It’s been a frustrating start to Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign, with losses to Armenia and Portugal, plus a draw with Hungary.
Remarkably, the Boys in Green could still finish the night in second place in the group if both themselves and Portugal prevail and there is a four-goal swing.
Yet, as Heimir Hallgrímsson has said, any kind of victory will be welcomed.
Ireland have not won a qualifier since beating Gibraltar in October 2023, and their last World Cup qualifying victory came away to Luxembourg in November 2021.
14 Oct
7:04PM
Confirmation of the Irish starting XI…
STARTING XI | Ireland v Armenia
Two changes as Will Smallbone and FInn Azaz come into the team to face Armenia 🇮🇪
Huge game under the lights at the Aviva, nothing better! Kick-off at 7.45pm 💚 pic.twitter.com/ZuBJT7dCac
Ireland's Ryan Manning and Sergei Muradian of Armenia. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
14 Oct
8:51PM
Armenia make a change at the break.
Zelarayán replaces Shaghoyan.
14 Oct
8:52PM
The second half has begun…
14 Oct
8:54PM
In case you were wondering, Portugal lead Hungary 2-1 in the group’s other game.
A Cristiano Ronaldo brace has put the hosts ahead after the visitors took an early lead.
14 Oct
8:56PM
48 mins: There’s a heated argument in the penalty area.
A couple of Armenian players aren’t happy after a robust challenge on the goalkeeper by Seamus Coleman as the former gathers an unthreatening Finn Azaz header.
Manning’s cross finds Collins, whose header is pushed onto the post by the goalkeeper.
14 Oct
9:03PM
56 mins: How did that stay out?
The goalkeeper makes a great save to keep out O’Shea’s deflected header from a Manning corner.
Collins threatens to force home the rebound, but the deflection doesn’t fall kindly for him.
14 Oct
9:04PM
58 mins: Armenia goalkeeper Avagyan isn’t the most popular man in the Aviva right now.
He has been taking his time with goal kicks and went down to receive treatment and force a lengthy stoppage moments ago.
14 Oct
9:07PM
Here’s a look at the red card…
Ireland 0-0 Armenia: A gift for Ireland as Barseghyan loses his head and sticks it on Finn Azaz, giving the referee no choice but to produce a straight red card. Can Ireland now take control against 10 men?
Smallbone crosses for Ferguson, who guides home his header deftly from close range.
14 Oct
9:19PM
73 mins: Ireland threaten a second.
Parrott sets up Molumby, but the midfielder’s pot shot from the edge of the area goes a few inches over.
14 Oct
9:20PM
Armenia responded to going behind by making a double change.
Grigoryan and Miranyan replace Tiknizyan and Ranos.
14 Oct
9:22PM
76 mins: Having been frustrated and restrained for large portions of the first half, the crowd have really come alive in the second.
Of course, the red card and subsequent goal have been a big help.
14 Oct
9:25PM
Here’s a look at the Ferguson goal…
Ireland 1-0 Armenia: The breakthrough against the 10 men of Armenia comes through the head of Evan Ferguson, who nods home from Will Smallbone's cross.
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As it happened: Ireland v Armenia, World Cup qualifier
Ireland 1-0 Armenia
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s been a frustrating start to Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign, with losses to Armenia and Portugal, plus a draw with Hungary.
Remarkably, the Boys in Green could still finish the night in second place in the group if both themselves and Portugal prevail and there is a four-goal swing.
Yet, as Heimir Hallgrímsson has said, any kind of victory will be welcomed.
Ireland have not won a qualifier since beating Gibraltar in October 2023, and their last World Cup qualifying victory came away to Luxembourg in November 2021.
Confirmation of the Irish starting XI…
Who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
Here is the Armenia team for this evening…
We’re underway…
2 mins: Positive start by Ireland.
Seamus Coleman wins a free kick about 30 yards out and already has drawn blood after Shaghoyan catches him while the Everton star heads the ball.
He looks like he’ll be fine to continue.
5 mins: Early chance!
Smallbone’s corner finds Jake O’Brien, but the Everton defender can’t steer his header on target.
9 mins: Armenia are starting to see a bit more of the ball.
Much of the game has been played in the visitors’ half, however.
15 mins: Armenia are looking increasingly comfortable.
They have had Ireland pinned back inside their half in recent minutes.
18 mins: Spertsyan, who has caused Ireland plenty of problems in the past, plays a neat one-two before firing a shot at goal.
However, the effort from distance fails to trouble Kelleher unduly.
19 mins: Better from Ireland.
Manning hangs a cross into the area, but Seamus Coleman can’t connect with the ball as he attempts a bicycle kick.
20 mins: Ebosele’s cross falls to Manning.
