Goals from Robbie Keane and John O'Shea have given Noel King and his Republic of Ireland side a 2-1 lead over Kazakhstan in their World Cup qualifying clash this evening.

King's side created the game's first opportunity when Andy Reid fizzed in a cross to the near post, which Keane headed straight into the hands of the visiting side's goalkeeper.

The home side surprisingly went behind in the 12th minute when Seamus Coleman failed to clear, leaving Dmitri Shomko to curl in an unstoppable effort from 30 yards out from goal.

However, Ireland responded as Keane equalised from the penalty spot to score his 61st goal in international football.

The Republic then took the lead on the 26th-minute mark as the away side failed to clear a corner, allowing Richard Dunne to force a save from the keeper, who could only parry to the feet of O'Shea, with the defender making no mistake in firing the ball home from six yards out.