Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar
Netherlands 2
France 2
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 3 - 2 Armenia
REPORT | Ireland 3-2 Armenia - Brady seals win
Ireland took a two-goal lead thanks to John Egan and Michael Obafemi only for the visitors to score two goals in quick succession through Dashyan and Spertsyan in the second half to level the tie.
Ireland won the tie with a late penalty awarded to Ireland that Brady converted. Ireland started brightly and the first sight of the Armenian goal fell to Nathan Collins from a Jeff Hendrick pass just inside the area, his first-time shot went over the bar.
Michael Obafemi went close as a cross from Jason Knight met the striker at the back post but his header just went wide of the far post. John Egan was to open the scoring in Ireland’s next attack as a pinpoint Robbie Brady corner saw Egan rise highest to head it past Yurchenko into the top right-hand corner.
Ireland nearly added a second early in the second half when Robbie Brady's cross into the Armenian area was deflected and looked as if it was heading inside Yurchenko’s post only he was alert to the danger and made a diving save to deny the Irish midfielder.
Ireland was to add a second with Michael Obafemi collecting the ball from Dara O’Shea and with a quick turn to evade his marker he struck a low effort outside the Armenian area that Yurchenko couldn’t reach as it nested into the back of the net.
Matt Doherty went close to adding a third as Conor Hourihane's cross fell to Doherty at the back post but he was under the close attention of Hambartsumyan who did enough to nick the ball off Doherty’s foot.
Armenia pulled a goal back when Bichakhchyan’s effort was well saved by Bazunu as he tipped it onto the post, the ball fell to Dashyan who struck a low effort past the Irish keeper.
They would equalise moments later as Spertsyan found himself in space and hit a well-placed curling effort past Bazunu to level the tie. Ireland almost went back in front when a Robbie Brady free kick was not initially cleared with Nathan Collins and Conor Hourihane both having sights on goal but neither could find the net.
Bayramyan went close from Armenia with a well-taken strike that went wide of Bazunu’s far post. Following a VAR review, Ireland was awarded a penalty after Dashyan handled the ball in the box blocking an Irish goal attempt.
Armenia was reduced to nine men as both Hambartsumyan and Dashyan were shown red cards following the penalty decision. Robbie Brady had to wait but cooly despatched the penalty in the 90th minute sending Yurchenko the wrong way.
Scott Hogan almost added a fourth goal in added-on time with Callum Robinson’s defence-splitting pass finding Hogan but his effort just went wide. Ireland will next play a series of friendlies in November where they face Norway and Malta but will also await the results of the Euro 2024 qualification draw in October where Stephen Kenny will hope to bring the side to Germany for the Tournament.
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu (GK), Doherty, Egan, Molumby (Hourihane 50), Obafemi (Hogan 85), Parrott (Robinson 75), N. Collins, Hendrick, Knight (Browne 75), O'Shea, Brady.
Substitutes: Travers (GK), O'Leary (GK), Coleman, Duffy, McClean, O'Dowda, Ogbene, Scales.
Armenia: Yurchenko (GK), Calisir (K. Muradyan 82), Haroyan, A. Grigoryan, Bayramyan, Spertsyan, Zelarayán (Bichakhchyan 69), Barseghyan (Shaghoyan 81), Mkoyan (T. Voskanyan 60), Monroy (Dashyan 60), Hambartsumyan.
Substitutes: Buchnev (GK), Beglaryan (GK), T. Voskanyan, Serobyan, H. Hakobyan, Harutyunyan, Mkrtchyan, Margaryan.
Booked: Molumby, Bayramyan, Dashyan
Sent off: Hambartsumyan and Dashyan
Referee: Rade Obrenovič (Slovenia)
Player of the Match: Michael Obafemi
Preview | Ireland v Armenia - UEFA Nations League
Stephen Kenny's side go into the game looking to avoid relegation and to avenge the defeat in Yerevan at the start of the campaign.
Ireland suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat in Scotland but go into the game with plenty of confidence and with a crowd of over 45,000 expected at the Aviva Stadium.
Match Details
Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Armenia
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Date: Tuesday, September 27
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Stadium: Aviva Stadium
TV: RTE & Premier Sports
Tickets: Available from Ticketmaster here
Match Officials
Referee: Rade Obrenovič (SVN)
Assistant 1: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
Assistant 2: Grega Kordež (SVN)
Fourth Official: David Smajc (SVN)
Video Assistant Referee: Matej Jug (SVN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak (SVN)
Team News
Stephen Kenny will be without the suspended Josh Cullen for the match against Armenia but doesn't have any injury concerns ahead of the final UEFA Nations League tie.
