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Played
September 3, 2010 4:00 PM BST
Tofig Bakhramov Republican
Referee: Zsolt Szabo
September 3, 2010 4:00 PM BST
Tofig Bakhramov Republican
Referee: Zsolt Szabo
Armenia 0-1 Ireland: Fahey's First Goal For The Boys In Green Seals Vital Away Win
It was not always plain sailing but Giovanni Trapattoni's men come away from Armenia with all three points...
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By Gary Niblock
Keith Fahey's maiden international goal secured an opening win in the Euro 2012 qualifiers for Ireland in Group B against Armenia in Yerevan. The Birmingham City midfielder had replaced Aiden McGeady midway through the second half and it proved to be an inspired substitution by Giovanni Trapattoni.
Before Fahey's ultimately decisive strike, the Irish endured a frustrating evening as their record scorer Robbie Keane spurned two golden chances. The first came in the eighth minute when he latched onto Kevin Doyle's flick on but contrived to shoot wide.
The Spurs striker also struck the post with a weak shot just after the hour mark when the Armenian back four again failed to deal with a long ball forward.
With Ireland's strikers not firing, they needed a hero. After some dogged persistence from Keane and Doyle, Fahey kept his head in the Yerevan heat to blast the ball home into the bottom corner as if he had scored a hatful for his country.
Before the goal, Ireland were the better side and had some opportunities to break the deadlock. Sean St Ledger came close on 22 minutes when his header was beaten away from point-blank range by Roman Berezovsky.
From that corner, Ireland will feel they should have had a penalty when Kevin Kilbane was ostensibly shoved to the ground inside the box however Hungarian referee Szabo Zsolt waved for play to continue.
McGeady, making his first start in over a year, was largely ineffective however he did show glimpses of his ability when he embarked on a mazy run on 28 minutes but his shot flashed wide as once again the Spartak winger's end product was missing.
The Armenians for their part were content to station lots of bodies behind the ball as well as unleash the occasional shot from distance that rarely threatened.
There was a heartstopping moment for Ireland when Richard Dunne's looping header almost found its way into his own goal but with Shay Given scrambling, it landed inches over the bar.
Despite a sustained spell of pressure in the closing stages, Ireland held firm when often in the past they have suffered heartbreak conceding late goals.
Armenia travel to Macedonia on Tuesday meanwhile Ireland have a more comfortable looking tie against Andorra in the Aviva Stadium.
Before Fahey's ultimately decisive strike, the Irish endured a frustrating evening as their record scorer Robbie Keane spurned two golden chances. The first came in the eighth minute when he latched onto Kevin Doyle's flick on but contrived to shoot wide.
The Spurs striker also struck the post with a weak shot just after the hour mark when the Armenian back four again failed to deal with a long ball forward.
With Ireland's strikers not firing, they needed a hero. After some dogged persistence from Keane and Doyle, Fahey kept his head in the Yerevan heat to blast the ball home into the bottom corner as if he had scored a hatful for his country.
Before the goal, Ireland were the better side and had some opportunities to break the deadlock. Sean St Ledger came close on 22 minutes when his header was beaten away from point-blank range by Roman Berezovsky.
From that corner, Ireland will feel they should have had a penalty when Kevin Kilbane was ostensibly shoved to the ground inside the box however Hungarian referee Szabo Zsolt waved for play to continue.
Robbie Keane| Lacking sharpness
McGeady, making his first start in over a year, was largely ineffective however he did show glimpses of his ability when he embarked on a mazy run on 28 minutes but his shot flashed wide as once again the Spartak winger's end product was missing.
The Armenians for their part were content to station lots of bodies behind the ball as well as unleash the occasional shot from distance that rarely threatened.
There was a heartstopping moment for Ireland when Richard Dunne's looping header almost found its way into his own goal but with Shay Given scrambling, it landed inches over the bar.
Despite a sustained spell of pressure in the closing stages, Ireland held firm when often in the past they have suffered heartbreak conceding late goals.
Armenia travel to Macedonia on Tuesday meanwhile Ireland have a more comfortable looking tie against Andorra in the Aviva Stadium.
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