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| Robbie Keane scored twice during ROI's win over Gibraltar |
ROBBIE KEANE took his international goals tally to 67 with a double as the Republic of Ireland’s gave their Euro 2016 qualifying hopes a lift.
The 35-year-old struck twice inside three second-half minutes in Faro to extended the first-half lead Derby full-back Cyrus Christie had given his side with his first goal for his country on his competitive debut.
Keane, who scored a 13-minute hat-trick against the same opposition in October’s 7-0 win in Dublin, did not get the opportunity to repeat the feat when he was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining as manager Martin O’Neill cast an eye towards Monday night’s clash with Georgia at the Aviva Stadium.
And it was his replacement Shane Long who completed a 4-0 win.
The victory, coupled with Scotland’s 1-0 defeat by the Georgians in Tbilisi earlier in the day, saw Ireland leapfrog Gordon Strachan’s side in Group D and rekindled their hopes of clinching a play-off spot for next summer’s finals in France.
Manchester United’s new £36m striker Anthony Martial made his senior debut for France as a second half substitute as they won 1-0 in Portugal thanks to Mathieu Valbuena’s superb late free-kick.
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