Ireland picked up a 1-1 draw against Serbia on Tuesday night, with Manchester City’s Gavin Bazunu potentially pushing himself ahead of Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
Stephen Kenny needed a result as questions are being asked about his role as Ireland boss, and he managed to pick up a point.
Serbia did take the lead as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic powered a header past Bazunu, only for Nikola Milenkovic’s late goal to give Ireland a point.
Bazunu made save after save to keep Ireland in the game. Dusan Vlahovic had a shot saved, and Aleksandar Mitrovic tested Bazunu three times.
Nemanja Radonjic also had a shot saved by Bazunu, and all those saves meant Ireland were able to snatch a point with that MIlnekovic own goal.
This was a colossal performance from Bazunu, who is just 19. Signed by Manchester City in 2019, Bazunu finds himself on loan at Portsmouth right now.
This is Bazunu’s second stint in League One having been with Rochdale last term, and senior football is helping him progress and push to become Ireland’s number one.
Bazunu is now Ireland’s hot property in goal, taking some buzz away from Liverpool talent Caoimhin Kelleher in the process.
Kelleher turns 23 in November, but has just nine first-team appearances at Liverpool and has yet to go out on loan away from Anfield.
Ireland fans have now been discussing both players, and seem to feel that Kelleher is somewhat stalling by sitting at Liverpool and not playing.
Some now think that there is ‘no contest’ over who is better, Bazunu or Kelleher; they think it’s obviously Bazunu now.
Others added that Bazunu is on a different level to Kelleher now, and believe Kelleher will have to settle for being a backup for his country unless he leaves Liverpool.
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