Club News

Long makes it two in a week

And Olsson's World Cup dream hangs in the balance

SHANE Long tonight fired his second goal in a week for club and country as he scored the third in the Republic of Ireland’s 3-0 friendly win over Latvia.

The Baggies striker followed up his strike in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea by netting the third goal on 79 – just six minutes after coming on as a substitute in Dublin – in Martin O’Neill’s first game as Republic boss.

Jonas Olsson was an unused substitute in Sweden’s World Cup play-off first-leg 1-0 defeat by Portugal in Lisbon – Ronaldo scoring the only goal of the game eight minutes from time.

And the Albion centre-half will be hoping to help his country turn the tie around in the second leg, in Solna, on Tuesday to keep alive his dream of playing at next summer’s finals in Brazil.

Matej Vydra came on as a half-time substitute for the Czech Republic in their 2-0 friendly win over Canada, in Olomouc.