World Cup Qualifier: Rep of Ireland 1 - 0 Georgia

A strong second-half performance from the Republic of Ireland saw them pick up their opening victory of their World Cup Group D qualifying campaign against Georgia at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night.

Following an abysmal first-half showing, Ireland found their stride in the second period and scored the decisive goal shortly after the restart through captain Seamus Coleman.

Despite Ireland’s recent injury woes, Martin O’Neill was still able to select a particularly strong starting lineup with three changes made from the side that snatched a point against Serbia at the beginning of September in their opening group D game. In came the centre-defensive pairing of Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy with John O’Shea and Richard Keogh making way. While there was also a change in the middle of the park with James McCarthy returning from the groin injury which kept him out of the game in Belgrade meaning Glenn Whelan had to settle for a place on the bench.

Georgia were inches from taking a shock early lead when on fifteen minutes Tornike Okriashvili wriggled by the challenges of James McCarthy and Brady before spreading the ball wide to Otar Kakabadze. The right-back showed quick-feet to skip by Stephen Ward before hitting a low centre ball which Valeri Kazaishvili lashed just wide of Darren Randolph’s post. 

As the half wore on it was Georgia who looked the more in control side with some neat passages of play around the midfield while also proving resilient in defence, dealing comfortably with the number of long-balls thrown up the pitch by The Boys in Green.

On 39 minutes the visitors should have deservedly broken the deadlock. A corner ball fell to Okriashvili on the right wing where he sliced the ball back across the box. Levan Mchedlidze rose above his marker to thump a header against the crossbar before the ball cracked the crossbar for a second time from another header at the back post.

Immediately after, Ireland crafted their first meaningful opportunity when Jeff Hendrick’s in-swinger was met by McClean who headed it into the path of Walters who subsequently hooked it just over the bar.

Before the half was out there was time for one final Georgian opportunity. The dangerous Mchedlidze created a yard of space with some deft touches allowing him to rifle a shot near Randolph’s near-post from distance. The West Ham ‘keeper did well to get across his line and push it away to bring an end to a largely forgetful opening forty-five minutes for  O’Neill’s side.

Ireland began the second-half at a much more dynamic pace and managed to grab the opening goal ten minutes into the restart through Coleman. The Captain bolted down the right flank before cutting inside before a few lucky touches allowed the full-back to take the ball by Loria and tap it into the net.

Ireland continued to press and came close to doubling the advantage two minutes later when a McClean ball in was met by Long, however, he couldn’t get enough muscle behind his header and Loria saved easily.

A minute before the hour mark Ireland indeed thought they had extended their lead by two when a crisp Walters cross was powered home by McClean, however the winger had strayed merely inches offside meaning the goal failed to stand.

On 65 minutes, the determined McClean again came close to adding a second when his rasping shot from 25 yards almost slipped by Loria who had initially made the catch but then allowed the ball to leave his grasp before hastily stopping it from crossing the line.

Ireland continued to keep their rhythm as the second stanza ticked on, carving out some fantastic pieces of play with half-chances falling to both McClean and Walters following some well-worked moves.

With a quarter-of-an-hour to play Hendrick curled a ball in from the left wing which Long

sent back across the box with a delicate header which Brady knocked just wide of the post.

However, in the process of winning the ball Brady clashed heads with Kverkvelian in what was a particularly nasty and quite concerning incident. Kverkvelian was forced to strap up his head to stop the blood pour while Brady had to be removed from the field of play on a stretcher.

In injury-time, a long-ball was flicked on into the path of Walters who whipped a stinging cross towards the six-yard area. McClean was positioned perfectly but his header rattled against the crossbar. It just wasn’t meant to be his night in front of goal.

The referee blew his final whistle shortly after as Ireland secured the crucial three points. It leaves them level at the summit of Group D alongside Austria, Wales and Serbia who are all on four points after two rounds of matches.

Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph; Seamus Coleman, Ciaran Clarke, Shane Duffy, Stephen Ward; James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Glenn Whelan 80); Jonny Walters, Shane Long (John O’Shea 90+4), James McClean.

Subs not used: Ian Lawlor (GK), Danny Rogers (GK), Richard Keogh, Eunan O’Kane, Wes Hoolahan, Cyrus Christie, David Meyler, Paul McShane, Jonny Hayes, Alex Pearce

Bookings: Jeff Hendrick 83

Sent Off: None.

Georgia: Giorgi Loria; Otar Kakabadze, Solomon Kverlvelia, Guran Kashia, Giorgi Navalovski (Aleksandre Kobakhidze 89); Murtaz Daushvili (Nika Katcharava 90+1), Valerian Gvilia, Valeri Kazaishvili; Tornike Okriashvili, Levan Mchedlidze, Jano Ananidze (Davit Skhirtladze 73).

Subs not used: Roin Kvaskhvadze (GK), Giorgi Makaridze (GK), Lasha Dvali, Vladimer Dvalishvili, Giorgi Kvilitaia, Lasha Parunashvili, Zurab Tsiskaridze, Jambul Jigauri, Giorgi Papunashvili

Bookings: None.

Sent Off: None.

Referee: Tony Chapron (France)

Attendance: 39, 793

Extratime Man of the Match: James McClean (Republic of Ireland)

You can see pictures from the game as taken by Michael P Ryan, Laszlo Geczo and Matt Kirkham here.