The opening 45-minutes offered just a handful of clear-cut chances, with Phil Bardsley testing Shay Given with a well struck effort from 30-yards, but the Republic ‘keeper was able to touch it onto the bar. The host’s captain Robbie Keane put the Republic in the lead with a left-foot stunner that travelled under the body of the diving Allan McGregor.

Scotland were given most of the ball in the second-half as the Republic let them take the possession as the defended the game out. Kenny Miller could have a penalty when he was brought down by Stephen Hunt, but the referee thought nothing of it.

Giovanni Trapattoni made four changes from the side that beat their neighbours 5-0 in the week, with Darren O’Dea, Keith Fahey, Hunt and Liam Lawrence coming in. Scotland meanwhile brought in youngster James Forrest to make his senior international debut and supported Kenny Miller up front.

Both sides started the game brightly, with neither shying away from showcasing an early attacking display. The hosts could have found the net if it weren’t for Scotland’s organised defence stopping Simon Cox’s run inside the box being fruitful.

The visitors followed the chance up with one of their own, as Charlie Adam was let loose with a powerful effort with his left-foot that just went over Shay Given’s bar.

A majestic save from the Republic’s ‘keeper kept out an audacious attempt from Scotland’s Bardsley a quarter of an hour into the game. The long-range effort swerved and twisted through the air, but Manchester City’s No. 2 managed to get to full stretch to finger-tip it onto the bar.

The home side opened the scoring just after 20 minutes, with Keane getting his 49^th goal for the Republic and levelling Bobby Charlton’s record for England in the process. A breakthrough down the middle by Paul McShane started the move, the defender slipping the ball to the striker for the Spurs man to power forward to the edge of the box and smash the ball home, going under McGregor’s casual dive on the way through.

Steven Naismith had a confident try at goal as the first-half reached its concluding moments, Barry Robson pulling the ball back to the edge of the area for the striker to put his laces through the ball, but Given was allowed enough time to get down and make the save.

It could have been two to the Republic five minutes after the restart after a free-kick from Hunt picked up an unmarked Cox just inside the area and the West Brom man took full advantage of the space around him, but his effort was dragged just wide of the far post.

Scotland had a chance to equalise after Robson got the by-line on the right-side of the Republic’s goal and placed a cross to the back-post for Forrest, but the 19-year-old  had to watch his slightly mishit touch go agonisingly wide of the net from six-yards.

A big penalty shout for the visitors came after Kenny Miller was certain that Hunt had brought him down deep inside the Republic’s area and replays deemed the Scotsman’s argument fully justifiable, with the referee letting the Wolves midfielder off and leaving the Bursapor striker livid.

The Republic dropped off towards the end of the game, allowing Scotland to take the reins and create the chances needed to win the game and the competition. Miller spurned the final full opportunity of the match after hitting a free shot wide of the post in the last moments.

Follow Goal.com on . Get the latest football news direct... Check out Goal.com's : page; be part of the best football fan community in the world!