<p> Ireland took the lead just after the half hour when Derby County midfielder Paul Green, who made his international debut as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Paraguay, stooped low to head home winger Liam Lawrence's free kick unmarked.<br /><br />They doubled it six minutes into the second half when visiting goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi flapped at a Damien Duff cross and captain Robbie Keane dinked the ball over Chaouchi and his watching defenders.<br /><br />Algeria, who upset African champions Egypt en route to their first appearance at the finals since 1986, started with debutants Habib Belaid, Adlane Guedioura and Djamel Mesbah, and looked like a side that had not played much football together.<br /><br />The trio, among seven uncapped players included in coach Rabah Saadane's preliminary squad for next month's finals in South Africa, made little impact in a side where only dangerman Karim Ziani mildly impressed.<br /><br />The VfL Wolfsburg attacker gave Irish goalkeeper Kieren Westwood his only test of the evening shortly after Keane's goal, forcing him to push away a long range drive.<br /><br />Guedioura would have marked his first appearance with a goal were it not for the crossbar but the Algerians were further behind within a minute when Keane tucked away an 86th minute penalty that he had won.<br /><br />It could have been worse for the North Africans who have World Cup Group C matches against England, United States and Slovenia ahead but Keane was earlier denied first by a smart save by Chaouchi and then by the goalkeeper's post.</p>
<p> Ireland took the lead just after the half hour when Derby County midfielder Paul Green, who made his international debut as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Paraguay, stooped low to head home winger Liam Lawrence's free kick unmarked.<br /><br />They doubled it six minutes into the second half when visiting goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi flapped at a Damien Duff cross and captain Robbie Keane dinked the ball over Chaouchi and his watching defenders.<br /><br />Algeria, who upset African champions Egypt en route to their first appearance at the finals since 1986, started with debutants Habib Belaid, Adlane Guedioura and Djamel Mesbah, and looked like a side that had not played much football together.<br /><br />The trio, among seven uncapped players included in coach Rabah Saadane's preliminary squad for next month's finals in South Africa, made little impact in a side where only dangerman Karim Ziani mildly impressed.<br /><br />The VfL Wolfsburg attacker gave Irish goalkeeper Kieren Westwood his only test of the evening shortly after Keane's goal, forcing him to push away a long range drive.<br /><br />Guedioura would have marked his first appearance with a goal were it not for the crossbar but the Algerians were further behind within a minute when Keane tucked away an 86th minute penalty that he had won.<br /><br />It could have been worse for the North Africans who have World Cup Group C matches against England, United States and Slovenia ahead but Keane was earlier denied first by a smart save by Chaouchi and then by the goalkeeper's post.</p>