Match report: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Azerbaijan
Group A: Shane Duffy rescued the Republic of Ireland from total humiliation by heading an equaliser three minutes from time against Azerbaijan, writes Paul Doyle. Read on and post your comments below the line ...
Post mortem: From an Irish persepctive, that was embarrassing, not least after the heroics in defeat against Portugal during the week. That performance perked up a lot of Ireland commentators, pundits and fans who will be totally deflated after this fairly awful performance at home against a very poor side.
Elsewhere in Group A: Serbia, who travel to Dublin for another qualifier on Tuesday, have beaten Luxembourg 4-1 at home. They go top of the top table with 10 points, ahead of Portugal on goal difference. Luxembourg remain in third place with six points, while Ireland and Azerbaijan have one each.
Full-time: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Azerbaijan
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeep! It’s all over in Dublin, where Ireland have avoided total humiliation, but only just. Shane Duffy’s late equaliser cancelled out Emin Mahmudov’s excellent opener for Azerbaijan but a point is no use to Stephen Kenny’s men, who have been held by the team ranked 110th in the world by Fifa. Ireland have now gone 15 competitive games without a win.
90+5 min: Alan Browne is booked for something or other. Free-kick for Azerbaijan, halfway inside the Irish half.
90+4 min: Alan Browne plays the ball wide to Hourihane, who plays a crossfield pass to Horgan on the right touchline. His steepling cross is claimed well by Mahammadaliyev.
90+3 min: More time-wasting from Mahammadaliyev after Callum Robinson had brought the ball down, turned and scuffed it his way.
90+2 min: James Collins does brilliantly to win the ball down by the corner flag but then undoes his good work with a terrible cross.
90+1 min: The Irish pile the pressure on Azerbaijan as they seek to do on to Azerbaijan as Portugal did on to Ireland during the week.
90 min: We’ll have a minimum of five added minutes.
89 min: Callum Robinson brings a smart save out of Mahmmadaliyev but there was a foul in the build-up. Ireland substitution: Alan Browne on for Josh Cullen.
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1-1 Azerbaijan (Duffy 87)
Thank God for that. Shane Duffy sends a bullet header past Mahammadaliyev after getting on the end of a ball from deep. The goalkeeper got a hand to it but was powerless to keep the ball out.
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85 min: Callum Robinson turns and volleys a shot wide of the upright from a tight angle.
84 min: McClean’s sends another cross into the Azerbaijan penalty area but nobody connects with it despite the crowd of green shirts.
83 min: Moments after Buzunu saves Ireland from further embarrassment by sticking out a leg to keep out Sheydaev’s effort, Conor Hourihane sends an overhit cross drifting hopelessly wide.
82 min: Azerbaijan go close to scoring on the break but Ireland survive.
80 min: Ireland substitution: James Collins on for Matt Doherty. Azerbaijan make a couple of changes as well: Nuriyev and Sheydaev for Emreli and Ozobic.
76 min: Stephen Kenny and his assistants are conversing on the touchline, staring at a sheet of paper. A draft letter of resignation, maybe? If Ireland go on to lose this game, it will be interesting to see if the FAI fire Kenny. I wouldn’t personally - might as well let him see out the end of the campaign. Whether or not they can afford to dismiss him and send up the Big Sam insignia is an entirely different matter, of course.
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75 min: Azerbaijan attack on the break but Akmedzade runs into traffic in the Irish penalty area.
73 min: Ireland corner. Conor Hourihane tries to replicate his goal against Portugal on Wednesday night with a near post run but is foiled on this occasion. It’s another corner for Ireland, then another. Azerbiajan’s goalkeeper punches the third one clear.
72 min: Azerbaijan triple-substitution: Huseynov, Salahli and Akmedzade on for Medvedev, Bayramov and Alaskarov.
70 min: Ireland are sending cross after cross after cross into the Azerbaijan penalty area to no avail. Robinson delivers the latest one from the right only for Shane Duffy to head way over the bar. He should have scored.
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69 min: Nothing comes of the corner, which is pulled towards Hourihane outside the Azerbaijan penalty area. His cross is rubbish.
68 min: Callum Robinson is fouled out by the right touchline. The guilty party, Elvin Badalov, is booked. Conro Hourihane’s free-kick is put out for a corner by Garayev.
67 min: Another cross from the left, this time from Horgan. Idah is beaten in the air again, this time by Hojjat Haghverdi.
