
Stephen Kenny stays and not using a win in his 5 video games as Republic of Eire boss as his Covid-19 hit aspect misplaced 1-0 in opposition to Finland within the Nations League.
As was the case in Dublin final month, Fredrik Jensen hit the winner after a brief kick-out by Irish keeper Darren Randolph gifted the hosts possession.
Enda Stevens hit the woodwork for the Republic with Ronan Curtis, Aaron Connolly and Jeff Hendrick going shut.
Teemu Pukki missed two nice first-half alternatives for the hosts.
However the Norwich striker atoned for these misses within the 66th minute by intercepting Randolph’s errant kick-out and squaring for Jensen, who lashed into the web from close-range for the Euro 2020 qualifiers after his preliminary effort had been blocked by Republic debutant Dara O’Shea.
The Republic pressed frantically within the closing phases however Finland keeper Lukas Hradecky denied Connolly earlier than making a good higher injury-time cease to frustrate substitute Curtis.
As his been the case throughout Kenny’s reign to this point, the Republic produced some neat strategy work with Connolly and Hendrick each notably distinguished.
Nonetheless, on a number of events the ultimate move was misplaced whereas striker Sean Maguire failed to manage a threatening ball from Connolly simply earlier than half-time.
Republic hit by collection of Covid-19 blows
The Republic’s build-up to Wednesday’s match was dominated by a succession of Covid-19 associated blows which began with Brighton striker Connolly and Norwich’s Adam Idah being dominated out of the Euro 2020 play-off defeat by Slovakia final Thursday.
It later transpired the Covid-19 take a look at involving a member of the Republic’s backroom workers, who was an in depth contact of the duo, had been a false optimistic, which left the Irish administration infuriated that they’d been with out the gamers within the sport which they misplaced in a penalty shootout.
If that was not unhealthy sufficient, 5 Republic gamers – together with sure starters John Egan, Alan Browne, Callum O’Dowda and Callum Robinson – have been late withdrawals from Sunday’s Nations League sport in opposition to Wales after being deemed shut contacts of one other unnamed squad member who examined optimistic for Covid-19.
The chaos inflicted on the Republic squad by coronavirus over the previous week culminated with one other unnamed participant being confirmed to have examined optimistic for the virus within the early hours of Tuesday after conflicting outcomes from two earlier exams.
That was all on prime of skipper Seamus Coleman, David McGoldrick, James McCarthy and Harry Arter being dominated out by harm and James McClean lacking after his late pink card in opposition to Wales, which meant that greater than a dozen gamers have been unavailable.
After his return to the squad, Connolly was recalled to the assault with West Brom centre-back O’Shea handed a debut and Wycombe winger Daryl Horgan and Preston striker Maguire additionally drafted into the beginning line-up which confirmed 4 modifications from Sunday.
Extra to comply with.
Line-ups
Finland
- 1Hrádecky
- 3GranlundSubstituted forRaitalaat 86′minutes
- 4Toivio
- 2Arajuuri
- 18Uronen
- 13SoiriSubstituted forNiskanenat 45′minutes
- 14Sparv
- 6KamaraSubstituted forSchüllerat 76′minutes
- 8Taylor
- 9JensenBooked at 42minsSubstituted forKaukoat 86′minutes
- 10PukkiSubstituted forPohjanpaloat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Ojala
- 7Karjalainen
- 11Schüller
- 12Joronen
- 15Väisänen
- 16Pirinen
- 17Alho
- 19Kauko
- 20Pohjanpalo
- 21Niskanen
- 22Raitala
- 23Mäenpää
R. of Eire
- 23Randolph
- 2Doherty
- 4Duffy
- 15O’Shea
- 3Stevens
- 22MolumbySubstituted forKnightat 83′minutes
- 6Hourihane
- 11HorganSubstituted forCurtisat 75′minutes
- 13HendrickSubstituted forIdahat 75′minutes
- 7ConnollyBooked at 80mins
- 8MaguireSubstituted forBradyat 53′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Travers
- 5Lengthy
- 9Lengthy
- 10Brady
- 12Knight
- 14Cullen
- 16Kelleher
- 17Manning
- 18Idah
- 19Curtis
- 20Christie
Dwell Textual content
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Match ends, Finland 1, Republic of Eire 0.
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Second Half ends, Finland 1, Republic of Eire 0.
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Offside, Finland. Joni Kauko tries a by ball, however Joel Pohjanpalo is caught offside.
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Jere Juhani Uronen (Finland) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Robbie Brady (Republic of Eire).
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Try missed. Enda Stevens (Republic of Eire) left footed shot from the centre of the field is shut, however misses to the left following a nook.
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Nook, Republic of Eire. Conceded by Jukka Raitala.
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Try saved. Ronan Curtis (Republic of Eire) header from the centre of the field is saved within the backside left nook. Assisted by Matt Doherty with a headed move.
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Nook, Republic of Eire. Conceded by Ilmari Niskanen.
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Nook, Republic of Eire. Conceded by Paulus Arajuuri.
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Nook, Republic of Eire. Conceded by Lukás Hrádecky.
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Try saved. Matt Doherty (Republic of Eire) header from the centre of the field is saved within the prime proper nook. Assisted by Robbie Brady with a cross.
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Foul by Jere Juhani Uronen (Finland).
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Robbie Brady (Republic of Eire) wins a free kick on the fitting wing.
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Substitution, Finland. Jukka Raitala replaces Albin Granlund due to an harm.
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Substitution, Finland. Joni Kauko replaces Fredrik Jensen.
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Substitution, Republic of Eire. Jason Knight replaces Jayson Molumby.
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Try missed. Shane Duffy (Republic of Eire) header from the centre of the field is only a bit too excessive. Assisted by Robbie Brady with a cross following a nook.
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Nook, Republic of Eire. Conceded by Jere Juhani Uronen.
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Foul by Joona Toivio (Finland).