Wow.
What an unbelievable start by the Republic of Ireland who travelled to Serbia to play a football match in a flood. The conditions were awful, but in Ireland's first phase of posession some terrific direct play involving Robbie Brady, Stephen Ward, Shane Long, and James McClean resulted in a free-kick at the edge of the Serbian area.
Brady's free bounced around the box before Jeff Hendrick sent it goalward and Branislav Ivanovic made a hash of the clearance.
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Scenes in Serbia.
Despite a debate over whether or not the goal was his, that is Jeff Hendrick's first goal for Ireland. More to come we're sure.
What a start, a fantastic move to get the chance, and then scoring the rainiest of rainy day goals. Beautiful.
