• Euro 2012 qualifiers

Keane reaches landmark with goal in Ireland win

ESPN staff
June 4, 2011
Robbie Keane celebrates his 50th goal for Ireland © PA Photos
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Robbie Keane plundered the 50th and 51st goals of his senior international career to fire Republic of Ireland to a crucial 2-0 victory over Macedonia in Euro 2012 qualifying Group B.

Keane's eight and 37th-minute strikes took him past Sir Bobby Charlton in the all-time list for British and Irish players, and proved enough to secure three precious Euro 2012 qualification points.

The victory did not come easily, however, and goalkeeper Shay Given was relieved to see Ivan Trickovski thump a 40th-minute penalty against the crossbar after John O'Shea had been penalised for a foul on Goran Pandev.

Elsewhere in the group, Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a hat-trick as Russia hit back from 1-0 down to beat Armenia and pile the pressure on their rivals in Euro 2012 qualifying Group B.

Marcos Pizzelli put the visitors ahead after 25 minutes before Pavlyuchenko took centre stage, the Tottenham striker equalising almost immediately before making it 2-1 on the hour mark and then adding another with a 73rd-minute penalty.

In other groups, Denmark kept their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign on track with victory over Scandinavian rivals Iceland.

Goals from Lasse Schone and Christian Eriksen earned Morten Olsen's men their third win in Group H and ensured they kept up the pressure on Norway and Portugal above them.

There were also wins for Israel, Slovakia and Greece against Latvia, Andorra and Malta respectively.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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