Republic of Ireland 1 Turkey 1

Advantage Turkey after this 1-1 draw in Dublin that sees Ireland suffering significant disadvantages as they prepare for the first leg.

The Irish conceded an away goal in the 82nd minute - less than three minutes after Robbie Keane had produced an excellent finish to put the home side in front. Keane got himself needlessly suspended from the leg with an 85th minute yellow card for dissent rulng him out of contention for the trip to famously hostile Attaturk stadium in Bursa in a remote part of north west Turkey. The Irish have more problems in attack as in form veteran Niall Quinn was injured in the warm up before this game begun and goalkeeper Alan Kelly limped out of the action in the 62nd minute with a groin strain that looks certain to see him miss the trip to Turkey next week.

Kelly's replacement in goal - Dean Kiely - was laying his first game for the national team and was hardly tested as Turkey needed a penalty to get back on level terms after Keane had put Ireland in front.

Dennis Irwin won a hard tackle outside the area and found substitute David Connolly with a through pass which he flicked with the outside of his boot into the path of Keane who controlled the ball with his right instep to cut the ball back across his body and buried his shot with the left foot.

Lee Carsley put Turkey back into the game when he handled a deflected Arif shot and Tayfur placed the ball high and wide of Kiely with eight minutes to go. Ireland were still celebrating their lead which had ben a long time coming and a lapse in concentration allowed Turkey back into the match and certainly gave them the advantage in this play-off.

The Turkish side did not deserve to lose and their goalkeeper Rustu Recber was named man of the match.

Rustu saved his team after only 30 seconds of the game when Kevin Kilbane cut in from the left and curled a shot into the left of goal only to see Rustu dive and turn the ball away.

He did the same twice more in the first half from Quinn's emergency replacement Tony Cascarino who was only drafted into the side with 15 minutes to go before the start.