Republic of Ireland 3 - 0 Kosovo | 2018 - UEFA Under-19 Championship | 2023676

UEFA European Under-19 Championship | Rio Ave, Vila do Conde

24 March 2018 - 15:00

Republic of Ireland 3 - 0 Kosovo

Obafemi(5) L. O'Connor(13) Roache(54) full-time

Report
Preview
Lineups
Minute by Minute Commentary
Statistics
Gallery

Ireland U19: Attacking trio score in Kosovo win

The Republic of Ireland Under-19s kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the 2018 UEFA Under-19 European Championship with an excellent 3-0 win over Kosovo in the Elite Round.

24th Mar 2018

Two goals inside the first 15-minutes from Michael Obafemi and Lee O'Connor gave Tom Mohan's side the perfect start, before Rowan Roache scored the third early in the second-half.

Mohan made five changes to the team that drew with Slovakia and the changes had an immediate impact with Obafemi scoring smartly inside the first five minutes.

O'Connor scored in the 13th-minute, lifting the ball over Kosovo goalkeeper Flamur Gashi to give Ireland a two-goal lead.

Roache put the game out of sight, nine minutes into the second-half, after he scored from close range from an Obafemi cross.

The team return to action on Tuesday evening against Portugal knowing a win could be enough to send them through to the 2018 UEFA Under-19 European Championship later this year.

Republic of Ireland: Mark Travers; Daniel McKenna (Aaron Connolly 70), Jordan Doherty (Callum Nicell 85), Dara O’Shea (capt), Tyreke Wilson; Stephen Mallon (Rian O'Sullivan 76), James Finnerty, Thomas O’Connor; Lee O’Connor, Michael Obafemi, Rowan Roache

Kosovo: Flamur Gashi; Çlirim Reqica, Abit Salihu, Ismajl Beka, Loti Celina; Adrijan Behrami (Rrahim Nimani 63), Edison Kqiku; Ismet Sinani, Gentrit Limani, Lirim Kastrati (Liridon Balaj 89); Leutrim Kryeziu (capt)

Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou (GRE)

Ireland U19: Mohan preparing for "two cup finals"

Republic of Ireland Under-19 Head Coach Tom Mohan has said his side face "two cup finals" in their final two matches of the 2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship Elite Round.

23rd Mar 2018

Ireland drew 1-1 against Slovakia on Wednesday afternoon, and face Kosovo on Saturday knowing a win is needed to keep hopes of reaching 2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship in Finland alive.

Kosovo lost 5-0 to Portugal on Wednesday, and Mohan says the scoreline wasn't reflective of the game.

"They conceded two of the goals in injury time. They are a well-organised side, and have quality players in attack that can hurt us."

With Slovakia playing Portugal on Saturday afternoon, Mohan knows a positive result against Kosovo can put pressure on both sides.

"At the moment we are only focusing on the Kosovo game, but we know the importance of a positive result."

Mohan has reported a clean bill of health in his squad ahead of the match, but will have to make one enforced change from Wednesday's starting lineup.

Jonathan Afolabi is unavailable for the game. The striker picked up a yellow card against Slovakia and will miss the game through suspension.

2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship Elite Round
Republic of Ireland v Kosovo, Estádio dos Arcos, Vila do Conde, 3pm (3pm Irish time)

Tactical Lineups

Republic of Ireland

Substitutes

Coach

Tom Mohan

Kosovo

Substitutes

12 Ardrit Miftari (G)
6 Arlind Ademi
8 Dardan Dakaj
14 Liridon Balaj
15 Rilind Nimani
16 Rrahim Nimani
17 Alban Shabani

Coach

Ramiz Krasniqi

Officials

Referee Anastasios Papapetrou
Assistant Referees Vasilios Kampouris
UEFA Delegate Manuel Mejuto González
Assistant Referee Two Alvaro Mesquita
Fourth Official Rui Filipe Oliveira
Referee Observer Manuel Mejuto González

