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Armenia 1 - 0 Republic of Ireland
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REPORT | Armenia 1-0 Ireland
On a disappointing night in the Armenian capital, Ireland had a number of chances but failed to convert them.
For the match, Stephen Kenny gave Caoimhn Kelleher and Nathan Collins their competitive debuts, with Troy Parrott starting up front.
Jeff Hendrick's through ball to Chiedozie Ogbene provided the visitors with their first chance on goal, but he couldn't make the right connection, as it was well-read by Yurchenko in the Armenian goal.
Barseghyan broke down the left flank and struck a low effort that forced a fantastic save from Caoimhín Kelleher, who pushed the ball around the post. This was followed by a shot from Spertsyan that Shane Duffy inside the area stopped.
Ireland continued to press and Callum Robinson was next to have a sight on goal but his effort struck the side netting he would get another opportunity however his effort inside the Armenia area was hooked clear by Hambartsumyan.
After some clever link-up play between Hendrick and Robinson, Chiedozie Ogbene went close, but his strike went just wide of the goal. He would follow it up with the best chance of the half just before the break when a set-piece delivered into the box by Josh Cullen saw the striker's free header clip the crossbar.
Armenia had a chance to score in the first five minutes of the second half, but Barseghyan's well-hit shot was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Calum Robinson then hit the side netting with a low attempt from outside of the Armenia area moments later. Barseghyan went close again for the home side, but his left-footed curling effort went just wide.
When Nathan Collins headed a Josh Cullen corner straight at Yurchenko, Ireland came close to opening the scoring once more.
It was the home side that would take the lead when Spertsyan's long-range strike got past Kelleher at the near post to give Armenia the lead in the 75th minute.
Ireland came close to drawing level when John Egan's header from a free-kick flew just past the Armenian far post, but Stephen Kenny's side couldn't create another meaningful chance before its conclusion.
Stephen Kenny and his side will now turn their attention to next week when they face Ukraine in the Aviva Stadium.
Armenia: Yurchenko (GK), Hovhannisyan, Haroyan ©, Grigoryan, Bayramyan, Spertsyan, Barseghyan (Dashyan 88), Hovhannisyan, Mkoyan, Hambartsumyan, Bichakhchyan (Adamyan 55).
Subs not used: Avagyan (GK) Beglaryan (GK), Voskanyan, Wbeymar, Babayan, Harutyunyan, Monroy, Udo, Serobyan, Mkrtchyan
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Collins, Duffy, Egan, Coleman © (Keane 80), Hendrick, Cullen (Browne 80), Stevens (McClean 72), Ogbene, Robinson (Knight 72), Parrott (Obafemi 65).
Subs not used: Bazunu (GK) Travers (GK), Hourihane, Keane, McClean, Browne, Molumby, O’Shea, Hamilton, Christie
Carlsberg Man of the Match: Chiedozie Ogbene
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Preview | Armenia v Republic of Ireland
Stephen Kenny's Ireland side come into the game on the back of a positive March international window where they secured an impressive 2-2 draw against Belgium and a 1-0 win over Lithuania.
Ireland travelled to Yerevan on Wednesday and have trained in the Armenian heat on Thursday & Friday ahead of the match on Saturday, June 4, with kick-off at 2pm (5pm local time).
Match Details
Fixture: Armenia v Republic of Ireland
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Stadium: Republican Stadium, Yerevan
Date: Saturday, June 4 Kick-off: 2pm (5pm local time)
TV: RTE & Premier Sports
Match Officials
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Assistant 1: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Assistant 2: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Iulian Dima (ROU)
Video Assistant Referee: Nejc Kajtazovic (SVN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dragoslav Peric (SVN)
Team News
Midfielder Josh Cullen has been confirmed as available by FIFA/UEFA for the match after a previous understanding that he was suspended, and he is in contention to start.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had a slight back injury earlier in the week but is also in contention as Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has a fully fit squad to choose from.
What he said - Ireland manager Stephen Kenny
"(On water breaks) Maybe not. It has to be over a certain temperature to get water breaks and it is forecast to be slightly below that so we'll have to see.
