Final thoughts

Seems Martin O’Neill showed exactly the right amount of respect for this particular USA team then, as his side pulled away comfortably in the second half against a ragged and tired looking USA team.

Brady’s brace may not have been the direct result of his move to an unaccustomed left back position but they’ll certainly not have done his case there any harm, while Pilkington’s running and Long’s directness when he came on caused all sorts of problems for the USA.

The visitors’ defense was shambolic at times as they repeatedly gave the ball away in dangerous areas, and while 4-1 may have been harsh, Bedoya and Diskerud (in flashes) aside, they did nothing much to suggest they deserved to take something from this game, and looked to be limping to the end of the year, with yet another second half collapse, complete with the requisite goals conceded late that have become a worrying trademark for this team. A lot to think about in the off-season for both managers.

Thanks for joining me. I’ll be back this weekend with coverage of the MLS Conference finals. For now, good night.

90 mins +3

The Republic of Ireland have been very comfortable for most of the second half while the USA have looked horribly flat.

Time for one more yellow card as Meyler introduces Morris to international tackling.

90 mins +2

Poor Ream pass puts Johnson in trouble and he picks up a yellow as he scrambles to recover.

90 mins

Is there any consolation to be had for the USA? Not with that sort of sloppy passing by Besler. He only succeeds in setting up McGeady for a yellow card as he clatters into Garza in chasing the loose ball.

Three minutes of time added on.

88 mins

With this result the USA will now have only won 1 of their last 8 games by the way, dating back to that Ghana win in Brazil.

86 mins

Given comes off to a huge round of applause having stepped up when needed on the night. He’s replaced by Robert Elliot, just after watching a Bedoya shot trickle well wide as his last action of the night.

At the other end Cameon picks up a yellow card and concedes a free kick for a foul 25 yards out directly in front of goal. Brady over it...

80 mins

Close from Ireland there as a stretching Johnson is just in front of a low cross headed for Shane Long. Hendrick gets his head to Brady’s corner, but can’t direct it on goal when under very little presure. The Rpeublic of Ireland pressing again now and the USA, as they are wont to do late in games, looking tired and stretched.

78 mins

Bedoya forces a save from Given as his header from the back post finds the target.

On Chandler’s performance, Twitter offers this bout of terse poetry:

76 min

From nowhere the field opens up in front of Diskerud who strides forward into range only to hit Clark with his shot once he’s in range. The USA keep probing and Chandler does well to retrieve the ball and force the ball forward. It’ll be his last action as he comes off for Jordan Morris, while Diskerud is off for Rubio Rubin. Long comes on for McGoldrick and Hendrick comes on for Murphy.

74 mins

USA beginning to stir a little here. Will there be a late rally. They’re camped in the Ireland half for now, looking for openings.

Daniel Stauss is back, unimpressed by the short corner routines the USA are insisting on:

“There needs to be some sort of internationally agreed-upon punishment for taking more than zero short corners in a game.”

72 mins

Lovely disguised short free kick routine from Bedoya finds Garza free on the left of the box but his low cross isn’t met by a decisive touch and a brief US flourish comes to naught.

70 mins

Red shirts up the field for once as the USA try to force the issue, only for Garza’s floating outswinger to float too close to Given, who plucks it safely out of the air. Ireland looking very comfortable at the moment.

Now Diskerud touches the ball left for Altidore, only for the Sunderland man to hesitate before shooting and ending up blocked out.

68 mins

Great save from Given! Bobby Wood splits the center backs as he runs through on a neat touch from Altidore but Given is out to deny him by quickly narrowing the angle and getting a touch round the post as Wood tries to finish.

At the other end McClean runs at Johnson down the left and earns a corner that’s headed clear at the near post by Bedoya.

66 mins

Garza, a left back, is dropping into the left midfield slot for the USA by the way. Meanwhile Altidore picks up a yellow card for barging Christie off the ball.

64 mins

Better from Johnson at the other end as he and Bedoya combine on the right to allow Johnson to race to the byline and earn a corner off Clarke. Again though, the short corner routine doesn’t work.

James McClean on for Pilkington, who gets a big round of applause. Morales off for Greg Garza for the USA.

62 mins

Chandler out of position again as Christie sweeps past him and sends a low ball across the box that Besler stretches to clear for the corner. It’s deep and loose in the box for a moment before the USA clear, but again a poor giveaway has them back in trouble...and another one — Wood this time failing to control. The Republic of Ireland could kill this game with another goal now.

60 mins

Christie twists and turns on the right and gets another cross in but that one’s straight at Hamid on his post. McGeady comes on for Stokes for the Irish. He’ll be running at Johnson with the US on the backfoot for now. Much better from Ireland.

