Republic fall to shock defeat in Armenia

Chiedozie Ogbene missed a great chance for the Republic when he fired a free header over the bar in first-half stoppage time

The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League campaign began in deeply disappointing fashion as they fell to a surprise defeat by Armenia in Yerevan.

Eduard Spertsyan scored the only goal, beating Republic keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with a rasping drive from distance 16 minutes from time.

Chiedozie Ogbene squandered the visitors’ best chance, misjudging a free header in first-half injury time.

The result extends the Republic’s winless run in the Nations League.

It is now 11 games without victory in the competition, having scored just two goals in the process, and with three difficult games against Ukraine and Scotland to come over the next 10 days in Group B1.

An eight-game unbeaten run prior to Saturday’s match, including creditable draws at home to Portugal and Belgium, had lifted the mood around the Republic after a difficult start to Stephen Kenny’s reign.

However, this result will likely attract further criticism after Kenny’s side were stunned by a team ranked 92nd in the world in a game that stirred memories of last year’s embarrassing World Cup qualifying defeat by Luxembourg.

The Irish were expected to overpower an Armenia team that lost 9-0 to Norway in their last outing in March, but Kenny’s side found the going tough against a resilient defensive unit led impressively by captain Varazdat Haroyan.

Having ridden waves of Irish pressure in the first half, Armenia appeared rejuvenated upon the resumption with the lively Tigran Barseghyan’s goal ruled out after Hovhannes Hambardzumyan had strayed offside before supplying the assist.

Barseghyan also curled an effort just wide from distance but the Republic did not heed the warning and were punished when Spertsyan was given time to turn and shoot from 25 yards, his shot going in off Kelleher’s right-hand post.

Republic rue missed chancesSpertsyan wheels away in celebration after beating Kelleher from distance

While Armenia celebrated in the Yerevan heat, the Republic only had themselves to blame after spurning a series of presentable chances to open the scoring.

Callum Robinson and Ogbene, two of the Republic’s brightest sparks over the past year, combined twice to good effect early on, with Robinson hitting the side-netting on 12 minutes before having a shot deflected behind after being found by the Rotherham attacker on both occasions.

It was Ogbene, however, who spurned the Republic’s biggest chance of the opening half when he failed to keep his free header down after Josh Cullen’s right-wing free-kick.

While Armenia can no longer call upon the playmaking talents of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who retired from international football earlier this year, they still carried enough threat with Barseghyan’s disallowed goal and effort from distance.

The Republic had to wait until the 62nd minute to register their first shot on target when Shane Duffy headed straight at David Yurchenko before Jeff Hendrick curled a tame effort into the home keeper’s grasp.

But while the Irish grew increasingly dismayed in their attempts to break down the home side’s defence, Spertsyan picked up the ball and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard drive to spark jubilant scenes among the home supporters.

From there, the Republic could only fashion a late header from John Egan that went wide as their miserable Nations League record continued ahead of a triple-header against more accomplished opposition in Ukraine and Scotland.

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsArmenia

Formation 5-3-2

1Yurchenko19Hambardzumyan15Mkoyan3Haroyan2Hovhannisyan13Hovhannisyan7Bayramyan5Grigoryan8Spertsyan11Barseghyan23Bichakhchyan

1Yurchenko19Hambardzumyan15Mkoyan3Haroyan2HovhannisyanSubstituted forMkrtchyanat 61’minutesBooked at 86mins13Hovhannisyan7Bayramyan5Grigoryan8Spertsyan11BarseghyanSubstituted forDashyanat 89’minutes23BichakhchyanSubstituted forAdamyanat 56’minutes

Substitutes

4Voskanyan6Angulo9Babayan10Harutyunyan12Avagyan14Monroy16Beglaryan17Udo18Serobyan20Dashyan21Mkrtchyan22Adamyan

R. of Ireland

Formation 3-4-3

1Kelleher12Collins4Duffy5Egan2Coleman13Hendrick6Cullen3Stevens20Ogbene7Robinson10Parrott

1Kelleher12Collins4DuffyBooked at 9mins5Egan2ColemanSubstituted forKeaneat 81’minutes13HendrickBooked at 83mins6CullenSubstituted forBrowneat 81’minutes3StevensSubstituted forMcCleanat 73’minutes20Ogbene7RobinsonSubstituted forKnightat 73’minutes10ParrottSubstituted forObafemiat 65’minutes

Substitutes

8Hourihane9Keane11McClean14Browne15Molumby16Bazunu17Knight18O’Shea19Obafemi21Hamilton22Christie23Travers

Referee:Radu Marian PetrescuMatch StatsHome TeamArmeniaAway TeamR. of IrelandPossessionHome32%Away68%ShotsHome10Away13Shots on TargetHome3Away2CornersHome2Away6FoulsHome6Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Armenia 1, Republic of Ireland 0.

90’+5’Full Time

Second Half ends, Armenia 1, Republic of Ireland 0.

89’Substitution

Substitution, Armenia. Artak Dashyan replaces Tigran Barseghyan.

86’Post update

Attempt missed. John Egan (Republic of Ireland) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jeff Hendrick with a cross following a set piece situation.

86’Booking

Rudik Mkrtchyan (Armenia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

85’Post update

Chiedozie Ogbene (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

85’Post update

Foul by Rudik Mkrtchyan (Armenia).

84’Post update

Hand ball by James McClean (Republic of Ireland).

83’Booking

Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

83’Post update

Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland).

83’Post update

Tigran Barseghyan (Armenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

82’Post update

Foul by Alan Browne (Republic of Ireland).

82’Post update

Kamo Hovhannisyan (Armenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81’Substitution

Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Will Keane replaces Séamus Coleman.

81’Substitution

Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Alan Browne replaces Josh Cullen.

79’Post update

Foul by Josh Cullen (Republic of Ireland).

79’Post update

Tigran Barseghyan (Armenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

78’Post update

Attempt saved. Rudik Mkrtchyan (Armenia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.

78’Post update

Attempt missed. Sargis Adamyan (Armenia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hovhannes Hambardzumyan.

74’goalGoal!

Goal! Armenia 1, Republic of Ireland 0. Eduard Spertsyan (Armenia) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.

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Source: bbc.com