There was an incredible ending to Ireland's U17 quarter final with Holland tonight. After the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes the game went to a penalty shootout. Adam Idah missed Ireland's first spot kick and after seven successful efforts Irish keeper Jimmy Corcoran needed to save the last Dutch penalty in order to take the tie to sudden death.
Corcoran then proceeded to pull off a great stop, but was then sent off for a second yellow for encroaching from his line before the Dutch player had struck the ball:
Ireland have been eliminated in bizarre, controversial fashion at the U17 Euros after goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran was shown a second yellow card for moving off his line too early during the penalty shootout https://t.co/O48xsGehPh pic.twitter.com/yroYmS84ca
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 14, 2018
With substitutions during a shootout not permitted, centre half Oisin McEntee had to go in goals for the retaken penalty and was duly beaten by Chelsea's Daishawn Redan to send the Dutch into the semi final.
Ireland's senior football manager Martin O'Neill was in attendance at the game and made his protestations about the decision known to Czech official Zbynek Prosk, storming the pitch after the last penalty to give him a piece of his mind:
My favourite part of Martin O’Neill going to scold the ref is how he manages to run along with his tablet (?) still in his hand like he’s a Condé Nast intern. pic.twitter.com/nQw909w34s
— ⭐ amy o'connor ⭐ (@amyohconnor) May 14, 2018
In the RTÉ studio after the incident Brian Kerr suggested that Dutch keeper Koorevaar may have himself been off his line when he saved Idah's spot kick, but after rewatching the footage the Dutch stopper appeared to remain on his line until Idah had struck the ball:
Is the Dutch keeper Koorevaar off his line when he saves from Adam Idah? ? pic.twitter.com/LtfTBBT4dm
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 14, 2018
After the game Ireland U17 manager Colin O'Brien revealed that the referee had warned the keepers about coming off of their line, but remained commendably sanguine about his side's exit from the competition:
Ireland Under-17 manager Colin O'Brien: "I think he said something that he might have come off his line earlier and he warned the Dutch goalkeeper in two of the penalties as well." #rtesoccer #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/hubsOlbxcC
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 14, 2018
