. But I think we deserved to win because it is not easy to get a great reaction from the team like we got in the second half,” Trapattoni said.

Georgia coach Hector Cuper was restrained in his comments accepting that his team had been under sustained pressure at the time of the controversial decision.

“I don’t know if we lost the match because of the penalty awarded by the referee but it cost us a point. The situation was strange because no-one knew why it was given.

“Of course, the players were very angry and I can say it effected their concentration. It influenced negatively the morale of the team,” Cuper said.

After the early goal, Georgia caused uncertainty in the Irish rearguard but were almost caught out by a scintilating 60-yard run by Aiden McGeady followed by a shot requiring a fine diving parry by Giorgi Lomaia.

“I am satisfied with the performance,” Cuper insisted.

“In the first half, the match was equal. In the second half, unfortunately, we couldn’t manage to maintain the rhythm. I was concerned before the game because Georgian players were still in preparation after the winter break and I knew it would make it difficult for us in the second half. But for the most part we managed,” the Argentinian said.

A mix up in the Irish defence involving third-choice right-back Stephen Kelly, allowed Karlruhe striker Alexander Iashvili in for the softest of goals after a good flick by David Siradze.

The Irish team looked stunned for the remainder of the opening quarter until a Keith Andrews strike on his competitive debut was ruled out midway through the first half.

Ireland were shocked again in the 58th minute when Iashvili thought he had scored a second only for the referee to rule offside. But it was their last major scare before the controversial penalty and a fine diving header four minutes later giving Keane his 37th international goal.

Trapattoni blamed a crowded midfield for his side’s laboured struggle for the points.

“It was difficult because there were 19 players within 30 metres. They had three midfielders we had two but in the second half we won lots of ball. That was very important,” the Italian said.

While his team now sit level with world champions Italy, doubts still linger about the ability of the Irish team to take on high-level opposition ahead of next month’s potentially pivotal encounter in Dublin against Bulgaria.