58 mins

The Irish were gifted another goal there by some poor touches from the USA and they’re in trouble again as Cameron allows Murphy to get past him and into the box — he needs some help from Matt Besler who steps across to give away the corner. Dangerous period for the USA.

54 mins

Christie sends a lovely ball down the right touchline where Pilkington has again made a run in behind Chandler. His cross is deep and dangerous and earns a corner with Johnson forced into the clearance at the back post. ANother good run from Pilkington.

52 mins

Given kicks into touch under pressure from Altidore, who’d gamely chased a clearance that had flown forward. But the US lose the ball and Ireland will try to work the ball laterally to look for an opening.

50 mins:

Lovely flick from Bedoya launches an attack down the right but Johnson’s cross is cleared. Back come the USA down the left and Chandler earns a corner. Short again and Bedoya’s inswinger is forced clear.

But the USA are encouraged into attack again and Altidore picks up the ball on the edge of the box to hit a fierce low drive that deceives Given — the keeper is very relieved to save with his legs having gone the wrong way.

48 mins

Myler caught in possession again and Altidore briefly looks to have set up Morales only for a stretching intervention to save Myler’s blushes.

Game yet to settle back down again as both sides looking a little clumsy in midfield early one.

Wondo thoughts

Joe Deasy is back with thoughts on Wondolowski:

“Chris Wondolowski has a case for “most under pressure man in football” being captain and talisman of a team that just built a brand new stadium yet finished dead last behind a different team that went out of existence last month.”

Wondolowski plays for San Jose Earthquakes who did indeed finish behind the now defunct Chivas USA in the MLS Western Conference last month. And by the looks of it he’s about to be subbed out for Bobby Wood. Not a great night for him until his part in that goal, but he kept working, as he did in the wake of that Belgium miss. He’s a persistent man.

Teams back on the field now.

Half-time thoughts

Ireland will be the happier team to get to the break, after the USA forced their way back into the game, just as the Irish were beginning to creep forward looking for a second. By the time the half ended the USA were playing some flowing passing soccer and the Irish were hanging on a little.

Pilkington’s opportunistic run and finish, early on, set the tone for Ireland’s best moments as the hosts found space between and behind the US defenders to exploit. Yet even as the US midfield struggled to cohere at times, Ireland were reluctant to commit men forward and the US didn’t suffer unduly.

The USA had stretches of domination and were certainly good value to go in at half-time at least level. Diskerud was lively and got his goal, while Wondolowski’s assist somewhat offset a poor personal display to that point, where he’d not offered much by way of hold up play.

Bedoya has probably been player of the game so far for the USA, putting makeshift left back Robbie Brady under pressure, while Pilkington’s runs and Stokes’ through balls have been among the more promising elements of a rather nondescript Republic of Ireland display.

45 mins+1

...the cut back corner from Bedoya is worked into a dangerous inswinger from Chandler that has to be headed clear for another USA corner. No time for that to turn into further pressure though as the half-time whistle goes.

44 mins

A little more zip to the USA passing now, as they work the ball out of defense and around the Ireland box. A long passing sequence ends in Wondolowski being tackled by the byline to earn a corner on the right...

38 mins

Great dangerous cross from Christie forces a clearance from Cameron that could have gone anywhere. It ends up at the feet of Meyler, whose shot is charged down. USA living dangerously there.

36 mins

Johnson runs up the wing with the ball, then is caught out of position as he loses the ball softly, but the offside flag comes to his rescue as Stokes tries to work the counter-attack into the area Johnson vacated.

Repulic of Ireland back in possession now and moving the ball smartly around the field, before Beckerman upends Pilkington to earn a yellow card and concede a free kick wide left. Brady’s outswinger into the box is headed out for a throw.

34 mins

Stokes finds Brady running forward on the left, with a lovely disguised pass. Brady’s cross hangs in the sky way too long though and Hamid collects easily. Ireland looking more comfortable though, after that brief spell of US pressure.

32 mins

Stokes wants a throw as he loses the ball under pressure down the left but it goes the USA’s way and they’ll try to play out of defense again (which they’ve been a little sloppy about so far).

30 mins

Altidore back to help out in defense, but as the USA try to push up Wondolowski loses the ball in what’s turning into an ongoing personal struggle to hold the ball up. He apparently got the start over Rubin as the latter has been ill for the past couple of days. So far he’s not quite seized his chance.

28 mins

Great save from Hamid after his defense lands him in it. Awful mix up from Cameron and Besler gives Murphy a point blank shot on goal and Hamid has to make a superb reaction shot to deflect it for a corner. It’s wasted, but Ireland will have another look as Besler makes another error trying to play the ball out from the back to concede possession.

