Best And Gunnarsson On The Bench

Last updated : 07 June 2009 By Covsupport News Service
Coventry City's Leon Best and Aron Gunnarsson both tasted World Cup action tonight.

Leon Best started on the bench for the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup Qualifier with Bulgaria in Sofia.

With Caleb Folan prefered to Best to partner former Sky Blue Robbie Keane up front, Ireland took the lead in the 24th minute through Richard Dunne.

Bulgaria, in front of a passionate support, were level five minutes later when a defensive error let in Dimityr Telkijski to equalise.

In the 73rd minute, Best,wearing the number 15 shirt, came on for Robbie Keane as Ireland went for a winner.

Best won a 78th minute header which was claimed by the keeper and also make the keeper work with a cross/ shot ten minutes later. He did close down well when required as the game petered out into a 1-1 draw.

At Laudardalsvollur in Iceland, Coventry City's Aron Gunnarsson was left out of the Iceland starting side which faced Holland. The City midfielder was however, on the bench.

Holland took the lead in the ninth minute through Nigel De Jong with Mark van Bommel adding a second in the 16th minute.

The popular City midfielder came on in the 67th minute to replace Stefan Gislason and three minutes from time, Kristjan Siggurdsson scored but Iceland went down to a 2-1 defeat which was enough to send Holland to the World Cup Finals in South Africa.

A handful of City supporters were in Almaty to see England beat Kazakhstan 4-0.


City supporter Steve McCairns (right) at the game.

Gareth Barry, Emille Heskey, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard with a penalty gave England their sixth consecutive victory.

Wales won 1-0 in Azerbaijan with a 41st minute David Edwards goal.

Former City keeper Jonny Tuffey was in goal for Northern Ireland in a 3-0 friendly defeat against Italy in Pisa.

Giuseppe Rossi put Italy ahead in the 20th minute only for Tuffey to make a string of fine saves during the rest of the first half.

He could do nothing in the 51st minute when he was beaten by a stunning strike from Pasquale Foggia.

A minute later, Tuffey was in the Swedish referee's book when he brought down Pazzini. He superbly dived to his right to push the resulting spot kick onto the post.

The Partick Thistle keeper was replaced in the 61st minute, some twelve minutes before Sergio Pellissier added a third for the Italians.