Greece remained unbeaten in Group B, as Dimitris Pelkas goal four minutes into the second half proved the deciding factor in Ireland suffering a consecutive defeat in their qualification campaign.

The wait continued for not only a first point in their qualifying campaign, but a win over the Greeks, the home side making it three wins from four against the Boys In Green, a first in both competitive action and on home soil.

Both required VAR to look at incidents in the opening half, Greece awarded a penalty for hand ball that Tasos Bakasetas converted, Nathan Collins equalised just before the half hour mark after a lengthy VAR check, but a lapse in concentration saw the Greeks away to score early in the second half.

Tempers flared late on as Ireland's night went from bad to worse as Matt Doherty was shown a straight red carded after an altercation with Tsimikas following the awarding of a free to the home side late on.

It was a fast start from Ireland straight from the kick-off the ball immediately sprayed out to Matt Doherty to chase down the right wing, looking for Adam Idah to race in behind the Greek line, the ball took a touch off a blue jersey and Idah let it run out for a corner, Ireland attacking well early but the Greece defence was composed to clear the danger.

Quick on the counter, the home side put Ireland under intense pressure minutes later, Kostas Tsimikas putting in a cross that Callum O'Dowda did well to deal with, but from another corner seconds later they almost took the lead, Konstantinos Mavropanos tried his luck with an audacious acrobatic volley, Gavin Bazunu sprung into action to acrobatically tip it away for another corner.

Bazunu was kept busy and in a short space of time was again forced into another reflex save as Tasos Bakasetas saw the ball break to him from another corner, his shot from outside the box needing another solid stop from the Ireland number 1 to keep the game scoreless inside the opening seven minutes.

Ireland coughed up possession in a nervy passage of play with again bodies were back to deal with the danger, but the hosts wanted a penalty after 11 minutes, Dimitris Kourbelis cut the Irish defence open to unleash Giorgios Masouras on goal, Bazunu raced out and got the ball away, but he collided with the Greek winger in the process, nothing given.

The hosts would have a penalty awarded minutes later, after a lengthy VAR review, a handball by O’Dowda as he blocked down a George Baldock cross saw the referee point to the spot, upstepped the captain Bakasetas, he drilled his penalty down the middle leaving Bazunu no chance, the hosts ahead after 15 minutes.

Almost immediately Ireland looked to equalise, Idah playing a nice pass to O'Dowda, who ran inverted to the Irish forward, he crossed into the area for Will Smallbone he got a little flick onto it, but a Greek body saw the ball land into the goalkeepers hands.

Despite being 1-0 down, Ireland were starting to create more chances and play with a new found swagger, they almost caused a calamitous moment for Greece defender Pantelis Hatzidiakos, Doherty hitting on a low cross on the right wing that the defender almost diverted into his own goal, but it hit the side-netting and the corner spared his blushes.

From the resulting corner Ireland would draw level, the ball whipped in from the corner with purpose, Evan Ferguson at the front post flicked it onto Nathan Collins who was lurking at the back post to stroke home, however the offside flag was shown by the linesman, VAR was called into action, following another lengthy deliberation, but it awarded the goal and ireland were level almost on the half hour mark.

Three minutes later a slight blip in concentration from the Irish defence allowed Dimitris Pelkas to cut inside from the left channel but he scuffed his shot well wide, pressure was applied to him but a big let off as he should have at least tested Bazunu.

Again the Irish keeper was tested but again he denied the Greeks, Bakasetas struck a low shot from distance, Bazunu read it all the way and saved it, long range goals have killed Ireland in the past, but Bazunu was up to the task.

Greece had again another fine spell of possession, with corners coming in again they were typing to force themselves back into the lead, Ferguson tried to end the Greek spell with a long range effort at goal having spotten the keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos off his line, but the audacious effort was wide of the target. 

Half Time was beckoning closer and Greece were creating late chances to regain their lead before the interval, Pelkas was given time in the Irish box after another great ball inside, Doherty got in the way to block the effort at goal, allowing Bazunu gather with ease.

Bakasetas again fancied his chances from range but this effort went out for a corner, Ireland dealt with it and had the last major chance of the half as Will Smallbone whipped in a free kick, but it warranted no profit, Idah lashed a chance well over and the sides went in tied at the break.

It took just four minutes after the resumption for the Greeks to regain the lead, the Bakasetas turning provider this time, he played a ball into space for Giorgios Masouras, he received the ball and ran in from the right side of the Irish box, before curling a left footed shott beyond Bazunu into the bottom corner, terrible defending from the visitors.

Chances were few and far between for the Boys In Green, Ireland having spells of possession but were playing against a solid wall, Greece were happy to sit back and player counter attacking football, they almost conceded a second to Collins, striking a volley from outside the area Vlachodimos parrying away the strike.

Two minutes later Jason Knight was almost away but Vlachodimos was alert and rushed out to gather possession, at the other end Masouras skied a chance but ex Celtic man Giorgios Giakoumakis had the better chance but again missed the target.

Greece worked chances late on to put the game to bed, Baldock crossing into the area but that was dealt with, before Giakoumakis tried to lob Bazunu from 40 yards out, but in defence they were going narrow as Ireland could not break them down.

Doherty had a late chance in added time prior to his red card that was saved well by the Greece keeper, but the defeat looks to be the end of Ireland's hopes of qualification, it really is an uphill battle from here to secure second spot in the group, third also looks a challenge.