26 mins

A rare Ireland foray for this period of the game sees Stokes flick a ball forward into the left of the box as Quinn runs forward to get a shot off at a tight angle. It flicks of Beckerman for a first Irish corner. Brady takes it towards the back post and Hamid punches away strongly.

24 mins

It’s another corner on the left and another poorly worked short one by the USA. Ireland, it should be said, have not had any other chances other than Pilkington’s goal and they’re beginning to give up some looks to the USA, but so far the US have not been able to make anything count.

20 mins

USA seeing more of the ball in the Irish half now, and when Cameron wins possession to launch the attack, Bedoya gets the better of Brady down the right to cross the ball to the back post and force a corner, as Pearce heads out ahead of Altidore. It comes to nothing though — Diskerud’s attempted volley from a flick on goes out for a throw in.

18 mins

Murphy caught offside as theIrish try another ball through a US defense that’s clearly not yet on the same page. He’d have had space to run on goal there if the flag hadn’t gone up.

Better from the USA now as they come forward through Bedoya down the right, then Diskerud keeps possession with a tenacious tackle, only for Wondolowski to get pushed off the ball by Pearce.

16 mins

Ireland are seeing a lot of the ball and beginning to play a little further up the field as they settle. The US meanwhile have looked rattled by the goal and are giving the ball away too easily.

14 mins

Beckerman sloppy in possession there and Ireland gratefully pick up the ball to start some possession play of their own.

Another long ball behind the US defense has Pilkington off and running free again, but he can’t keep the ball in play. He’s been dangerous early on though. Meanwhile, a “big picture” voice, Joe Deasy, emails:

“As an Irishman and MLS season ticket holder (albeit one of the Canadian team) i feel oddly qualified to comment on tonight’s game. I think the league is doing very well for a system with a crippling salary cap and extensive protection for domestic players. The national team is clearly reaping the rewards now.”

12 mins

USA have a free kick 30 yards out after Christie barrels into Morales. Bedoya over it. Short and square for Fabian Johnson whose sweeping cross makes its way to Chandler on the other side of the field. His shot from distance is dipping but not on target and another rather baroque set piece from the US comes to nothing.

10 mins

A little panic in the Irish box as Diskerud tries to force an immediate reply. They led early against Colombia against the run of play. Now they have to play their way back into this one.

That Irish goal started with a poor pass from Bedoya square for Beckerman. Their midfield were caught flatfooted upfield.

6 mins

Beckerman pushes the ball wide for the overlapping Chandler and he gets a cross off that’s charged down for another corner. Another short one and Chandler’s floating cross almost gets Given in trouble as he gets his feet wrong on the cross, but as the USA pursue the loose ball Beckerman is called for a foul and Ireland can play out.

4 mins

Given forced into an awkward kick clear and the US press forward, picking up a throw in an advanced position down the left. And Morales cuts to the byline and earns a corner for the visitors. Taken short and then Bedoya’s low cross finds Morales again, this time in the box, but his late swing at the ball hoofs it high and wide.

2 mins

McGoldrick gets a first touch up the right but can’t control the ball as it runs out for a throw. USA get the ball clear but the Irish regain it and are holding possession in the opening exchanges.

Oh what an atmosphere

Teams come onto the field to the tune of “Thus spoke Zarathustra” which doesn’t so much convey a friendly atmosphere, as the build up to Roy Keane showcasing his lightness of touch at an open mic night.

Anthems now — we’ll be off in a moment.

Hair news

As well as being without a club, Mix Diskerud, he of the fly fashion risk, is now without facial hair. More as we get it.

“The boys are back in town” crashing out around the Aviva stadium now. The boys of both teams are currently milling around in the tunnel of the stadium and about to walk out onto the field.

An email

Daniel Stauss ponders:

“Not too long ago, Timmy Chandler was being crowned the Next Big Thing for the USMNT, but now has seemingly been usurped by DeAndre Yedlin after he refused several calls from Klinsmann. I’d like to see Chandler get the start today, if only to see where his desire to play with the Nats is.”

Your wish is granted Daniel. Think a couple of high profile positioning errors didn’t help Chandler’s case either, mind.

Team News

Ireland: Given, Christie, Pearce, Clark, Meyler [c], Quinn, Brady, Pilkington, Murphy, McGoldrick, Stokes

USA: Hamid; F. Johnson, Cameron, Besler, Chandler; Beckerman; Bedoya, Diskerud, Morales; Wondolowski, Altidore (c)

Um...just the eleven changes for Martin O’Neill then. Which possibly straddles the line of respect/disrespect for your opponent (before doing something unmentionable on it).

