Finland 1-0 Republic of Eire: Stephen Kenny stays and not using a win as Irish boss

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.

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.

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