The Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying hopes suffered a major blow as they fell to a dismal but deserved defeat by Armenia in Yerevan.
Three years on from a shock Nations League loss to the same opponents, the Republic of Ireland were again humbled by a side ranked 105th – 45 places below them – in the world.
Eduard Spertsyan – who scored the winner in 2022 – put Armenia ahead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins fouled Lucas Zelarayan.
The away side’s woes deepened when Grant-Leon Ranos doubled Armenia’s lead six minutes into the second half.
While Evan Ferguson quickly pulled a goal back, the Republic of Ireland were spared further embarrassment when Artur Serobyan’s late strike was ruled out for offside.
After a home draw with Hungary in Saturday’s opening qualifier, yesterday’s result will serve as a hammer blow for Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson’s hopes of leading the team to their first World Cup since 2002.
The Irish started the game brightly, with Ferguson’s lobbed effort headed off the line by Erik Piloyan after Armenia keeper Ognjen Cancarevic spilled the ball and was left stranded.
Jack Taylor, who replaced the injured Sammie Szmodics in the visitors’ line-up, was also denied when Cancarevic saved his low shot at the near post.
But Armenia grew into the game, and after Ranos rattled the crossbar, Spertsyan drove his penalty past Caoimhin Kelleher, who was beaten for the second time when Ranos pounced on Nair Tiknizyan’s cross early in the second half.
Worryingly for Hallgrimsson, Ferguson’s fine sweeping finish was the only moment of quality his players mustered in the final third in response.
Now, with one point from two games and a couple of daunting Group F matches against Portugal still to come, Irish hopes of ending their long wait for a return to football’s biggest stage are already hanging by a thread.