Republic of Ireland Nations League misery extended with home defeat to Greece.
Fotis Ioannidis and Christos Tzolis extende the Republic of Ireland Nations League misery as Greece emerge from their trip to Dublin with a 2-0 victory.
Ioannidis’ accomplished 50th-minute finish was matched by Tzolis three minutes from time to leave Ireland pointless in League B2. After two fixtures under new head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.
It proved to be a familiar story for the Republic. Who have now won just two of the 18 games. They have played in the competition, and their only victories two of them in their last 10 competitive outings have come against minnows Gibraltar.
It might have been different had Chiedozie Ogbene not strayed offside. Before producing a superb first-half finish, but the toxic blend of defensive frailty and attacking bluntness. Which characterised the dying embers of the Stephen Kenny era remain issues for Hallgrimsson. He turns his attention to October’s double-header in Finland and Greece.
For the visitors, a third-successive win over Ireland – and a second at the Aviva Stadium.
since June last year, coupled with their 3-0 opening-day victory against Finland, represents a very pleasant start for new boss Ivan Jovanovic.
Hallgrimsson was force to reshuffle at the back with skipper Seamus Coleman injure during Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by England. But also dispense with Matt Doherty and Adam Idah. He drafted in Alan Browne, Andrew Omobamidele and Jason Knight.
After starting with a back three against England, the Icelander. Who had consider changing shape at half-time, opted for a back four with Omobamidele lining up at right-back and he found himself under early pressure from full-back Kostas Tsimikas. Who delivere two dangerous crosses.
The Greeks were dominating possession. But playing largely in front of Ireland, although goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was relieve to see defender Konstantinos Koulierakis’ 11th-minute header from a Tasos Chatzigiovanis corner drop just over his crossbar.
When they did have the ball, the home side were struggling to break through the Greece press
Central defender Dara O’Shea seemed seeing more of the ball than anyone else in green as they found themselves confined largely to their own half of the field.
However, they mustered their first attempt on goal ทางเข้า ufabet https://ufabet999.app after Knight and Will Smallbone link nicely to feed Browne. Whose 22nd-minute shot loop into goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos’ arms via a helpful deflection.
Kelleher had to palm away a Bakasetas free-kick four minutes later. After the midfielder had trip by Smallbone 25 yards out, but it was Vlachodimos. Who was sent back-pedalling. When Sammie Szmodics chanced his arm from an improbable distance and angle 14 minutes before the break.