- Mario Bowden
- Wed, Oct 14 2020
Stephen Kenny’s wait for a win as Ireland manager goes on after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Finland in the Nations League in Helsinki.
Despite displaying another positive performance under Kenny, the Boys in Green have come away empty-handed in a game they had chances to win the game in.
Ireland will be particularly frustrated by the manner in which they went behind in the second half.
A sloppy pass from Darren Randolph from a goal-kick was snatched by Teemu Pukki in the 66th minute.
Panic ensued among the Irish defence – as Pukki’s cross bobbled across the goal to Fredrik Jensen.
Despite Dara O’Shea’s best efforts to get to the striker, the West Brom star couldn’t stop the Finnish forward from tapping it in.
Ireland pushed on for an equaliser but couldn’t break down the solid Finnish defence. Attempts from Matt Doherty and Irish debutant Ronan Curtis almost snatched a goal for Ireland with headers on goal in the dying moments of the game.
While Finland might have had the closer chances at goal in the first-half, it was Ireland who got the first crack at goal.
A quick free kick from Conor Hourihane to Sean Maguire caught Finland napping. Maguire was allowed to get a low driven cross into the box to Aaron Connolly – who laid it back to Hendrick – but the Newcastle man’s side foot shot was blocked.
Finland got their first shot of the game minutes later. Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara was given time and space to shoot – but his effort was comfortably caught by Darren Randolph.
Connolly, back in the squad today, seemed poised to get his name on the scoresheet throughout the game.
Moments after being on the other end of a crunching challenge from Finnish captain Tim Sparv, Connolly had a good strike at goal from outside the box. But, his effort was read by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
Teemu Pukki had a glorious chance to put the Finn’s into the lead. Some brilliant intricate play slipped the ball through to Pukki on the sixth-yard box – but the Norwich City striker couldn’t convert his shot as it scraped across the goal.
Pukki then went close again just before half-time. Ireland were dispossessed in the midfield, allowing Pukki to drive forward into the box. Luckily for Ireland, his shot dragged wide to the left hand-side.
The 8,000 Finnish crowd were left standing like statues in the early minutes of the second half – as the attacking flair shown from both teams stagnated.
It was clear to see that Connolly was hungry to get his name on the scoresheet. The Galwegian caused trouble for the Finnish defence, but at times his decision making was questionable.
On one occasion deciding to go himself from a tight angle rather than squaring it to Daryl Horgan free in the box.
Enda Stevens almost snuck Ireland into the lead – but his effort brushed the bar. A slaloming run from Connolly into the box was cut-out by the Finnish defence – but the ball fumbled into the feet of Stevens, who just tried to deftly help the ball in.
The Finland goal really dampened Ireland’s creativity for the last 20 minutes. But it did not stop them pushing for a late equaliser.
Matt Doherty went close in the 85th minute with a header that Hradecky could only get his fingertips to and parry it out over the bar.
Hradecky literally saved Finland all three points – with a wonderful save to deny Irish debutant Ronan Curtis in stoppage time.
The Portsmouth midfielder latched on to the headed-on header from Doherty, but Hrádecký reached down to his left-hand corner to deny Ireland a deserved goal.
The result means Finland move to the top of group B4 on nine points – with Wales playing Bulgaria later this evening.
As for Ireland, the result is a bitter one to swallow. While the positives are there to be seen questions must be asked if we have the conviction up front to get goals on the score-sheet.
Finland: Lukas Hradecky; Jere Uronen, Joona Toivio, Albin Granlund (Jukka Raitala 86), Paulus Arajuuri; Robert Taylor, Tim Sparv, Pyry Soiri (Ilmari Niskanen 46), Glen Kamara (Rasmus Schuller 75); Teemu Pukki (Joel Pohjanpalo 81), Fredrik Jensen (Joni Kauko 86).
Subs not used: Juha Pirinen, Juhani Ojala, Niki Maenpaa, Rasmus Karjalainen, Jesse Joronen, Nikolai Alho, Leo Vaisanen.
Booked: Fredrik Jensen (42).
Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph; Dara O'Shea, Shane Duffy, Matt Doherty, Enda Stevens; Jayson Molumby (Jason Knight 75), Conor Hourihane, Daryl Horgan (Ronan Curtis, 75), Jeff Hendrick (Adam Idah 75); Sean Maguire (Robbie Brady 53), Aaron Connolly.
Subs not used: Ryan Manning, Shane Long, Kevin Long, Caoimhin Kelleher, Joshua Cullen, Mark Travers.
Booked: Aaron Connolly (80).
Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Switzerland).
Attendance: TBC.
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: TBC.
