The capacity crowd in Dublin had not witnessed one of the more exhilarating performances of the Jack Charlton era but Aldridge's double meant they

The capacity crowd in Dublin had not witnessed one of the more exhilarating performances of the Jack Charlton era, but Aldridge's double meant they at least avoided the doomsday scenario of elimination and the possible resignation of their manager.Even after the self-styled "oldest swinger in town" swung into action, scoring twice in three minutes with two-thirds of the game gone, the Republic never looked capable of emulating their three handsome victories over Latvia in the past two years. On the contrary, a goal by Vitas Rimkus left them hanging on anxiously in the last 12 minutes.Afterwards, Charlton was asked about comments attributed to a senior official of the FA of Ireland, who suggested that he would bring down the curtain on a nine-year reign if the Republic failed to qualify. "I probably would have left if we'd lost this one," Charlton admitted. "We take it game by game, and if we lose in Portugal my answer may well be the same."This result keeps us in with a shout after our abysmal summer, though our backsides were hanging out after we gave away a goal at a crucial time."The tension was almost tangible during the first half, in which the Republic fell into the trap of pumping long balls in the rough direction of Niall Quinn. The surges from midfield of Jason McAteer and Andy Townsend offered greater hope, although Latvia's swift counter-attacking occasionally had nerve-ends jangling.Quinn was just beginning to betray his frustration at what he deemed the illegal attentions of his red-shirted shadow when he helped to engineer the breakthrough. Holding up Gary Kelly's cross with his back to goal, the high-rise striker laid a neat pass into the stride of Steve Staunton. Igor Stepanov tripped the midfielder, allowing Aldridge to score emphatically from the spot.Charlton confessed he had not been able to watch the penalty, but before long he was saluting a second goal.

Staunton was again involved, curling a free-kick in from the right flank which Aldridge met with a strong glancing header - his eighth goal against Latvia.Alan Kelly had to touch a volley by Mikhail Zemlinski on to his crossbar, only to be beaten moments later when Rimkus exploited a lapse by Phil Babb. The show now moves on to the Stadium of Light, though Northern Ireland could do their neighbours a substantial favour against Austria on the same evening.REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2): A Kelly (Sheffield United); G Kelly (Leeds), McGrath (Aston Villa), Babb (Liverpool), Phelan (Manchester City); McAteer (Liverpool), Kenna (Blackburn), Townsend, Staunton (both Aston Villa); Quinn (Manchester City), Aldridge (Tranmere). Substitutes: D Kelly (Sunderland) for Aldridge, 79; Kennedy (Liverpool) for D Kelly, 84.LATVIA (3-2-4-1): Karaveyev (Zwickau); Shevljakov (Skonto Riga), Stepanov (Skonto), Zakreshevski (RAF Jelgava); Troickis, Astafiev (both Skonto); Babichev, Zemlinski (both Skonto), Zeiberlins (Hapoel Tel-Aviv), Ivanov (Skonto); Rimkus (Amstrig). Substitute: Jelisejevs (Skonto) for Babichevs 71.Referee: J-A Marin (Spain)..

Scotland's chances of reaching the European Championship improved last night when Russia beat Greece 2-1 in Moscow. The Russians' victory gave them the automatic qualifying berth from Group Eight but also guaranteed the Scots second place, and the chance of going through as one of the six best runners-up. Yuri Kovtun was credited with Russia's opening goal in the 36th-minute even though his shot was deflected into the net. The Greeks rallied to equalise with a fine header by Yotis Tsalouhidis in the 64th minute, but Russia wrapped up the victory seven minutes later with a goal by Viktor Onopko. The Republic of Ireland gained the chance to win Group Six when the leaders, Portugal, managed only a 1-1 draw with Austria in Vienna.Spain qualified from Group Two by drawing 1-1 away to second-placed Denmark. Switzerland are on the verge of their first Championship after beating Hungary 3-0 in Group Three and Turkey drew 0-0 in Iceland.France gave themselves a chance of winning Group One by beating the section leaders, Romania, 3-1 in Bucharest..

Liechtenstein 0 Northern Ireland 4 Jimmy Quinn closed in on Northern Ireland's scoring record in his side's European Championship victory stroll at the Eschen/Mauren Sportpark yesterday afternoon. Quinn, who will be 36 next month, netted one of his country's three second- half goals to move to within one of Colin Clarke's record of 13 goals for the Ulstermen.Northern Ireland dismissed the part-time Group Six stragglers in a ruthless and professional manner, as their superior technique and fitness became more apparent after the break.It was satisfying for the manager, Bryan Hamilton, to succeed so comprehensively where Jack Charlton's Republic team could do no more than draw.Liechtenstein's already slim resources were stretched by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Martin Heeb - their hero against the Republic - and their only full-time professional, Mario Frick - and Northern Ireland made them pay.Phil Gray missed a simple chance in the second minute, but Liechtenstein's defensive discipline stayed intact only until the 36th minute. A long Alan Fettis clearance was headed on by Gray for Michael O'Neill to strike from close range.After the break, Northern Ireland drove forward relentlessly. The free- kicks of West Ham's Michael Hughes proved one of their most dangerous weapons, and one of them produced the second goal after 49 minutes. Quinn missed the ball but Tottenham's Gerry McMahon knelt behind him to head in his first international goal.Quinn put his name on the scoresheet with a 30-yard drive in the 55th minute, after a bad error by Harry Zech, and Gray crowned a hard-working performance with the fourth when he headed in McMahon's 72ndminute cross.Fettis, a spectator for most of the match, did well to tip over a curling shot from Franz Schadler in the closing stages.Liechtenstein may possess one of the most spectacular grounds in world football - but not one of the most impressive European records. They finished their Group Six programme with one point and 40 goals conceded in 10 matches.Nevertheless, the tiny principality, with a population of less than 30,000, has confirmed its entry to the next World Cup and may soon be facing some of global football's most famous teams in their municipal stadium nestling below the Alps.LIECHTENSTEIN: Oehry (Frastanz); Hefti (Vaduz), C Frick (Balzers), Hilti (Eschen/Mauren), Hasler (Vaduz), Klaunzer (Eschen/Mauren), Telser (Balzers), Stocker (Balzers), Schadler (Triesenberg), Zech (Vaduz), Oehri (Balzers). Substitutes used: Hanselmann (Vaduz), J Ospelt (Vaduz), Sele (Triesen).NORTHERN IRELAND: Fettis (Hull City); Lomas (Manchester City), Worthington (Leeds Utd), Hill (Leicester City), Hunter (Wrexham), Lennon (Crewe Alexandra), McMahon (Tottenham Hotspur), O'Neill (Hibernian), Quinn (Reading), P Gray (Sunderland), Hughes (West Ham).