64 min: From the left wing, James McClean sends another cross into the Azerbaijan penalty area where Idah is beaten in the air.
63 min: Ireland double-substituion: Troy Parrott and Jayson Molumby off, Callum Robinson and Conor Hourihane on.
61 min: Free-kick for Ireland, wide on the right. Cullen crosses the ball into the penalty area and Mahammadaliyev punches it away. With an Azerbaijan defender lying on the ground in the penalty area, Ireland play on. The ball’s crossed to the unmarked Adam Idah, who skims a header wide.
60 min: Troy Parrott brings a save out of Mahammadaliyev with a rare Irish shot on target. Their second of the game, I think.
60 min: Coleman pulls a low cross into the Azerbaijan penalty area but the ball is cleared.
59 min: Mahammadaliyev comes for and misses a McClean cross and the ball sails towards Seamus COleman on the right flank. He sends it back into the mixer and Azerbaijan clear.
58 min: Molumby picks up a pass from Doherty in the Azerbaijan penalty area and promptly gives the ball away. This is dreadful, dreadful stuff from the Irish.
56 min: Jayson Molumby clattrers into Azerbaijan’s goalkeeper Mahammadaliyev as he contests a ball hanging in the air from James McClean’s cross. He gets booked for forcing the goalie into the back of his own net.
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54 min: Azerbaijan continue to time-waste and disrupt whatever passes for Ireland’s rhythm, as they are perfectly entitled to do unless referee Jerome Brisard penalises them. Penalise them, Jerome. Please.
52 min: Molumby appeals for a penalty after going down under a challenge from Emreli while trying to get on the end of a McClean cross. The ref is having none of it and his Video Assistant Refereee, Stephanie Frappert doesn’t see fit to intervene.
51 min: McClean and Horgan try to combine down the left touchline but lose the ball. Azerbaijan clear.
49 min: Ireland win themselves a free-kick wide on the left. James McClean curls the ball towards the far post, where Mahammadaliyev claims comfortably. It was a poor delivery from the Derry man, who made life easy for the goalkeeper.
48 min: Azerbaijan goalkeeper Mahammadaliyev gets an early warning from referee Jerome Brisard for time-wasting as he dawdles over his goal-kick, incurring the wrath of the Irish crowd as he does so.
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47 min: Horgan is straight into action, running on to a through ball and standing the ball up for Jayson Molumby. Unmarked, he heads over the bar.
Second half: Rep of Ireland 0-1 Azerbaijan
46 min: Not having won a comeptitve international in their past 14 attempts, Ireland get the second half started in the embarrassing position of being a goal down at home to Azerbaijan. Daryl Horgan is on for the infuriatingly ineffective Aaron Conolly.
He was given 10 seconds on the ball to take the shot.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) September 4, 2021
Correction: I erroneously stated that Mahmudov scored from the edge of the Irish penalty area. He was, in fact, several yards outside it when he pulled the trigger.
No bad luck about that. They should have been told Makhmudov is Azerbaijan's main goal threat, some of them screamers... and they give him that much time?
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) September 4, 2021
That's either bad preparation or bad application, neither reflecting well.
Azerbaijan, Luxembourg and Finland have scored more recently in Ireland than Ireland have.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) September 4, 2021
Half-time: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Azerbaijan
Peep! After a bright start, the Rep of Ireland troop off at half-time a goal down. Having been given all the time in the world to size up an effort from the edge of the Irish penalty without anyone closing him down, Mahmudov shimmied this way and that, picked his spot and unleashed a wonderful shot into the top corner. Ireland are staring into the abyss here.
Goal! Republic of Ireland 0-1 Azerbaijan (Mahmudov 45+1)
Wow! A disaster for Ireland as Azerbaijan take the lead just before half-time with an absolute beauty.
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45+1 min: Matt Doherety sticks out a leg and wins the ball from Bayramov on the edge of the final third but it breaks to a red shirt.
44 min: Seamus Coleman rides to the rescue as Azerbaijan advance towards the Irish penalty area and plays the ball out to James McClean on the left wing. With no real options available, he plays it inside and backwards.
42 min: James McClean is penalised for a foul throw. No, really.
40 min: Mahammadaliyev makes a miraculous recovery from whatever was ailing him and play resumes. Ireland are in danger of letting this game get away from them. It was always going to be interesting to see if they could sustain the levels of effort they put in against Portugal and on the evidence of this first half, they haven’t. They’re not being helped by Azerbaijan’s constant attempts to slow down the play and disrupt what passes for their rhythm.
