Jim Crawford pays tribute to the “clinical” star in Ireland’s huge U21 victory against Sweden
A fantastic evening for Ireland’s U21.
Ireland’s U21 boss Jim Crawford paid tribute to Ross Tierney’s fantastic display for his team on Tuesday night, in their 2-0 victory away against Sweden at Boras Arena.
Tierney opened the scoring for Boys in Green, with substitute Tyreik Wright adding the shine to victory late.
For the ex-Bohemians star, it was a fitting reward for a fine display, as he scored his first competitive goal for Crawford’s team, having been very close to doing so against Italy last year.
“It was no surprise to me that he brought that one home …”
“For me, it’s a conversation I’ve had with Ross [Tierney] all week, about how he gets into the box and how clinical he can be, ”Crawford explained after the match.
“That chance against Italy, I would have put my house on that he scored because he is a fantastic finisher.
“But it was no surprise to me that he put it home there. We’ve seen it all week in training, and he was fantastic.”
The goal that has Ireland’s U21s leading in Sweden 💥⚽️
Ross Tierney for the boys in green 💚# IRLU21 | #COYBIG | #We are one
– FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 29, 2022
Tierney’s finish set the tone for the match and finally a win at Boras Arena, although there were one or two moments of concern for Ireland.
“We have a very close group and it feels like a family in there …”
However, Brian Maher eased the pressure on important occasions to complete the deal for Boys in Green, with Tierney as a willing runner throughout the match.
“It was a good finish,” Tierney added after the match. “It just came to me and I tried to make a good contact, thankfully I did. The goal came early, when we changed formation.
FT: Sweden U21s 0-2 Ireland U21s
Ross Tierney and Tyreik Wright shooters 🔥#COYBIGpic.twitter.com/eLykJBjVru
– Kenny’s Children (@KennysKids) March 29, 2022
“It took a while for us to get used to it but I think the guys at the back were incredible with the zero. The goal maybe took a little pressure on them ..
The victory puts Crawford’s side up well ahead of their crisis-ridden European qualifiers that will take place in June; with two home games left against Montenegro and Bosnia.
“We knew that if we came here and won, it would be in our own hands,” Tierney concluded. “But we were completely concentrated on today and hopefully we can take this into the matches in June.
“We have an incredible group here, even with the players who did not join the squad. JJ [Kayode] got an assist from the bench and Tyreik [Wright] scored .. We have a really tight group and it feels like a family in there .. ”
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Read more about: Brian Maher, ireland u21, jim crawford, Ross Tierney