Brady late show fires Ireland into last 16
Robbie Brady was Republic of Ireland's hero as his late header earned a 1-0 win over a much-changed Italy to send his side through to the last 16 of UEFA EURO 2016.
Martin O'Neill's side knew it was win or bust in Lille, but it looked like a typically spirited display was not going to be enough until Brady popped up to glance Wes Hoolahan's inch-perfect cross beyond Salvatore Sirigu with five minutes left.
With top spot in the pool already secured and a mouth-watering last-16 tie with Spain on the horizon, Italy manager Antonio Conte made eight alterations to his starting line-up, with the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Antonio Candreva sitting out.
Ireland flew out of the traps in the first half as it attempted to catch Italy's second string cold.
Despite the largely different personnel, Conte's side still performed with its usual defensive diligence and Ireland struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
O'Neill's team had every right to feel aggrieved for not being awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Federico Bernardeschi barged into James McClean, and Hoolahan should have put it in front when he shot straight at Sirigu from 10 yards.
However, the Norwich City man went from villain to hero, as he sent in a wonderful in-swinging delivery for Brady to seal a last-16 meeting with host France.
It was rich reward for an Ireland side that looked determined not to be left wondering and quickly went about putting Italy on the back foot. Jeff Hendrick went close in the 10th minute when he dipped inside Thiago Motta and rifled a left-footed strike just wide of the post from 20 yards.
Daryl Murphy was next to go close as he glanced Brady's excellent out-swinging corner goal-wards, only to be denied by Buffon's deputy Sirigu.
Italy was struggling to cope with the Ireland's intensity, but Ciro Immobile had Darren Randolph scrambling across his goal when he shot just wide from the edge of the area.
Ireland then thought it should have had a penalty when McClean went down under a clumsy challenge from Bernardeschi, but referee Ovidiu Hategan waved away the players' appeals and, with that, an entertaining first half came to an end.
The Azzurri started the second half on the front foot and Simone Zaza flashed a left-footed volley narrowly over the bar from Mattia De Sciglio's cross shortly after the restart.
Hendrick again shot wide from range as Ireland's application threatened to turn to desperation around the hour mark.
Conte introduced Lorenzo Insigne for Immobile with a quarter of an hour remaining and the Napoli man almost dealt the fatal blow to Ireland's fading hopes when he hit the woodwork from 20 yards.
But there was late drama to come, as first Hoolahan scuffed a weak effort into the grateful arms of Sirigu, before then producing a cross of outstanding quality for Brady to convert and spark wild scenes of celebration among the vast swathes of green-clad Ireland fans in the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