Minute by Minute Commentary

1" The match is under way.
2" Tyreke Wilson (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Ismet Sinani (Kosovo).
4" Daniel McKenna (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo).
5" Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland) scores!
5" Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) assists.
7" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) misses the target.
9" Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
13" Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) scores!
13" Stephen Mallon (Republic of Ireland) assists.
15" Ismet Sinani (Kosovo) is flagged for offside.
16" Leutrim Kryeziu (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
19" Adrijan Behrami (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Stephen Mallon (Republic of Ireland).
20" James Finnerty (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Leutrim Kryeziu (Kosovo).
20" James Finnerty (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
21" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) takes the free-kick.
21" Leutrim Kryeziu (Kosovo) has an effort on goal.
21" Mark Travers (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
22" Jordan Doherty (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Edison Kqiku (Kosovo).
26" Edison Kqiku (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Jordan Doherty (Republic of Ireland).
28" Dara O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Ismet Sinani (Kosovo).
30" Çlirim Reqica (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Stephen Mallon (Republic of Ireland).
30" Rowan Roache (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
31" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
32" Rowan Roache (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Çlirim Reqica (Kosovo).
35" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) is flagged for offside.
36" Rowan Roache (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo).
37" Ismet Sinani (Kosovo) misses the target.
38" Adrijan Behrami (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland).
39" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
39" Rowan Roache (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
40" Abit Salihu (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland).
44" Dara O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Leutrim Kryeziu (Kosovo).
45" Adrijan Behrami (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
45+1" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
45+1" James Finnerty (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
45+2" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Adrijan Behrami (Kosovo).
The referee blows for half-time.
46" The second half begins.
47" Rowan Roache (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
47" Flamur Gashi (Kosovo) blocks a shot.
49" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) is flagged for offside.
52" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
54" Rowan Roache (Republic of Ireland) scores!
54" Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland) assists.
55" Ismet Sinani (Kosovo) has an effort on goal.
55" Mark Travers (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
58" Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo).
59" Edison Kqiku (Kosovo) takes the free-kick.
59" Abit Salihu (Kosovo) is flagged for offside.
59" Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland) has an effort on goal.
59" Flamur Gashi (Kosovo) blocks a shot.
60" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
61" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
61" Dara O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Flamur Gashi (Kosovo).
62" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) has a shot blocked.
62" Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
63" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) has a shot blocked.
63" Rrahim Nimani (in) - Adrijan Behrami (out) (@@teamID)
64" Edison Kqiku (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Daniel McKenna (Republic of Ireland).
67" Daniel McKenna (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo).
68" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) takes the free-kick.
70" Aaron Connolly (in) - Daniel McKenna (out) (@@teamID)
70" Gentrit Limani (Kosovo) has an effort on goal.
70" Mark Travers (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
70" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) takes the corner.
73" Ismet Sinani (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Stephen Mallon (Republic of Ireland).
73" Ismet Sinani (Kosovo) is cautioned by the referee.
76" Rian O'Sullivan (in) - Stephen Mallon (out) (@@teamID)
77" Ismajl Beka (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Aaron Connolly (Republic of Ireland).
77" Ismajl Beka (Kosovo) is cautioned by the referee.
78" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
78" Thomas O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
79" Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo).
81" Edison Kqiku (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland).
83" Abit Salihu (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Aaron Connolly (Republic of Ireland).
85" Callum Nicell Galbraith (in) - Jordan Doherty (out) (@@teamID)
86" Lirim M Kastrati (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Lee O'Connor (Republic of Ireland).
89" Liridon Balaj (in) - Lirim M Kastrati (out) (@@teamID)
90" Leutrim Kryeziu (Kosovo) is penalised for a foul on Tyreke Wilson (Republic of Ireland).
90+1" Rilind Nimani (in) - Gentrit Limani (out) (@@teamID)
90+2" Dara O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Liridon Balaj (Kosovo).
90+3" Aaron Connolly (Republic of Ireland) is flagged for offside.
The final whistle is blown.