Ireland 1-0 Finland
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It has been a low-key enough build-up to this match, but it’s an important game for Ireland against Finland, who they beat in Helsinki in the reverse fixture last month.
If Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men win or draw, they will avoid automatic relegation and Finland will drop down to League C.
Third-place is almost certainly the best Ireland can hope for, however. If England avoid defeat in Greece tonight, they will be guaranteed to finish second in the group at worst.
So presuming Ireland and England don’t lose tonight, the Boys in Green can look forward to a two-legged playoff on 20 and 23 March against a second-place League C team.
Of course, relegation to League C would impact the team’s chances of qualifying for the next World Cup and Euros in terms of seeding, so the significance of a positive result this evening should not be underestimated.
Confirmation of the Ireland team below with Matt Doherty, Festy Ebosele, Mikey Johnston and Callum O’Dowda all coming into the starting XI.
STARTING XI | Ireland v Finland
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 14, 2024
Four changes to the side for tonight's fixture with Festy Ebosele, Mikey Johnston, Matt Doherty & Callum O'Dowda all coming into the team 👌
Exciting forward line 💚 pic.twitter.com/4hrb2aiSa1
And here is the Finland team for tonight…
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐨 – 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐗𝐈 | Nations League: 🇮🇪 v. 🇫🇮 | Huuhkajat tänään Dublinissa! 🦉🔥
— Huuhkajat (@Huuhkajat) November 14, 2024
Päävalmentaja Markku Kanerva on nimennyt avauskokoonpanonsa klo 21.45 Aviva Stadiumilla alkavaan otteluun. Lähetys Yle TV2:ssa alkaa klo 21.11.
*Kenttäryhmitys… pic.twitter.com/R1BiNWzOKT
Heimir Hallgrímsson gives his thoughts ahead of the game…
🗣️ “It’s an opportunity for those that have come in…”
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 14, 2024
Heimir Hallgrímsson gives his thoughts on tonight’s clash ahead of kick-off 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/8FWyXWlpsa
Who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
1 min: Ireland have started on the front foot.
Mikey Johnston puts in a cross that’s cleared.
4 mins: Finland threaten their first attack.
O’Dowda stops it but gets booked in the process for a late tackle on Lod.
6 mins: Ebosele goes on a run but can’t beat Peltola.
The Finland defender then wins a free kick as he’s fouled by the man making his full debut at international level.
11 mins: Ireland have had the better possession and territory in the opening minutes.
One promising moment saw Knight release Szmodics on the counter-attack, but the Ipswich star’s attempted cross was blocked by Peltola.
As I type, Knight is somewhat harshly booked for a late challenge, becoming the second Irish player to receive a yellow already.
15 mins: Johnston slips through Ferguson, but the Brighton defender’s low cross is easily collected by Finland goalkeeper Hrádecký.
Chances have been at a premium but Ireland have carried the greater threat going forward.
17 mins: Half chance for Finland.
Alho’s cross finds Kairinen, whose low shot deflects off Scales for a corner.
20 mins: Knight shoots a few inches over from about 30 yards out.
Just before that, Cullen did well to pick out Ebosele with a through pass, but the Wexford native could not pick out an Irish jersey with his cross.
24 mins: Ireland have the ball in the net but it’s offside.
Ferguson plays through Szmodics who rounds the goalkeeper before slotting home.
It’s the correct decision judging by replays but was still a nice finish.
As I type a powerful Ferguson effort deflects narrowly over.
27 mins: Cullen gets a good block in to prevent Källman getting a shot on target from the edge of the area.
This game has livened up in recent minutes.
30 mins: Let off for Ireland.
Johnston loses the ball on the edge of the area and Lod is afforded too much space and his curled effort comes back off the post.
34 mins: A decent spell for Finland.
Källman goes close twice in quick succession.
Initially, he evades the attention of Collins and heads a cross narrowly wide.
Moments later, he runs through on goal but his low finish is straight at Kelleher.
In the latter incident, the striker looked offside so it may not have counted.
Cullen slips through Szmodics.
The attacker does well to win a 50:50 ball before his powerful strike is tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.
39 mins: O’Dowda crosses for Scales after a set piece is taken short.
The ball in is a little too high for the Celtic star and he can’t quite direct his header on target.
41 mins: Johnston’s corner finds a completely unmarked Doherty on the run.