38 min: Mahammadaliyev goes down “injured” and the break in play allows the players from both teams to convene around the technical areas for an impromptu drinks break. “Gin & tonic?” “Don’t mind if I do.”
36 min: Aaron Connolly cuts inside from the left wing and gets a shot away. It’s saved by Mahammadaliyev at his near post.
34 min: There’s a short break in play as Namik Alaskarov receives treatment for a kick he shipped to the knee.
33 min: Azerbaijan corner. The delivery is poor and Shane Duffy clears at the near post.
32 min: Adam Idah gets on the end of a cross from Aaron Connolly, who’d run on to a great pass down the left channel from John Egan. He makes firm contact with his header but steers the ball wide. That’s a bad miss.
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30 min: Troy Parrott threads a through ball down the left side of the Azerbaijan penalty area from deep. It’s a good idea but neither Aaron Connolly nor Adam Idah can get to it.
28 min: Just inside the Azerbaijan penalty area, Aaron Connolly tees up Jayson Molumby, who curls a low effort outside the far upright. Close but no cigar for the West Brom midfielder.
27 min: “A little bit of the wind has been taken out of Irish sails,” says Sky Sports commentator Rob Hawthorne. He’s not wrong. After a bright start, they’ve spent a while on the back foot.
26 min: Azerbaijan win a free-kick about 40 yards from the Ireland goal. The ball’s floated in to the Irish penalty area, where Shane Duffy heads clear.
25 min: Elsewhere in Group A, Serbia lead Luxembourg 1-0. The Serbs are due in Dublin for another qualifier next week.
22 min: Buzunu is forced to save from Namik Alaskarov, who gets the better of Seamus Coleman down the left and unleashes a shot. He puts the ball out for a corner which Coleman clears.
21 min: Azerbaijan enjoy another spell of possession but are unable to do much with the ball as Ireland force them backwards.
17 min: Ireland win four consecutive throw-ins almost in line with the edge of the Azerbaijan penalty area. Azerbaijan clear their lines and then concede a free-kick which is taken quickly. The visitors are finding it very difficult to get hold of the ball and on the rare occasions they do are invariably very quick to give it away. On the sideline, their manager Gianni Di Biasi, who brought Albania to Euro 2016, is not a happy bunny.
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15 min: James McClean curls a cross into the Azerbaijan penalty area and a poor clearance from Toral Byarov goes straight to the feet of Matt Doherty. He crosses to the far post where Azerbaijan clear.
14 min: Gavin Bazunu is forced into action, saving a snap-shot from Namik Alaskarov that was fired straight at the young goalkeeper.
12 min: Decent from Azerbaijan, who get a cross into the Ireland penalty area through Medvedev out on the right wing. It’s a little too high for Emreli, who mistimed his jump.
10 min: Azerbaijan finally get the ball out of their own half and enjoy a spell of possession. It’s a short spell as Gara Garayev gives the ball away after a breakdown in communication with his skipper Maksim Medvedev.
9 min: Seamus Coleman shoots over the bar after drifting into space with the ball at his feet a few yards outside the Azerbaijan penalty area.
8 min: Matt Doherty is penalised for offside while trying to run on to a through ball drilled down the inside right from Seamus Coleman. Relentless pressure from Ireland in these early stages.
5 min: Adam Idah charges down the right touchline, getting past and in behind Hojjat Haghverdi. He pulls the ball back to Aaron Connolly from the byline but the Brighton striker is unable to force the ball home.
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5 min: Matt Doherty makes a run into the Azerbaijan penalty area from ther right flank and gets on the end of a curled pass from Josh Cullen, who’d spotted him. He’s forced to check his run to stay onside and heads wide. Good stuff from the Irish.
3 min: Seamus Coleman lofts a seven-iron towards the edge of the Azerbaijan penalty area, trying to pick out Adam Idah. Azerbaijan goalkeeper Sharusin Mahammadaliyev is quick off his line and collects the dropping ball, getting himself clattered by Idah in the process.
3 min: Namil Alaskarov is penalised for a foul on Troy Parrott near the halfway line.
2 min: Ireland start on the front foot with John Egan driving a low ball down the inside left channel. Azerbaijan clear.
Republic of Ireland v Azerbaijan is go ...
