Ireland record convincing win over Israel in controversial clash

UEFA Nations League Group B

Israel 0-3 Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland picked up their first win of the UEFA Nations League campaign after beating Israel 3-0 in a controversial fixture at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary.

First-half goals from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan proved enough for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side to take all three points, after losing their opener in Kosovo 1-0 on Thursday.

The match in Debrecen was played out in front of a limited attendance inside the 20,340-seater venue.

As had been confirmed in Saturday’s pre-match press conference, the Irish team entered the pitch wearing black armbands in recognition of “all lives lost in the conflict”.

During the Israeli anthem, they bowed their heads and there were no handshakes between the sets of players afterwards, nor between captains Dara O’Shea and Manor Solomon.

There were also no customary pennant exchanges.

Kick-off at the Nagyerdei Stadion followed a tense day in Debrecen on its eve. On Saturday morning, the scheduled press conference and training session was postponed shortly before it was due to start.

It later emerged that goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had communicated a wish to withdraw from the match, which led to a four-hour long player meeting at the team hotel.

The squad ultimately voted to proceed with the game, with FAI CEO David Courell subsequently saying at the rescheduled pre-match press conference later that afternoon that it had passed “by a significant majority”.

Hallgrimsson made five changes to the team that had started in Kosovo on Thursday.

At the back, John Egan and Liam Scales were replaced by Liam Kitching and Ryan Manning. Kitching, who is on loan at Sheffield United from newly promoted Premier League outfit Coventry, was making his first appearance for Ireland.

In midfield, Conor Coventry came in for Jason Knight, while Jack Moylan and Adam Idah started in place of Finn Azaz and Chiedozie Ogbene respectively.

Molumby had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute, firing a half-volley over the bar from just outside the box.

But seven minutes later, Parrott gave the Boys in Green the lead. The breakthrough goal came when Molumby crossed from the right.

The ball deflected to wing-back James Abankwah in the box and he squared it for Real Betis striker Parrott who fired a low shot under the goalkeeper.

Idah doubled the lead in the 15th minute after Jack Moylan played a through ball and the Swansea forward raced through to finish beyond the on-rushing keeper.

Caoimhin Kelleher prevented Israel from pulling one back three minutes later, diving to his right to save Anan Khalaili’s in-swinging goal-bound cross.

Moylan made it 3-0 in the 25th minute. The ball fell to him 40 yards out before he powered down the inside right channel and placed a low shot into the opposite corner of the net.

Five minutes into the second half, Kelleher denied Israel with a super save, leaping to his right to prevent half-time substitute Dor Peretz – now wearing the Israeli captain’s armband – from finding the net after a pull-back to the edge of the box from Solomon.

The Brentford goalkeeper made another fingertip save shortly after to divert away Eliel Peretz’s dipping shot from range.

At the other end, his fellow Corkman Idah forced a corner with a low shot from outside the box which was tipped around the near post.

Idah went close again on 56 minutes after O’Shea got his head onto a deep Conor Coventry ball into the box and directed it across goal. However, Idah was not able to keep his own header low.

On 58 minutes, Idah and Raz Shlomo were both yellow carded after a brief altercation which saw the Ireland striker react after a foul by the Israel defender.

Abankwah miscued just off target from the right side of the box just after the hour after Molumby tried to tee the Udinese defender up.

Solomon, similarly, was off target at the other end after the ball fell to him just inside the Irish box.

In the latter stages, Joel Bagan made his senior debut after coming on in the 87th minute, while Conor Coventry was booked shortly after for a foul on Idan Toclomiti.

There were few clear-cut chances in those final minutes as Ireland held on for the win.

They will next face Austria at Aviva Stadium on Thursday, before taking on Israel in a designated ‘home’ game behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, next Sunday.

Israel: Daniel Peretz; Anan Khalaili (Eli Dasa ‘76), Guy Mizrahi (Dor Peretz ‘46), Raz Shlomo, Nikita Stoinov, Roy Revivo (Ilay Feingold ‘83); Gabi Kanichowsky (Ethan Azoulay ‘64), Eliel Peretz, Manor Solomon (c); Dor Turgeman (Idan Toclomiti ‘64), Oscar Gloukh.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; James Abankwah (Jason Knight ‘68), Jake O’Brien, Dara O’Shea (c), Liam Kitching, Ryan Manning; Jayson Molumby (Joel Bagan ‘87), Conor Coventry; Jack Moylan (Killian Phillips ‘68); Adam Idah (Tom Cannon ‘68), Troy Parrott (Rocco Vata ‘76).