Clifford strikes again for Ireland

Conor Clifford scored the winner for the second time in as many days as the Republic of Ireland finished runners-up in UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round Group 3 behind England.

Having scored the only goal when his team overcame hosts Ukraine on Saturday, the Chelsea FC midfielder repeated the trick from the penalty spot against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 68 minutes after Kenan Hadžić fouled Conor Hourihane. By that time their opponents were also a man down, Sanel Alić being shown a straight red card a minute before half-time for a challenge on Daniel Kearns.

Seán McCaffrey's team would have been out of sight had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Tino Divković, who denied Karl Sheppard twice when the Ireland No18 was through on goal midway through the first half. Sheppard also shot over the bar before Alić's dismissal.

Clifford pressed Divković into further action 11 minutes into the second period with an effort from range, while at the other end Dalibor Pandža shot wide when in space on the corner of the penalty area. With a little over an hour gone, Sheppard somehow shot straight at Hadžić after the ball broke loose, but the breakthrough finally arrived courtesy of Clifford's spot-kick.