The first goal of Paul Green's international career and the 42nd and 43rd of Robbie Keane's handed the Republic of Ireland a deserved 3-0 victory over Algeria.

The World Cup finalists - who will face England, Slovenia and the USA in Group C in South Africa - never looked like recovering from Green's 32nd-minute header on his first start for Ireland, and Keane's strike seven minutes after the break was little more than Giovanni Trapattoni's men deserved.

Keane, who had earlier forced two fine saves and hit a post, completed the job when he converted an 85th-minute penalty after being tripped by defender Djamel Mesbah.