U19s’ Liam Kelly scores from halfway line to beat Sweden

Ireland's Liam Kelly landed a memorable goal in the under-19s Uefa qualifiers for the Republic of Ireland to win 1-0 against Sweden in Angelholms yesterday.

Paul Doolin's side secured three points and their second victory in the group thanks to an 83rd minute winner from Reading's Kelly, which Doolin likened to David Beckham's noted strike from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996.

After beating Azerbaijan in their opening game, Doolin's side top the group and are guaranteed a place in the elite round.

“Sweden are an excellent team and had a strong wind behind them in the first half but we weathered the storm. We had the breeze in the second half and we finished really strongly,” Doolin said.

The Irish meet Bosnia & Herzegovina in their final group game on Tuesday afternoon (1pm).

"We hadn't won any friendlies before our last one against Slovenia so to come over here and win the group should really be recognised," Doolin added.

The tournament finals are in Hungary next summer with the European qualification for the World under-20 Cup Finals in New Zealand in 2015 taken from that tournament.