The Republic of Ireland fell to defeat against Armenia at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan.

Eduard Spertsyan opened the scoring for the hosts from the penalty spot just before half-time, and Grant-Leon Ranos doubled their advantage early in the second half. Evan Ferguson pulled one back for Ireland with a well-placed finish, but the home side held firm to secure all three points.

Head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson made two changes from the side that drew with Hungary at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night, with Jack Taylor and Chiedozie Ogbene coming in for Matt Doherty and Sammie Szmodics.

Ireland started brightly. Inside the opening minute, Finn Azaz forced Chancharevich into action with a low curling effort that the Armenian goalkeeper stretched to keep out. Just two minutes later, Evan Ferguson pounced on a spill from Chancharevich at the edge of the area. The striker’s high curling shot looked destined for the net, but Piloyan raced back to clear off the line.

Armenia’s first real threat came in the 18th minute when Zelarayán tried his luck from distance, but Kelleher comfortably gathered at the second attempt. On the half-hour mark, Jack Taylor tested Chancharevich with a low drive from the right after latching onto a loose ball from Ferguson, only for the goalkeeper to make a fine save at his near post to concede a corner. From the resulting pressure, O’Brien delivered to the back post where Collins rose highest, but his header drifted wide.

The hosts came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute. Zelarayán skipped past O’Brien and squared for Ranos, whose initial effort was bravely blocked by Collins and Kelleher. The rebound fell kindly to him again, but this time his shot cannoned off the crossbar and away.

Just before the break, Armenia were awarded a penalty after Collins was adjudged to have fouled Zelarayán inside the box. Spertsyan stepped up and calmly converted, sending the ball into the corner despite Kelleher guessing correctly and getting close to making the save.

Armenia doubled their lead in the 50th minute when Tiknizyan’s quick ball into the area found the onrushing Ranos, who got there first and slammed his shot into the roof of the net. Ireland responded just six minutes later, as Adam Idah slipped a brilliantly weighted pass through to Evan Ferguson, who curled a first-time effort beyond Chancharevich at the far post.

Kelleher was called into action repeatedly as Armenia pushed forward. In the 64th minute, he got down smartly to his near post to deny Barseghyan’s curling strike after a patient build-up. Moments later, he dived low to push away a Zelarayán effort under pressure from Collins. His best stop came in the 71st minute, rushing off his line to block Tiknizyan after the Armenian full-back broke free of the defence.

Ireland almost found an equaliser in the 75th minute when Ryan Manning collected the ball on the edge of the box, shifted it onto his left foot, and unleashed a powerful strike, only for Chancharevich to pull off another strong save.

Spertsyan came close to a second in the 85th minute, his low drive from distance forcing Kelleher into yet another fine stop. In the closing stages, Serobyan thought he had sealed the result with a goal, but after a VAR check the effort was ruled out for offside.

The Republic of Ireland will now turn their focus to Lisbon, where they face Portugal in their third World Cup qualifier on October 11th.

Armenia: Chancharevich (GK), Muradian, Piloyan, Arutiunian, Iwu, Spertsyan, Zelarayán (Serobyan 78), Barseghyan (C) (Shaghoyan 78), Hovhannisyan, Ranos (Bichakhchyan 66), Tiknizyan.

Subs not used: Beglaryan (GK), Avagyan (GK), Simonyan, Sevikyan, Manvelyan, Nalbandyan, Harutyunyan, Grigoryan, Dashyan.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Manning (Scales 82), O'Shea, O'Brien, Cullen (Phillips 70), Knight, Ferguson, Azaz (Johnston 70), Taylor (Idah 46), Ogbene (McAteer 46), Collins (C)

Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), Travers (GK), Doherty, Dunne, McAteer, Lawal, Kenny, Honohan

Booked: Jason Knight (Ireland), Hovhannisyan (Armenia)

Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia)