Croatia grab Dublin draw

Damien Duff celebrates his goal against Croatia

Republic of Ireland 2-2 Croatia

Damien Duff and Clinton Morrison scored their first goals for the Republic but Croatia hit back to snatch a draw in Dublin.

Despite losing a two-goal lead and using nine second half substitutes, it was still an encouraging display as the Irish prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifier at home to Holland on 1 September.

Croatia also have an important World Cup game that day - a Group Six meeting with Scotland in Glasgow.

And Scottish coach Craig Brown was among the 27,000 spectators at Lansdowne Road.

Vugrinec headed Croatia back into contention and in the third minute of injury-time Davor Suker equalised with a penalty.

Cutting inside

It was Suker who had dashed Ireland's Euro 2000 hopes with a stoppage-time winner the last time these two sides met in Zagreb in September 1999

When Duff cracked in a spectacular opener in the 21st minute it was the 14th consecutive game in which the Irish had scored.

The Blackburn winger accepted a nicely-timed pass from skipper Roy Keane before cutting inside to blast a left-foot shot high into the corner of the net.

Duff's smart strike brought the low-key game to life and vindicated manager Mick McCarthy's decision to again play him in a central attacking role.

New Irish cap Stephen Reid is tackled

Morrison netted an open goal on 76 minutes after Jason McAteer's initial effort had been parried by keeper Pletikosa.

Vugrinec quickly pulled one back for Croatia with a header, and in the 93rd minute, when John O'Shea handled, Suker slotted home the penalty.

It was still 13 matches without defeat for Ireland but, in truth the result did not matter much.

How could it when veteran Steve Staunton, winning his 90th cap, and Carsley were the only Irish players to survive the full 90 minutes.

And yet their late, saving spot-kick was a bitter irony.

Much earlier in the second half Swiss referee Andreas Schluchter had refused to give a penalty when substitute keeper Alan Kelly blatantly brought down Liverpool's Biscan.

Rep of Ireland: Given (Alan Kelly 46), Gary Kelly (O'Shea 84), Dunne (O'Brien 46), Staunton, Harte (McPhail 60), Kennedy (McAteer 46), Roy Keane (Kilbane 46), Carsley, Reid (Finnan 46), Duff (Connolly 52), Robbie Keane (Morrison 52).
Goals: Duff 21, Morrison 77.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Robert Kovac, Jarni (Saric 63), Soldo (Suker 74), Tudor, Dario Simic (Tomas 74), Stanic (Biscan 46), Rapaic (Zivkovic 46), Balaban (Vugrinec 46), Niko Kovac (Bjelica 82), Boksic (Prosinecki 74).
Goals: Vugrinec 80, Suker 90 pen.

Referee: Andreas Schluchter (Switzerland).