Ireland will be hoping to make it two wins from two, after an encouraging opening 4-1 defeat of Panama.
Asian champions Uzbekistan will also be feeling confident, however, after overcoming Paraguay 2-1 in their opening match.
A victory will qualify Ireland for the knockout stages, and even a draw would put them in a strong position to qualify at worst as one of the best third-place teams.
The latter’s cross takes a slight deflection, and McDonnell finds the corner of the net with a powerful header.
8 Nov
4:24PM
37 mins: Khabibullaev crosses for Abdumuminov.
It appears to come off the thigh of the Uzbekistan player, and Noonan gets down well to parry it out for a corner.
8 Nov
4:25PM
Here’s a look at Ireland’s equaliser…
𝗨𝟭𝟳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽: It's there! Ireland are level. Solanke gets down the left wing and stands up a cross. It's Grady McDonnell who gets up above the rest to head home an equaliser. IRL 1-1 UZB 📺WATCH on RTÉ2 📻LISTEN on @RTERadio1 📱FOLLOW on https://t.co/8FoHChzNIxpic.twitter.com/PkMntY8Cez
Umeh and Solanke link up well down the left again.
The Lorient full-back’s cross finds Noonan, whose downward header goes into the net.
8 Nov
5:28PM
Here’s a look at Noonan’s goal…
𝗨𝟭𝟳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽: Michael Noonan puts Ireland ahead! More great work down the left from Ade Solanke, he fires a ball across goal and Noonan's downward header makes it IRL 2-1 UZB. 📺WATCH on RTÉ2 📻LISTEN on @RTERadio1 📱FOLLOW on https://t.co/8FoHChzNIxpic.twitter.com/tQLOhtXJC7
Ireland prevail and confirm their place in the World Cup knockout stages.
A point against Paraguay on Tuesday will be enough to guarantee top spot in the group.
It was a great win for Colin O’Brien’s side against the Asian champions.
Ireland were on the back foot at times, and the two sides were relatively evenly matched, with Uzbekistan causing problems down the right-hand side in particular.
In the end, though, clinical finishes from McDonnell and Noonan were enough to see the Boys in Green over the line as they gained a hard-fought victory.
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As it happened: Ireland v Uzbekistan, U17 World Cup
Ireland 2-1 Uzbekistan
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
Ireland will be hoping to make it two wins from two, after an encouraging opening 4-1 defeat of Panama.
Asian champions Uzbekistan will also be feeling confident, however, after overcoming Paraguay 2-1 in their opening match.
A victory will qualify Ireland for the knockout stages, and even a draw would put them in a strong position to qualify at worst as one of the best third-place teams.
Kick-off is at 3.45pm.
Confirmation of the Ireland starting XI below…
And here’s the Uzbekistan team…
The match is underway…
3 mins: Decent start by Ireland.
They win a corner, delivered by Finneran, that ends with Grady McDonnell’s flick-on forcing a save.
5 mins: Uzbekistan break through Abdumuminov.
But Sodikov’s subsequent effort from a tight angle is well off target.
9 mins: After a bright opening by Ireland, Uzbekistan are enjoying a decent spell.
They’ve yet to test the Irish goalkeeper Noonan, however.
10 mins: There’s a stoppage in play.
Kovalevskis and Anvarov are involved in a nasty clash of heads as they contest a challenge.
Both players appear okay to continue, thankfully.
15 mins: Sodikov gets in behind Solanke after a defence-splitting pass catches Ireland out.
But Alex Noonan comes off his line promptly to save the one-on-one, parrying it out for a corner.
Down the other end, Umeh crosses for Michael Noonan, but the Shamrock Rovers starlet heads it wide.
IRELAND 0-1 UZBEKISTAN (SHUKURULLAEV 19)
Uzbekistan take the lead.
Khabibullaev’s shot on the edge of the area is saved, but Shukurullaev is on hand to convert the rebound.
25 mins: Finneran’s free kick falls to McDonagh, whose header is well off target.
Still, it’s a bit more encouraging from an Irish perspective.
Uzbekistan appear to have targeted Ireland’s left-hand side in the early stages.