The Southampton star’s low effort drifts a few inches wide.
25 mins: Ebolsele wins a free kick as Mkrtchyan drags him back.
The Wexford native has caused Armenia a few problems early on.
29 mins: Ebosele bursts forward, beating one player, but then appears to slip and loses possession.
For all the promising moments he has helped generate, the İstanbul Başakşehir player needs better end product.
35 mins: The game is paused briefly as Armenia’s captain Barseghyan receives treatment.
He got a nasty cut to the area above the eye after a coming together with Azaz.
38 mins: Big chance for Armenia.
Hovhannisyan’s cross on the counter finds an unmarked Spertsyan, whose volley goes the wrong side of the post.
40 mins: Worry for Ireland as Azaz is down receiving treatment.
McAteer is one of the players warming up and could replace the Southampton star if the latter is unable to continue.
44 mins: Armenia give the ball away trying to play out from the back.
But Azaz can’t pick out Ferguson with his subsequent attempted through pass.
45 mins: There have been plenty of stoppages in the first half, so no surprise to see there will be five minutes added on.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 0-0 ARMENIA
Half-time and it’s been an uninspired opening 45 minutes.
It’s a tight, tense match befitting of the occasion.
Ireland had only 45% possession.
The hosts completed 187 passes compared to 254 for the visitors.
None of the Boys in Green’s four shots were on target compared to one of three for Armenia in a game of few chances.
Needless to say, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team need an improved display after the break if they are to emerge with three points.
Armenia have not been as dominant as they were at times in Yerevan, but looked relatively comfortable for large portions of that first half.
Armenia make a change at the break.
Zelarayán replaces Shaghoyan.
The second half has begun…
In case you were wondering, Portugal lead Hungary 2-1 in the group’s other game.
A Cristiano Ronaldo brace has put the hosts ahead after the visitors took an early lead.
48 mins: There’s a heated argument in the penalty area.
A couple of Armenian players aren’t happy after a robust challenge on the goalkeeper by Seamus Coleman as the former gathers an unthreatening Finn Azaz header.
ARMENIA DOWN TO 10 MEN!
Red card for Barseghyan.
Armenia’s captain has been sent off.
He is dismissed after headbutting Azaz.
53 mins: Chance for Ireland!
Manning’s cross finds Collins, whose header is pushed onto the post by the goalkeeper.
56 mins: How did that stay out?
The goalkeeper makes a great save to keep out O’Shea’s deflected header from a Manning corner.
Collins threatens to force home the rebound, but the deflection doesn’t fall kindly for him.
58 mins: Armenia goalkeeper Avagyan isn’t the most popular man in the Aviva right now.
He has been taking his time with goal kicks and went down to receive treatment and force a lengthy stoppage moments ago.
Here’s a look at the red card…
63 mins: Manning slips through Smallbone down the left, but his cross goes straight out of play.
Ireland need to be better in those types of scenarios to break down Armenia’s stubborn resistance.
65 mins: Changes for Ireland.
Ebosele and Coleman go off.
Parrott and Ogbene come on.
69 mins: Big chance for Ferguson!
Azaz does really well to create space and slip him through on goal, but the striker’s finish is straight at the goalkeeper.
IRELAND 1-0 ARMENIA (FERGUSON 70)
Ireland take a quick corner.
Smallbone crosses for Ferguson, who guides home his header deftly from close range.
73 mins: Ireland threaten a second.
Parrott sets up Molumby, but the midfielder’s pot shot from the edge of the area goes a few inches over.
Armenia responded to going behind by making a double change.
Grigoryan and Miranyan replace Tiknizyan and Ranos.
76 mins: Having been frustrated and restrained for large portions of the first half, the crowd have really come alive in the second.
Of course, the red card and subsequent goal have been a big help.
Here’s a look at the Ferguson goal…
42,292 has been announced as the official attendance.
80 mins: Manning’s corner finds Collins, but the defender can’t direct his effort on target.
Ireland make a double change — Idah and Taylor replace Ferguson and Smallbone.
Armenia also make a switch – Piloyan goes off and Bichakhchyan comes on.
83 mins: Another remarkable save by the Armenia goalkeeper to deny Idah.
His close-range finish somehow stays out after a low cross by Manning sets up the chance.
88 mins: Very close again!
Ogbene’s deflected low cross narrowly eludes Idah, who tries to slide it home inside the area.
89 mins: Ireland have the ball in the net, but it’s marginally offside.
It was still a fine finish by Idah after he was set up by Azaz.
There will be six minutes of stoppage time…
Festy Ebosele has been named as the player of the match.
It’s hard to think of many obvious candidates.
Just over a minute remains.
Ireland are looking pretty comfortable.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 1-0 ARMENIA
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow.
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