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LAST 16 REVIEW

SPAIN 1-1 IRELAND (SPAIN WIN ON PENALTIES)

Spain win 3-2 on penalties

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - who still never seem to know when they are beaten - pulled the ultimate show of resilience out of the bag before finally succumbing to Spain on penalties.

Robbie Keane converted a 90th-minute spot-kick to force the epic second round clash into extra time, but the luck of the Irish was nowhere to be seen when Matt Holland, David Connolly and Kevin Kilbane failed from the spot when it really, really mattered.

Spain - who had lead since the eighth minute when Fernando Morientes found space in the penalty area to nod home a right-wing cross from Carles Puyol - thought they had one foot in the quarter-finals when Iker Casillas saved an earlier spot-kick from Ian Harte.

But with the Leeds defender substituted, the responsibility fell to 22-year-old Robbie Keane who coolly slotted home to Casillas' right - after Swedish referee Anders Frisk perceptively spotted shirt-pulling by Fernando Hierro on Niall Quinn.

Golden goal extra-time came and went - with three strikers on, Ireland carried the game to Spain and had the lion's share of possession. Mick McCarthy's team came closest when Connolly fired just past the far post, while Spain hardly threatened, and - with Raul and Morientes both substituted - seemed content to play out time.

Penalty Shoot-Out: (Ireland first)

Keane scores 1-0

Hierro scores 1-1

Holland hits the crossbar 1-1

Baraja scores 1-2

Connolly saved 1-2

Juanfran wide 1-2

Kilbane saved 1-2

Valeron hit the post 1-2

Finnan scores 2-2

Mendieta scores 2-3

Spain win 3-2 after 5 penalties each

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