The Republic of Ireland secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Finland in the Nations League, courtesy of Evan Ferguson’s decisive header and a heroic penalty save by Caoimhin Kelleher. The win at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium rounded off a double over the Finns, following Ireland’s earlier success in Helsinki.
Ferguson’s Key Moment
Evan Ferguson continued his fine form for Ireland, heading home just before the break to claim his fourth international goal. Mikey Johnston provided the assist, showcasing his creativity by weaving past defenders and delivering an inch-perfect cross for Ferguson to nod in.
The goal came as a relief after an intense first half in which Finland twice hit the woodwork. Robin Lod’s curling effort struck the post, while Oliver Antman saw his shot deflected onto the same post by Nathan Collins. Ireland, despite having less possession, looked dangerous on the break, with Ferguson and Sammie Szmodics leading the charge.
Szmodics thought he had opened the scoring early on, rounding Finland’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and slotting home, but the flag went up for offside.
Heroics from Kelleher
The second half saw Finland intensify their push for an equaliser. Ireland’s defence, marshalled by Nathan Collins and Matt Doherty, held firm, but a moment of drama arrived in the 77th minute. VAR adjudged Ferguson to have handled the ball inside the box, gifting Finland a penalty.
Caoimhin Kelleher rose to the occasion, diving to his right to parry Joel Pohjanpalo’s well-struck spot-kick. The Liverpool keeper then displayed lightning reflexes to deny Robin Lod’s rebound attempt, preserving Ireland’s slender lead.
Kelleher’s crucial saves not only secured the win but highlighted his growing reputation as one of Europe’s most promising goalkeepers.
Finland’s Missed Chances
The Finns created several opportunities to draw level, with substitute Pohjanpalo missing two golden chances. First, he scooped a close-range effort over the bar, and in stoppage time, he failed to connect with Teemu Pukki’s sublime pass, effectively ending Finland’s hopes.
Ireland, meanwhile, almost doubled their lead late on when Szmodics forced a low save from Hradecky, but the single goal proved enough.
What’s Next?
England’s victory over Greece confirmed Ireland’s third-place finish in Group B2, setting up a play-off berth next year. Finland, on the other hand, face the disappointment of relegation after a campaign of missed opportunities.
This result not only highlighted the Republic’s defensive resilience but also their potential in attack, driven by emerging talents like Ferguson and the reliability of Kelleher in goal. As they prepare for the play-offs, confidence will be high following this determined performance.
