A second-half Rocco Vata strike earned Ireland Men's Under-17s an excellent 1-0 victory against Belgium in Spain today in the second of a friendly doubleheader between the sides.

Vata finished off a well rehearsed team move in the 79th minute for what proved to be the winner - his third international goal of the season.

The win follows Thursday's 2-2 draw with Belgium and is the perfect preparation for Colin O'Brien's team ahead of next month's UEFA Under-17 European Championship Elite Round qualifiers where they face Portugal, Finland and Bulgaria.

O’Brien made nine changes to the line-up that started against Belgium earlier in the week with only captain Sam Curtis and Franco Umeh retaining their places in the Starting XI.
 
It was a cautious opening to the game with Ireland retaining possession well and limiting Belgium’s control of the game.
 
But it was the Red Devils who almost took the lead in the 27th minute. A defence splitting pass put Belgium clear but Fintan Doherty, who was making his second Ireland appearance, produced an excellent save to keep the scores level.
 
In the 38th minute St. Patrick’s Athletic’s Adam Murphy, appearing for Ireland for the first time since February 2020, managed to break free of the Belgian back-line but was unable to find a way past goalkeeper Jannes Van Hof who stood tall and denied Ireland.
 
At the break Ivan Savshak and James McManus were introduced for Sean Mackey and Senan Mullen.

Murphy was involved again 11 minutes in the second half when he whipped in a cross from the right for Umeh whose header couldn't find the target and went just over the bar.

On the hour mark Justin Ferizaj, Vata and Mark O'Mahony were introduced for Daniel Negry-Mcgrath, Murphy and Caden McLoughlin as Ireland pushed for a winner.

And O'Mahony almost had an immediate impact when his fierce strike from 22-yards out was tipped onto the bar by Van Hof. Seconds after that attempt, Doherty was in action at the other end, again denying Belgium with his feet.

But the breakthrough came in the 79th minute thanks to Vata. The Celtic playmaker finished off a well rehearsed free-kick routine to put Ireland 1-0 in front.

Ireland survived a late scare when Stanis Idumbo Muzambo headed over from six-yards-out. Luke O'Brien and Darius Lipsuic were brought on for Gideon Tetteh and Umeh as Ireland saw out the game for an impressive win out in Spain.

A last-minute Belgium goal denied Ireland a comeback win as the first of a friendly doubleheader between the countries this week ended 2-2 in Spain.

Noah Mawete Kinsiona's strike put Belgium ahead but was cancelled out by Cork City's Franco Umeh.

His clubmate Mark O'Mahony put Ireland 2-1 up before the break with his eighth international goal of the season just minutes after Conor Walsh saved a penalty.

The Red Devils earned a draw when a 90th minute deflected cross found its way into the Ireland net. 

Head Coach Colin O’Brien handed first Ireland starts to Honved Budapest’s Ivan Savshak and Shamrock Rovers’ Pharell Manuel for the game in the Marbella.
 
It was Ireland who came closest early on. In the sixth minute Justin Ferizaj’s floated free-kick just needed an Ireland shirt to get on the end of it but it evaded everyone and went harmlessly wide.
 
Four minutes later it was Belgium who took the lead. The Belgians broke down the right and on the edge of the area was Standard Liege’s Mawete Kinsiona who found the bottom corner with a fine finish.
 
But Ireland fought back. Umeh reacted fastest from an Ireland corner to equalise for the young Boys in Green in the 20th minute.
 
And the drama of the first half wasn’t to end there. In the 36th minute Belgium were awarded a penalty after Curtis felled a Belgian attacker. Brahim Ghalidi was denied by Conor Walsh who dived to his left to keep the score at 1-1.
 
Two minutes later Ireland turned the game on it’s head. Ferizaj played through O’Mahony one-on-one with Tom Poitoux and the Cork City striker made no mistake scoring his eighth goal in eight internationals this season.

At half time Senan Mullen replaced James McManus to make his Ireland debut. Gideon Tetteh was also introduced after the break, replacing Umeh.

Ireland's best chance in the second half came in the 63rd minute. Darius Lipsiuc found himself in on goal when he collected the ball from 25-yards-out and weaved past three Belgium players. With just the goalkeeper to beat the St. Pat's midfielder saw his effort go over the bar.

Shortly after Dan McHale and Sean McHale made their Ireland debuts coming on for Luke O'Brien and Manuel. Caden McLoughlin came on for goalscorer O'Mahony.

With Ireland close to an impressive win out in Spain, Belgium equalised when Vicent Burlet's deflected cross found the Ireland net in the last minute.