Keith Fahey's first senior international goal got the Republic of
Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign off to a winning start in a
tight encounter which finished 1-0 in Armenia.
- Armenia 0-1 Republic of Ireland: As it happened
The Birmingham
midfielder struck 14 minutes from time and just eight minutes after
replacing Aiden McGeady to edge his side past an Armenian side which
proved just as dangerous as manager Giovanni Trapattoni had predicted.
Skipper Robbie Keane had earlier seen a strike ruled out for offside and hit the post, but Fahey's contribution proved enough.
Ireland
were almost caught on the counter early on when Henrikh Mkhitaryan
played midfielder Edgar Malakyan in on the left, although the green
shirts got back quickly to quell a potentially dangerous attack.
The
Republic perhaps should have been in front with eight minutes gone when
Kevin Doyle flicked Shay Given's clearance perfectly into Keane's
well-timed run. However, with just keeper Roman Berezovsky to beat, he
smashed his first-time volley agonisingly wide.
It then took a
fine save from Berezovsky to keep out Sean St Ledger's 22nd-minute
header. Keane thought he had put the visitors in front 10 minutes
before - but was ruled offside - and the appealrf in vain for a
40th-minute penalty after going down under Robert Arzumanyan's
challenge.
The Republic were making little headway going forward,
and with Armenia sensing an opportunity, they were coming under
increasing pressure at the back. Given had to get down well to collect
Mkhitaryan's well-struck 61st-minute effort, but his side almost took
the lead two minutes later.
Keane once again found space inside
the box and with just Berezovsky to beat once again, looked odds-on to
score. However, he dragged his left-footed shot and although it beat
the goalkeeper, it came back off the post.
Keith Fahey had
earlier replaced McGeady, and it was he who finally made the
breakthrough 14 minutes from time when, after Keane and Doyle had made
nuisances of themselves inside the box, blasting past the keeper.
The
home side threw everything they had at the Republic as the final
whistle approached, but the visitors held out to claim the three points
for which they came.
Source: DSG