But the Wolves man heads just wide.
42 mins: Collins has stopped what looked like a certain goal.
Finland counter. Antman is given far too much time and space to run through the midfield, but his low, goalbound shot is deflected onto the post by the Irish captain’s trailing leg.
IRELAND 1-0 FINLAND (FERGUSON 45)
Ireland are ahead and Mikey Johnston is the architect.
The winger dribbles with the ball down the left before hanging an inviting cross that Ferguson heads home emphatically from close range.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-0 FINLAND
So Ireland lead at the break in a first half that could have gone either way.
It’s been very open and at times feels more like a friendly than a competitive fixtures
The visitors and Källman missed some good chances to open the scoring before Ferguson’s goal.
Ireland had promising moments too — Doherty came close to marking his return with a goal while Szmodics has looked lively having been picked in a more central role than in previous games.
Heimir Hallgrímsson will be pleased that Ireland are ahead, but the manager will be less thrilled at how easily the hosts have conceded chances.
Here’s a look at the game’s only goal…
Half-time: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2024
Evan Ferguson heads home Mikey Johnston's fabulous cross and Ireland lead at the break.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/ZlFZisH3PT
📱 Follow: https://t.co/Y7JqjgvXDr#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/BD1RY938Gh
In the other game in this group, England lead Greece 1-0 at half-time.
Ollie Watkins, who is starting ahead of Harry Kane, gave the visitors a seventh-minute lead.
Here’s a look at that great bit of defending from Collins in the first half.
The woodwork saves Ireland once more.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2024
📺 Watch: https://t.co/ZlFZisH3PT
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51 mins: Ebosele’s long throw is half-cleared.
It falls to Cullen on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s volley is well off target.
It’s been a pretty serene start to the second half in contrast with the eventful end to the first.
55 mins: Interestingly, there have been times in this game where Szmodics is operating as the main striker.
Ferguson is in the number 10 role sporadically, which makes sense, as he often drops deep playing for Brighton.
58 mins: Finland make an injury-enforced chance.
Peltola is replaced by the Irish-sounding O’Shaughnessy.
60 mins: After a promising build-up, Knight blasts wastefully over from the edge of the area.
The Bristol City star didn’t have any conviction behind that effort.
62 mins: Johnston flashes a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
That chance emanates from a clever crossfield ball by Doherty, who so far is having one of his better days in an Ireland jersey.
64 mins: Finland make a double change.
Antman and Uronen are off. Pohjanpalo and Håkans are on.
68 mins: Half-chance for Finland.
O’Shaughnessy’s cross is met on the half-volley by fellow substitute Pohjanpalo, but he can’t hit the target as he steers the ball over the bar.
70 mins: Collins makes another good block to stop a Håkans cross.
The winger was given far too much space by Ireland there and the hosts were lucky not to be punished.
PENALTY TO FINLAND!
A Kamara cross was volleyed by O’Shaughnessy onto the hand of Ferguson.
75 mins: Ireland make a triple change.
Ebosele (who has picked up a knock), Doherty and Ferguson are replaced by Azaz, Molumby and O’Shea.
77 mins: Penalty saved!
Kelleher guesses correctly to keep out Pohjanpalo’s spot kick.
The goalkeeper appears to have injured himself in the process — he collided with Lod as both players tried to get to the loose ball.
He looks okay to continue.
80 mins: Källman gets a shot away but it’s straight at Kelleher.
The official attendance is announced as 39,163, which is a few hundred more than attended the FAI Cup final on Sunday.
Here’s a look at the penalty incident…
Goalscorer Evan Ferguson concedes a penalty with this handball.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2024
📺 Watch: https://t.co/ZlFZisH3PT
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83 minutes: Ireland counter and Szmodics runs through on goal.
However, Hrádecký gets down well to keep out the Ipswich star’s low finish.
85 mins: More substitutions.
For Finland, Pukki and Niskanen replace Alho and Källman.
For Ireland, Manning and Cannon are on for Johnston and Szmodics.
England are now 3-0 up in Greece by the way.
So a win over Ireland at the weekend could secure top spot for the Three Lions.
Here’s a look back at the Kelleher penalty save…
Thou shalt not pass - Caoimhín Kelleher with a terrific double-save from the spot-kick prevents Finland drawing level.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2024
📺 Watch: https://t.co/ZlFZisH3PT
📱 Follow: https://t.co/Y7JqjgvXDr#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/T97FhucmIw
90 mins: There will be six minutes of stoppage time.
