Lacklustre Ireland succumb to late loss in Kosovo

UEFA Nations League Group B

Kosovo 1-0 Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland opened their Uefa Nations League campaign in deflating fashion as Kosovo ran out deserved winners in Thursday’s Group B3 opener in Pristina.

Having troubled the Irish defence throughout the game, striker Vedat Muriqi headed the winner seven minutes from time after Ermal Krasniqi’s initial effort came back off the crossbar.

While the Irish players claimed Dara O’Shea had been pushed by Muriqi in the build-up, the goal stood following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

The Republic of Ireland, playing their first competitive game since March’s World Cup play-off semi-final loss to the Czech Republic, managed only one shot on target in a largely toothless display.

Chiedozie Ogbene spurned the away side’s best chance in the 22nd minute when he blazed a shot over the bar after being teed up by James Abankwah.

“They deserved the win if I’m absolutely honest,” said Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson.

“There was nothing we didn’t know about how they’d play but it was an off day for a lot of our players.”

Hallgrimsson’s team move on to Sunday’s controversial game against Israel – the first of two meetings over the next 10 days – which has dominated the build-up to this international window.

The build-up to Thursday’s game – a first senior international between Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland – was not without difficulties for either side.

The hosts were forced to deal with captain Amir Rrahmani’s abrupt retirement after he fell out with the Football Federation of Kosovo.

The Republic of Ireland’s preparations, meanwhile, were overshadowed by the ongoing controversy over the upcoming fixtures against Israel, the prospect of which Hallgrimsson said has made his players uncomfortable.

Before leading his players into Sunday’s first meeting with Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, Hallgrimsson was tasked with overseeing a winning start to their latest Nations League campaign.

Speaking before the game, Hallgrimsson said his decision to field a back five – which included a first competitive start for Udinese’s Abankwah – was a show of respect to Kosovo.

But even with a defensive line-up his side struggled against their energetic hosts.

For Kosovo – who were one win away from qualifying for this year’s World Cup – Baton Zabergja was a dangerous outlet down the left flank, while the physical Muriqi proved a handful for the Irish defence from the outset.

ndeed, the visitors barely emerged from the first half unscathed. Jayson Molumby produced a superb goalline clearance to deny Muriqi before the Fenerbahce frontman drew a flying save from Caoimhin Kelleher.

There was nothing Kelleher could do to stop Muriqi in the closing stages, however, as he headed home to spark joyous celebrations at Fadil Vokrri Stadium.

In contrast, the Republic of Ireland offered little going forward with Troy Parrott, whose goals powered Hallgrimsson’s side to the World Cup play-offs, a peripheral figure outside of his back-post header early in the second half which was easily saved.

That was after Ogbene – who scored the equaliser in a friendly draw with World Cup co-hosts Canada in June – spurned a great chance in the opening half.

The Republic of Ireland now switch focus to Sunday’s game with Israel in Hungary (19:45 BST), the preparations for which include a squad meeting on Friday to discuss how they will approach the contentious fixture after calls for them to boycott both matches.

“I couldn’t say now, it’s difficult to measure that one,” Hallgrimsson said when asked if the intense focus on the Israel games had contributed to a poor performance in Pristina.