Soccer

Italia ’90: penalty kick spot the ball

You might remember where you were when David O’Leary scored the winning penalty in Genoa – but can you remember the actual penalties?

Republic of Ireland players celebrate David O’Leary’s winning penalty against Romania in Genoa, on June 25th, 1990. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Republic of Ireland players celebrate David O’Leary’s winning penalty against Romania in Genoa, on June 25th, 1990. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Brian Kilmartin
Thu Jun 25 2015 - 13:19

The whole country seemed to come to a standstill 25 years ago today as Ireland faced Romania for a place in the World Cup quarter finals. Shops closed early, busses went off the roads, the streets emptied and the pubs filled up as the nation gathered to watch what proved to be one of the greatest occasions in Irish sport.

After 120 minutes of football, four yellow cards and no goals at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, in Genoa, referee Jose Ramiz Wright from Brazil blew the final whistle.

The match would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. The Irish players who took the spot kicks were: Kevin Sheedy, Ray Houghton, Andy Townsend, Tony Cascarino and David O'Leary – who slotted home the winning kick. The Romania penalty takers were Gheorghe Hagi, Danut Lupu, Iosif Rotariu, Ioan Lupescu and Daniel Timofte, the only player to miss in the shoot-out. So test your wits: where did the Irish players place their kicks? (Best viewed in landscape mode on mobile)

Packie Bonner saves a penalty by Daniel Timofte in the shoot-out. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Packie Bonner saves a penalty by Daniel Timofte in the shoot-out. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

If you are reading this on the app, you can play the spot the ball game on irishtimes.com/sport

Brian Kilmartin

Brian Kilmartin

Brian Kilmartin is Managing Editor, Features at The Irish Times