Sodikov has got inside Solanke on more than one occasion.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
IRELAND 1-1 UZBEKISTAN (MCDONNELL 33)
Umeh and Solanke link up down the left.
The latter’s cross takes a slight deflection, and McDonnell finds the corner of the net with a powerful header.
37 mins: Khabibullaev crosses for Abdumuminov.
It appears to come off the thigh of the Uzbekistan player, and Noonan gets down well to parry it out for a corner.
Here’s a look at Ireland’s equaliser…
41 mins: Abdumuminov gets the game’s first booking.
He is punished for cynically tripping McDonnell.
44 mins: Sodikov gets in behind Solanke again down the left before the cross is cut out for a corner.
That’s clearly a problem area that Colin O’Brien will surely need to address at half-time.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
That’s mainly due to the long break earlier, owing to the clash of heads involving Kovalevskis.
A new initiative allows Uzbekistan’s coach to challenge a decision not to award a penalty against Ireland.
It would have been very harsh, as McDonagh had his arm down by his side as it ricocheted off Abdumuminov and then hit the defender.
After going to the touchline monitor, the referee decides to stick with his original decision.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-1 UZBEKISTAN
The second half has begun…
Ireland make a change at the break.
Kovalevskis, who took a knock to the head early in the first half, is replaced by Victor Ozhianvuna.
47 mins: Khakimov delivers a dangerous free kick.
Shukurullaev is unmarked but narrowly fails to get his head to the ball for what would have been his second goal of the game.
Former Arsenal manager and current Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, is among the interested spectators for this game.
He will be particularly interested in substitute Victor Ozhianvuna, with the Shamrock Rovers youngster set to join Arsenal in January 2027.
54 mins: Ireland’s goalscorer McDonnell appears to tweak a muscle and is forced off injured.
Burnley’s Kian McMahon-Brown comes on in his place.
57 mins: Solanke goes down in the area under a challenge from Musakhonov.
The ref waves play on, and it’s another one that would have been harsh, judging by replays.
59 mins: Noonan does really well to burst away from Bakhodirkhonov.
The striker’s effort from a near-impossible angle is saved by the goalkeeper before being deflected out for a corner.
62 mins: Uzbekistan make a change
Abdumuminov is replaced by Aliev.
64 mins: Umeh finds McMahon-Brown.
The Burnley youngster’s curled attempt from the edge of the area deflects a few inches wide.
Khasanov crosses for Aliev, whose header goes harmlessly wide.
Down the other end, Noonan makes a good run before his cross gets deflected out for a corner.
70 mins: McMahon-Brown does very well to get away from Khabibullaev.
However, his powerful strike from distance is too central to trouble Rustamzhonov unduly.
IRELAND 2-1 UZBEKISTAN (NOONAN 76)
Umeh and Solanke link up well down the left again.
The Lorient full-back’s cross finds Noonan, whose downward header goes into the net.
Here’s a look at Noonan’s goal…
84 mins: Another change for Uzbekistan.
Muradov replaces Erimbetov.
85 mins: Chance for Uzbekistan!
A dangerous corner is delivered, but Ozhianvuna does enough to put off Muradov, who heads it wide from close range.
In the other game in the group, Paraguay have beaten Panama 2-1.
Ireland, of course, will meet Paraguay in their final group game on Tuesday at 1.30pm Irish time.
There will be six minutes of stoppage time…
92 mins: Ireland are doing everything they can to slow the game down.
Uzbekistan’s resulting frustration is palpable.
95 mins: Ireland have the ball near the Uzbekistan corner flag.
Colin O’Brien’s side are seeing this game out well with a minute to play.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 2-1 UZBEKISTAN
So that’s that.
Ireland prevail and confirm their place in the World Cup knockout stages.
A point against Paraguay on Tuesday will be enough to guarantee top spot in the group.
It was a great win for Colin O’Brien’s side against the Asian champions.
Ireland were on the back foot at times, and the two sides were relatively evenly matched, with Uzbekistan causing problems down the right-hand side in particular.
In the end, though, clinical finishes from McDonnell and Noonan were enough to see the Boys in Green over the line as they gained a hard-fought victory.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have a match report up on the site shortly.
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