1 min: Azerbaijan get the ball rolling on French referee Jerome Brisard’s whistle shortly after the players of Ireland take a collective knee. The visitors wear red shirts, shorts and socks. Ireland’s players wear green shirts, white shorts and green socks.
Not long now: There are 20,000 or so people in the Aviva Stadium and they give the Ireland team a warm welcome as they march out on to the field led by Seamus Coleman. Azerbaijan follow shortly afterwards.
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How Group A stands: Portugal sit top of the group on 10 points and on course to book the automatic qualifying place for Qatar 2022. Serbia are three points behind them on seven, one ahead of Luxembourg in the race for the play-off place. At the foot of the table, neither Ireland nor Azerbaijan have any points but the Irish are above their visitors by dint of having scored one goal more.
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Republic of Ireland v Azerbaijan line-ups
Rep of Ireland: Bazunu, Coleman, Duffy, Egan, Doherty, Molumby, Cullen, McClean, Connolly, Parrott, Idah.
Subs: Horgan, Curtis, Omobamidele, Manning, Kelleher, Hourihane, McGrath, James Collins, Talbot, Hendrick, Robinson, Browne.
Azerbaijan: Mahammadaliyev, Medvedev, Haghverdi, Badalov, Krivotsyuk, Mahmudov, Garayev, Tural Bayramov, Alasgarov, Emreli, Ozobic.
Subs: Mustafayev, Dzhenetov, Nuriyev, Huseynov, Akhmedzade, Sadikhov, Salahli, Aydin Bayramov, Ibrahhimli, Mustafazade, Sheydayev, Khalilzade.
Referee: Jerome Brisard (France)
Azerbaijan team news
Gianni De Biasi makes four changes to the side beaten 2-1 in Luxembourg during the week. Elvin Badalov, Anton Krivotsyuk, Namik Alaskarov and Mahir Emreli come into the side, while Azer Salahli, Abbas Huseynov, Ismayil Ibrahimli and Ali Ghorbani make way.
Rep of Ireland team news
Nineteen-year-old striker Troy Parrott makes his first start for the Republic of Ireland against Azerbaijan. On loan at MK Dons from Tottenham Hotspur, the Dubliner is paired up front with Norwich City’s Adam Idah.
Parrott’s inclusion is one of three changes to the side which lost in Portugal on Wednesday evening as he, James McClean and Jayson Molumby replaced the injured Dara O’Shea, Jeff Hendrick and Jamie McGrath.
Stephen Kenny speaks: “We’re at home, we want to really play with intensity, it’s very important for us,” said Ireland’s manager in his pre-match press conference.
“We want to go and put in a strong performance and get the victory that we desire. Azerbaijan had very close games themselves with Serbia and Portugal, and we’ve seen Qarabag get to the group stages (in the Europa Conference League) and comprehensively beat Aberdeen during the week, so we’ll have to earn the right to win, there’s no doubt about that.
“But we’re determined to try to get that home victory. If we can get that home victory, it would be really special for everyone to celebrate it with the supporters and we have a huge desire to do that, and hopefully we can do it.”
Early team news
Newly arrived at Celtic from Shamrock Rovers, Liam Scales caps a fine week with his first call-up to the Irish squad, while Preston midfielder Alan Browne and West Brom striker Callum Robinson have also been drafted in after missing the Portugal game for Covid-related reasons.
Defender Dara O’Shea has been ruled out with an ankle injury, which means Andrew Omobamidele is likely to make his start for his country after deputising so ably againt Portugal when O’Shea was forced off in the Algarve. Burnley defender Nathan Collins has also been ruled out with injury and will have to wait to make his debut.
Group A: Rep of Ireland v Azerbaijan
Ireland return to the Aviva Stadium second from bottom of the group and with spirits even nearer the floor following their heartbreaking midweek defeat at the hands of Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking late smash-and-grab stole the headlines and overshadowed a fine Irish performance which suggested Stephen Kenny’s players are finally on the same wavelength of a manager who would have no luck at all if it wasn’t for all the rotten luck he has endured since taking charge of the national side in April 2020.
Without a point to their name in after three games, Ireland host the only team worse than them in Group A and nothing short of victory will do. They have already suffered the embarrassment of a home defeat against Luxembourg as they attempt to qualify for Qatar 2022 and anything less than a win today would constitute total humiliation. Kick-off in Dublin is at 5pm but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
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