What he said - Ireland manager Stephen Kenny
“We will have one or two changes I would say, but not radical. I think the team played well on Saturday.
“There is a misconception that 3-5-2 gives you greater protection, and 3-4-2-1 is more attacking. Neither are more attacking or defensive, they are just different ways of playing. We don’t consider one more attacking than the other. So we’ll have to wait to see tomorrow. We are capable of playing both systems and we don’t like to tell our opposition in advance how we are going to play.”
"We are disappointed about how we played in Armenia, for sure. We’re looking forward to tomorrow night, we’ll make sure we’re ready. We’ll have to earn the win. Armenia are in League B and are third seeds in Euros on merit. They won their group to get here so we have to go and produce a strong performance to win."
What he said - Ireland defender Nathan Collins
"We were incredibly disappointed to lose out in Armenia, the conditions weren't favourable but we didn't perform anywhere near our maximum so we need to put that right tomorrow.
"We've grown as a team during the campaign and I feel like we're getting stronger each match, it was a disappointment to lose in Scotland but I feel like there were plenty of positives to take from the game.
"It's been a really positive week and it's a great group so we need to get a result to back it up and to end the group strongly."
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON FAI TV HERE
Opta Facts - Ireland v Armenia
- Republic of Ireland lost their last meeting with Armenia 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League in June 2022, having won each of the first two internationals before then.
- Armenia’s only previous away international against the Republic of Ireland was a 2-1 defeat in October 2011 with a Valeri Aleksanyan own goal and winner through Richard Dunne.
- Republic of Ireland have lost just one of their previous eight home internationals (W3 D4), with two of those wins coming in the last three such games (L1), one more victory than in the last 10 combined (W1 D7 L2). - Armenia are without a win in any of their last nine away games in all competitions (D3 L6), should they fail to win here it will be their fourth streak of 10 or more consecutive away internationals without a victory and the first since September 2018 (run of 16).
- Republic of Ireland have won just one of their 15 games in the UEFA Nations League (D6 L8). However, they’ve scored in each of their last three in the competition, having done so in just two of their first 12.
- Armenia have lost each of their last four UFEA Nations League games, more than they had in their first 13 in the competition (W7 D3 L3). They’ve conceded 14 goals in these four defeats, as many as in their previous 13 UEFA Nations League games beforehand.
- No Republic of Ireland player has been directly involved in more goals (1 goal, 1 assist), or created more chances (5) in this edition of the UEFA Nations League than defender Nathan Collins.
- Republic of Ireland’s 20-year-old forward Troy Parrott has scored four goals in 16 appearances for the national team. Only two players have ever scored five times before turning 21 for the Boys in Green – Robbie Keane (7) and David Connolly (6).
Republic of Ireland Squad - Armenia
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O'Leary (Bristol City)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Fulham), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Liam Scales (Aberdeen).
Midfielders: Jeff Hendrick (Reading), Jason Knight (Derby County), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Conor Hourihane (Derby County), Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), Michael Obafemi (Swansea City), Troy Parrott (Preston North End), Callum Robinson (Cardiff City), Scott Hogan (Birmingham City).
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Mark Travers (G)
- 23 Max O'Leary (G)
- 2 Seamus Coleman
- 4 Shane Duffy
- 7 Callum Robinson
- 8 Conor Hourihane
- 11 James McClean
- 14 Alan Browne
- 15 Callum O'Dowda
- 19 Scott Hogan
- 20 Chiedozie Ogbene
- 22 Liam Scales
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Armenia
Substitutes
- 12 Stanislav Buchnev (G)
- 16 Arsen Beglaryan (G)
- 4 Taron Voskanyan
- 6 Karen Muradyan
- 9 Artur Serobyan
- 13 Hakob Hakobyan
- 14 Hovhannes Harutyunyan
- 18 Zhirayr Shaghoyan
- 20 Artak Dashyan
- 21 Styopa Mkrtchyan
- 22 Zhirayr Margaryan
- 23 Vahan Bichakhchyan
Coach
Joaquín Caparrós
Officials
- Referee Rade Obrenovič
- Assistant Referees Jure Praprotnik
- UEFA Delegate Arturs Gaidels
- Assistant Referee Two Grega Kordež
- Fourth Official David Smajc
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Alen Borošak
- Referee Observer Martin Ingvarsson
- Video Assistant Referee Matej Jug
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Armenia
Minute by Minute Commentary