Republic of Ireland 0-1 Ukraine: Visitors bounce back from missing out on World Cup

The Republic of Ireland’s depressing begin to the Nations League continued as a much-changed Ukraine recovered from missing out on World Cup qualification to say a slender win in Dublin.

It was one other admirable efficiency from Ukraine amid the turmoil of their nation following the Russian invasion, and one which delighted their vocal supporters on Lansdowne Road.

For the Republic, nonetheless, it’s additional disappointment following the defeat in Armenia and a end result that extends their winless sequence on this competitors to 12 video games.

Boss Stephen Kenny has been in cost for eight of these, and whereas he insisted his gamers had moved on rapidly from the loss in Yerevan, it was one other ponderous Irish show that lacked a leading edge within the ultimate third.

Shane Duffy got here closest to scoring for the hosts when his 79th-minute header was tipped on to the crossbar by Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin because the Republic made it 10 aggressive matches with no dwelling win, a run stretching back to June 2019.

Ukraine given heat Dublin reception

Like in Scotland and Wales, Ukraine got a heat reception in Dublin with applause ringing out previous to kick-off because the Irish followers confirmed solidarity with the war-torn nation.

Indeed, there was a poignant second when injured Republic captain Seamus Coleman and the mascots introduced the Ukraine supporters with sunflowers – their nation’s nationwide flower – in a show of peace.

With Ukraine having devoted immense emotion and energy to their World Cup bid, boss Oleksandr Petrakov unsurprisingly rung the adjustments with Everton full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko the one participant retained from the defeat in Cardiff.

And with Ukraine missing the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko and the Republic clearly low on confidence following Saturday’s depressing end in Yerevan, it was a low-key first half.

While Jason Knight produced an honest save from Andriy Lunin with a well-hit 25-yard shot, the Republic’s finest first-half second arrived when Callum Robinson scampered by the Ukraine defence and was felled by Valeriy Bondar just for referee Filip Glova to wave the Irish penalty appeals away.

With no actual urgency from both facet, the sport was crying out for a aim – and it almost bought an excellent one, however Taras Kacharaba’s celebrations have been minimize quick when his beautiful volley was dominated out following a VAR examine with Artem Dovbyk deemed offside within the build-up.

There was nothing flawed with Tsignankov’s aim, nonetheless, because the winger struck the winner inside three minutes of being launched at half-time when his curling free-kick eluded everybody within the field, together with a scrambling Caoimhin Kelleher within the Republic aim.

From there, the Republic huffed and puffed however Duffy’s header was the very best probability they may muster, though Knight blasted a shot over the bar in harm time after an acrobatic Duffy effort was blocked.

At full-time, the Ukraine gamers saluted their 3,500 supporters however it was an all-too-familiar sense of deflation for the Irish, who should regroup in time for Scotland’s go to to Dublin on Saturday whereas Ukraine face Armenia in Poland.