Details

Date Time League Season
13 October 2023 7:45 pm UEFA EURO Qualification 2023/24

Match Report

A Bland Ireland Fall To Greece At Home

Another tough night for Stephen Kenny’s Ireland as Greece take the points in a comfortable victory at the Aviva Stadium tonight.

First-half goals from Giakoumakis and Masouras saw the home side face a chorus of boos as they left the pitch, with the boys in Green really struggling to create any clear-cut chances after the Greeks went in front.

Next up is Gibraltar away on Monday night, a game that Ireland should definitely win but with confidence low, failing to get the victory in the Algarve would be one of the most disastrous performances in Irish history. 

Kenny was hoping for a bright start from his side and that’s just what he got. Will Smallbone saw his effort parried away by Vlachodimos, an effort the Southampton man would’ve been disappointed not to put more towards the corner. Evan Ferguson came closer moments later when his left-footed effort from 20 yards out beat the Forest keeper but clipped the bottom of the post. 

The momentum let up shortly after as the Greeks began to play their way into the game. On the 20 minute mark Ireland fell behind after a wonderful cross from Tsimikas was met superbly in the air by Giakoumakis who powerfully headed towards the top corner, absolutely nothing Bazunu could do about it as the Aviva began to voice their frustration. 

Despite some possession after the goal, the Irish offence began to run out of ideas, struggling to break down a stout Greek defence, with the away side looking more likely to get a second than Ireland back on level terms. Bazunu did well to push a right-footed effort from Pelkas over the bar late in the half. 

Just seconds before the halftime whistle, Greece doubled their lead. Giakoumakis picked up the ball down the left and fizzed across the box, finding Pelkas who pulled back to Masouras who slotted home, as the Irish side left the field for the interval to a chorus of boos. 

Kenny brought on Manning at the break, sticking with the back four, shifting Liam Scales to centre half where he has been playing with Celtic recently. 

Scales did look solid at the back, putting in a couple of decent blocks but coming up to 20 minutes to go Kenny turned to Scales teammate Johnston along with Callum Robinson to inject some fresh legs into his side. 

The substitutions would have little impact on the game however, with the away side more threatening but with the lead under their belt only created a few half chances that Bazunu dealt with.

Matt Doherty did have a close-range header at the back post that could’ve given his side a lifeline but Vlachodimos was equal to the effort with his feet. Callum Robinson followed up moments later with a shot that flashed wide of the post as Ireland showed some fight towards the tail end but it was too little too late. 

The already rampant pressure on Stephen Kenny will reach breaking point after this performance as a lack of spark or tactical change throughout the game left the 42,000 in attendance feeling the blues at full-time.

Ireland

1Gavin Bazunu Goalkeeper
2Matt Doherty Defender
4Shane Duffy Defender
6Josh Cullen Midfielder
8Alan Browne 19 Midfielder
9Evan Ferguson Forward
11William Smallbone 7 Midfielder 10'
15Liam Scales Defender
17Jason Knight Midfielder
20Chiedozie Ogbene 10 Forward
22Nathan Collins 3 Defender
16Mark Travers Goalkeeper
23Max O’Leary Goalkeeper
3Ryan Manning 22 Defender
5Dara O’Shea Defender
7Callum Robinson 11 Forward
10Adam Idah 20 Forward
12Andrew Omobamidele Defender
13Mark Sykes Midfielder
14Jayson Molumby Midfielder
18Jamie McGrath Midfielder
19Mikey Johnston 8 Forward
21Festy Ebosele Defender

Greece

1Odysseas Vlachodimos Goalkeeper
2Panagiotis Retsos Defender
4Konstantinos Mavropanos Defender
6Dimitris Kourbelis 5 Midfielder
7Giorgos Masouras 3 Forward 45+3'
10Dimitris Pelkas 16 Midfielder 56'
11Tasos Bakasetas 23 Midfielder
15Lazaros Rota Defender
19Giorgos Giakoumakis 8 Forward 20'
20Petros Mantalos Midfielder
21Kostas Tsimikas Midfielder
12Alexandros Paschalakis Goalkeeper
13Sokratis Dioudis Goalkeeper
3Konstantinos Koulierakis 7 Defender
5Andreas Bouchalakis 6 75'
8Fotis Ioannidis 19 Forward
9Vangelis Pavlidis Forward
14Taxiarchis Fountas Forward
16Tasos Chatzigiovanis 10 Forward
17Sotiris Alexandropoulos
18Manolis Saliakas Defender
22Dimitris Giannoulis Defender
23Manolis Siopis 11 Midfielder
  • 90'

    Full time. Greece victory.

  • 90'

    Five added minutes, as if the fans needed any more torture.

  • 90'

    The most entertainment we get tonight is the referee seemingly getting mixed up with the amount of subs the Greeks have made, as he checks to paper work to confirm they made the allotted five in the max three slots.

  • 83'

    Doherty denied at the back post, maybe a spark for the Irish.

  • 70'

    Robinson and Johnston on for Ireland.

  • 46'

    Manning on for Collins, Scales to CB.

  • 45'

    HT. 2-0 Greece, as the Irish side leave the pitch to a chorus of boos.

  • 45'

    Masouras doubles the Greece lead seconds before the break.

  • 45'

    3 additional minutes here.

  • 37'

    Bazunu denies Pelkas making it 2-0 to the away side, tipping the effort over the bar.

  • 20'

    Giakoumakis heads home, a superb cross from Tsimikas was thundered home by the Atlanta player.

  • 17'

    Greece growing into the game now and force Bazunu into a big save from a shot from range.

  • 5'

    Ferguson next up saw his left footed effort clip the outside of the post. A bright start for the boys in green.

  • 3'

    Smallbone with the first big chance as he forces Vlachodimos into a save down to his right.

  • 1'

    Kick off at the Aviva!

  • It's do or die for Ireland as they need to defeat Greece in the Aviva tonight.

Past Meetings

(Round 2)
2 - 1
UEFA EURO Qualification
OPAP Arena

Greece v Republic of Ireland

(Matchday 3)
0 - 1
U19 International
Ferrycarrig Park

Republic of Ireland v Greece

(Elite Qualifying)
0 - 1
WU19 International
Bazaly Stadium, Ostrava

Greece v Ireland

1 - 0
UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Tallaght Stadium

Republic of Ireland v Greece

1 - 1
UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Greece

Greece v Republic of Ireland

(Algarve Cup)
0 - 0
Women's Senior
Greece

Greece v Republic of Ireland

(International Friendly)
0 - 0
Women's Senior
Greece

Greece v Republic of Ireland

(International Friendly)
0 - 1
Women's Senior
Greece

Greece v Republic of Ireland

Ground

Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Pembroke West A ED, Dublin, Dublin 4, Leinster, D04 FP65, Ireland

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