Pohjanpalo has just missed a golden chance.
A low cross was played into the Finnish attacker on the counter but he completely miscued his finish and couldn’t get any proper connection on the ball.
Kelleher has been named man of the match.
It’s a fair choice given he made that crucial penalty save.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 1-0 FINLAND
Matt doherty starting. Anyone want my ticket?
@Dave Moran: take it easy, he’s on the comeback through rough times.
@Dave Moran: Mother of God ,anyway I’ve an idea bring back Bazunu and play Kelleher outfield ?
@Dave Moran:
@Dave Moran:
Be better off playing Pierce Doherty
@Brian Keogh: Gemma Doherty ,she’d vex someone anyway…
Ireland are back! Like trump
@Buster Lawless: do you have to infect every article?
@ecrowley ecrowley: we are together
@ecrowley ecrowley: you old crow
@ecrowley ecrowley: he even comments at 2 in the morning
@ecrowley ecrowley: MIGA
@Dermot Blaine: the dedication to spasticity is admirable.
@ecrowley ecrowley: Tooooo harsh ,if it’s too hot ,get out of the kitchen.
As a rule I NEVER have a punt on IRELAND in soccer…… but tonight the devil’s lured me in with the ‘special offer’– 9/4 on the double– England and Ireland both to win… threw a twenty at it!!
@Frank Mc Carthy: You might just have hit the jackpot tonight Frank.
@Ray Ridge: new BMW 5 series looks tasty, lol
@Frank Mc Carthy: Well deserved if you win Frank. Good luck, a great bet.
@Frank Mc Carthy: You might have to settle for a new BMX, Frank.
@Ray Ridge: these Finish lads aren’t that bad, looking likely another 20euro to bet365 Christmas party
@Frank Mc Carthy: The width of the post, Frank. Ireland will knick a winner 2nd half.
@Ray Ridge: Ray…..got a bad feeling we’re looking at a nil all result
@Frank Mc Carthy: aged well
@Frank Mc Carthy: Told you Frank. It was going to be Irelands night especially after Finland hitting the post on two occasions.
@Frank Mc Carthy: YES!!!!!!! Tasty header from Ferguson
@Frank Mc Carthy: a few grand you should win, great prediction well done
@Frank Mc Carthy: Nice!!!!! Great win for Ireland…… the brits made short work of the Greeks
@Frank Mc Carthy: Brave man ,congratulations.
@Frank Mc Carthy: Well done, Frank. Off to a showroom near you tomorrow!!
@Ray Ridge: maybe steak instead of pizza friday, lol
@Frank Mc Carthy: I’ll have to make do with aldi burgers!
On the boys in green
If we avoid defeat today, it would pretty mean that we are guaranteed to qualify for the next Euros as it would keep us ahead of Northern Ireland in the nations league (2 automatic qualifying spots for host nations). We’d then just need England and one of Scotland or Wales to qualify automatically, presuming we don’t. So saying all of that, my prediction is 2-0 Finland
@Dave Moran: not necessarily. If we come
Third we are into a playoff with second in league C so still could get relegated.
@Dave Moran: didnt age well
@Dave Moran: Infairness your consistent Dave, whether it is rugby or football, your predictions are predictably brutally wrong. Impressive that you are completely clueless about both sports.
A win for Ireland tonight and think we go back up to 8th in world rankings. Good progression.
@Buster Lawless: 8th in the world?
@Buster Lawless: 8th in the vicinity of western Europe heading out to the Atlantic
Warm up for the rugby tomorrow night. Like the minors before the senior game.
@Tom tom: That went really well there last week Tom?
God help us with Cullen and knight
@Tom Tom, another pointless friendly tomorrow night in a minority sport. Not sure what is worse been poor at football or been very good at Rugby and not making in past a quarter final and let’s face it only about 7 or 8 countries take Rugby seriously.
@WFVedF99: Minority or not minority sport at least one gets the opportunity to represent Ireland.
@WFVedF99: being*
Is O’Shaughnessy related to Niall Quinn?
Useless
Turned over to the match to do a quick catch up. Oh Jaysus!
3 points is 3 points. Couldn’t have asked for more, COYBIG