The Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s European Championship were dealt a major blow with defeat by Greece in Athens.
The hosts dominated the early stages and opened the scoring through Anastasios Bakasetas’ penalty.
Nathan Collins gave the Republic hope when he equalised from close range before the half-hour mark.
But Giorgos Masouras’ 49th-minute strike means the Irish are without a point after two games in Group B.
The Republic’s misery was compounded when Matt Doherty was shown a straight red card deep in injury time following a clash with the Greece players as Irish frustrations spilled over following a disappointing performance.
While the Republic still have 18 points to play for, they are already six adrift of France and Greece and must visit the French and face the Netherlands home and away.
It is familiar territory for the Republic under boss Stephen Kenny, having also lost the first two games of their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign – a position they failed to recover from.
Even though they are expected to beat Gibraltar at home on Monday to get off the mark, defeat in Athens represents a setback to Kenny’s hopes of qualifying for a first tournament as boss.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Greece
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Vlachodimos
- 2Baldock
- 4Mavropanos
- 17Hatzidiakos
- 21Tsimikas
- 6Kourbelis
- 20MantalosBooked at 35minsSubstituted forSiopisat 90′minutes
- 7Masouras
- 11BakasetasBooked at 76minsSubstituted forTzavellasat 90+4′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10PelkasBooked at 65minsSubstituted forFountasat 71′minutes
- 9PavlidisSubstituted forGiakoumakisat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tzavellas
- 5Retsos
- 8Papanikolaou
- 12Paschalakis
- 13Athanasiadis
- 14Fountas
- 15Rota
- 16Chatzigiovanis
- 18Limnios
- 19Giakoumakis
- 22Douvikas
- 23Siopis
R. of Ireland
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Bazunu
- 12Collins
- 5EganBooked at 88mins
- 20LenihanSubstituted forParrottat 89′minutes
- 2DohertyBooked at 90mins
- 6Cullen
- 14MolumbySubstituted forObafemiat 81′minutes
- 3O’DowdaSubstituted forMcCleanat 53′minutesBooked at 76mins
- 21SmallboneSubstituted forKnightat 53′minutes
- 10IdahSubstituted forJohnstonat 45′minutes
- 7Ferguson
Substitutes
- 4O’Shea
- 8Browne
- 9Obafemi
- 11McClean
- 13Hendrick
- 15Parrott
- 16Kelleher
- 17Knight
- 18McGrath
- 19Johnston
- 22Sykes
- 23Travers
Live Text
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Match ends, Greece 2, Republic of Ireland 1.
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Second Half ends, Greece 2, Republic of Ireland 1.
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Georgios Tzavellas (Greece) is shown the yellow card.
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Matt Doherty (Republic of Ireland) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
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Foul by Michael Obafemi (Republic of Ireland).
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Emmanouil Siopis (Greece) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Greece. Georgios Tzavellas replaces Anastasios Bakasetas.
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Offside, Greece. George Baldock tries a through ball, but Giorgos Masouras is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Matt Doherty (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathan Collins.
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Troy Parrott (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Konstantinos Tsimikas (Greece).
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Substitution, Greece. Emmanouil Siopis replaces Petros Mantalos because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Petros Mantalos (Greece).
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Offside, Greece. Anastasios Bakasetas tries a through ball, but George Baldock is caught offside.
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Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Troy Parrott replaces Darragh Lenihan.
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John Egan (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by John Egan (Republic of Ireland).
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Giorgos Giakoumakis (Greece) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Dimitrios Kourbelis (Greece) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