Incidentally the former Sunderland manager and his former Sunderland manager assistant have three former Sunderland players in the line up in Meyler, Murphy and Stokes (four if you count Shay Given back in the day). As someone whose formative years were spent weeping at the unfairness of it all at Roker Park, I can tell you this is a tendency guaranteed to work.

For the US, D.C. United’s Bill Hamid gets the nod in goal and Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler will be at the center of defense. Kyle Beckerman stays as the defensive midfielder, while there’s still no start for Julian Green — instead Alfredo Morales gets another chance to show what he’s got in midfield. Upfront Chris Wondolowski will be playing off Jozy Altidore.

Know your history

The first game between these two teams took place in 1924, as Chris Holme old schooled me this morning on Twitter:

USA

So there’ll be changes tonight, for sure, with Jürgen Klinsmann’s experiment with Jermaine Jones as a central defender being suspended for now, with the player returning to New England revolution for the playoffs. Lee Nguyen, a late sub against Colombia, won’t get a chance to further his national team revival as he’s back with the Revs as well. Matt Besler, who looked exhausted at the end of the season, may be back in Jones’ starting spot alongside John Brooks.

Nick Rimando may get a start in goal in place of the now presumptive number one Brad Guzan, while it’ll be interesting to see if and when Klinsmann uses Julian Green, who’s lacking playing time right now, but still one of the more promising attacking options for the team. And keep an eye out for how many minutes Alejandro Bedoya plays — he was one of the bright spots against Colombia as one of the USA’s most consistent threats as well as doing the type of work in defense that Klinsmann wants from his midfielders when they’re without the ball.

GOALKEEPERS (4): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (9): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Hamburg), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

UPDATE: Tim Ream of Bolton Wanderers has been called up to replace the injured John Brooks

Ireland

It’s getting a bit messy isn’t it...but hang on, here comes the cavalry with a bucket of water to douse the flames of controversy....

...nope, it’s Eamon Dunphy with a bucket of petrol. Dunphy reckons the circus around Keane has got out of hand and that:

“You don’t want this comedian, if you like, going around representing Irish soccer and the international team.”

That should help.

Possibly rather more worrying for Ireland is how bereft of ideas they looked against Scotland in Glasgow the other night, as their straightforward long ball game was dealt with pretty comfortably by Gordon Strachan’s team. They’ve got a decent haul of seven points from the opening part of their European Championship campaign, and a nice run of home games coming up, but could do with a more convincing performance tonight, or it might not just be David McGoldrick and Cyrus Christie, new to the squad for this round of matches, who find themselves thanking Irish grandparents for an international career.

Goalkeepers: David Forde (Millwall), Shay Given (Aston Villa), Darren Randolph (Birmingham), Rob Elliot (Newcastle)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Reading), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Richard Keogh, Cyrus Christie (both Derby)

Midfielders: James McCarthy, Darron Gibson, Aiden McGeady (all Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Derby), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff), James McClean (Wigan), Stephen Quinn (Hull City), Robbie Brady and David Meyler (both Hull)

Forwards: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), Jon Walters (Stoke), Kevin Doyle (Crystal Palace), Anthony Stokes (Celtic), Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick (both Ipswich)

Preamble

Easy now... It’s the last game of the year for both Ireland and the USA here in Dublin this evening and everybody’s playing in fancy dress and is allowed to bring in board games to play during the second half and you’d maybe expect a rather less intense mood than seems to have settled around both camps over the last couple of days.

It’s been less to do with the soccer/football itself (and this liveblog is being hosted by the US edition of the Guardian so soccer it is) though Ireland’s European Championship loss to Scotland didn’t help their mood, while the USA’s defeat to Colombia in London on Friday was not entirely unexpected, but still represented a first defeat since the World Cup.

No, both teams have been dealing with the natural phenomenon known as “distractions”. In Ireland’s case the ongoing misunderstandings that seem to keep wandering into Roy Keane’s general vicinity. In the USA’s case, the emerging tensions that have surrounded the technical director half of Jürgen Klinsmann’s job description.

And with tempers fraying, squads appear to be fraying too. The other Keane, Robbie, has headed back to LA for this weekend’s MLS Cup Western Conference final against Seattle Sounders, where he’ll be lining up opposite the likes of DeAndre Yedlin, who’s left the US squad, alongside Jermaine Jones and Lee Nguyen of New England.

The players that are left for the US will be looking to impress before Klinsmann’s January team camp, and as the coach begins shaping his thoughts for next year’s Gold Cup. Ireland of course, have the small matter of European Championship qualification to think about — their next home game for that is against Poland in March.

Anyway, I’ll be back shortly with a little more build up and team news, for now, get your tweets and emails coming in to @KidWeil or graham.parker@theguardian.com then sit very still — I don’t want to be distracted.