"We have to adapt certain elements of our play but we don't want to make it too much of a contentious issue. We've trained and we're adapting so we want to make sure that we're ready to play.
"Obviously, the match is kicking off at 5pm, which whilst isn't 3pm, we just have to get ourselves ready and be positive in our approach to play."
What he said - Ireland captain Seamus Coleman
“Tomorrow afternoon’s game is the most important one for us trying to start on a good note. “We know it won’t be easy, but the last 12 months have been really good as the manager touched on, the Serbia game, Portugal, Belgium.
“The team has grown in confidence and we are playing a style of football that people want to see, and we are forever improving.
“The new lads coming in as well are eager to impress, so we will start off tomorrow hoping to get all three points, play well and we will go from there. You go into any campaign wanting to do the best that you can, so that is what we will be doing.”
Watch the full press conference on FAI TV here...
Armenia v Ireland - Statistics
- This will be the third match between Armenia and Republic of Ireland in all competitions, with the Boys in Green winning the previous two encounters, both of which came during the EURO 2012 qualification campaign.
- Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions (W4 D4), since a 2-1 away to defeat to Portugal in September 2021 - they last enjoyed a longer such streak between November 2018 and October 2019 (9 games).
- Republic of Ireland have won their last two away games, as many as in their previous 19 combined (excl. neutral) – they last won three in a row on the road between March and June 2001 under Mick McCarthy.
- Armenia have won six of their 12 games in the UEFA Nations League (D3 L3), finding the back of the net in 10 of their 12 games in the competition (23).
- Republic of Ireland have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six matches, as many as in their previous 22 games combined. At the other end, Ireland have scored 13 goals in these last six games, one more than they’d scored in their previous 17 combined (12).
- Troy Parrott scored in his last appearance for Republic of Ireland versus Lithuania in March. On the day of this match, he will be 20 years and 120 days old and could become the youngest player to score in consecutive appearances for the Boys in Green since Robbie Keane (19y 230d) in February 2000.
- Chiedozie Ogbene has been directly involved in four goals in his seven appearances for Republic of Ireland (three goals, one assist). In 2021-22, Ogbene provided eight assists in all competitions for Rotherham United, as many as he’d registered in his previous four seasons combined in the top four tiers of English football.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Burnley), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jason Knight (Derby County).
Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Hogan (Birmingham City), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Michael Obafemi (Swansea City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), CJ Hamilton (Blackpool), Festy Ebosele (Derby County).
Fixtures - UEFA Nations League
04/06 - Armenia v Ireland, Republican Stadium, Yerevan. 2pm (5pm local time)
08/06 - Republic of Ireland v Ukraine, Aviva Stadium - 7.45pm
11/06 - Republic of Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium - 5pm
14/06 - Ukraine v Republic of Ireland, ŁKS Stadium, Łódź - 7.45pm (8.45pm local time)
Tactical Lineups
Armenia
Substitutes
- 12 Henri Avagyan (G)
- 16 Arsen Beglaryan (G)
- 4 Taron Voskanyan
- 6 Wbeymar
- 9 Edgar Babayan
- 10 Hovhannes Harutyunyan
- 14 Jordy Monroy
- 17 Solomon Udo
- 18 Artur Serobyan
- 20 Artak Dashyan
- 21 Styopa Mkrtchyan
- 22 Sargis Adamyan
Coach
Joaquín Caparrós
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Gavin Bazunu (G)
- 23 Mark Travers (G)
- 8 Conor Hourihane
- 9 Will Keane
- 11 James McClean
- 14 Alan Browne
- 15 Jayson Molumby
- 17 Jason Knight
- 18 Dara O'Shea
- 19 Michael Obafemi
- 21 CJ Hamilton
- 22 Cyrus Christie
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Officials
- Referee Radu Petrescu
- Assistant Referees Radu Ghinguleac
- UEFA Delegate Kuanysh Kanapyanov
- Assistant Referee Two Mircea Mihail Grigoriu
- Fourth Official Iulian Dima
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Dragoslav Perič
- Video Assistant Referee Nejc Kajtazovic
- Referee Observer Andrejs Sipailo
Match Statistics
- Armenia
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary