Ireland left pointless as Greece defeat extends Nations League misery
Fotis Ioannidis and Christos Tzolis extended the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League misery as Greece emerged from their trip to Dublin with a 2-0 victory.
Ioannidis’ accomplished 50th-minute finish was matched by Tzolis three minutes from time to leave Ireland point less in league b2 after two fixtures under new head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.
It proved to be a familiar story for there public, who have now won just two of the 18 games they have played in the competition, and their only victories – two of them – in their last 10 competitive outings have come against minnows Gibraltar.
It might have been differ--ent had Chiedozie Ogbene not strayed offside before producing a superb first-half finish, but the toxic blend of defensive frailty and attacking bluntness which characterised the dying embers of the Stephen Kenny era remain issues for Hal lg rims son as he turns his attention to october’ s double-header in Finland and Greece.
For the visitors, a third-successive win over Ireland – and a second at the Aviva Stadium – since June last year, coupled with their 3-0 opening-day victory against finland, represents a very pleasant start for new boss Ivan Jovanovic.
Hallgrimsson was forced to reshuffle at the back with skipper Seamus Coleman injured during Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by England, but also dispensed with Matt Doherty and Adam Idah as he drafted in Alan browne, and rewo mob ami de le and Jason Knight.
Ogbene thought he had given Ireland a 41st-minute lead when he controlled Jayson Molumby’s driven crossfield pass on his chest before thumping a stunning shotacross odysseas Vlachodimos and inside the far post, but an offside flag correctly denied him a picturebook goal.
Og be ne almost made am ends as the whistle approached, exchanging passes with Will Smallbone before picking out Browne, who could not keep his effort down.
Ireland’s momentum was broken within five minutes of there start when Ta so sB aka set as was allowed to pick outio ann id is 22 yards out and, with the home defence sitting off, he took a touch before curling a left-footed shot past the helpless Caoimhin Kelleher.
Substitute Callum Robinson saw a late attempt for the hosts deflected just wide beforetzolis made sure at the death, side stepping there covering nathan Collins after being played in behind the irish defence and firing emphatically past Kelleher.