Late Robbie Brady strike gives Ireland UEFA Nations League win over Finland
Some supporters booed at half-time, after witnessing an all too passive performance where captain Nathan Collins gifted Finland an early lead with a horrible mistake that was rightly punished by Joel Pohjanpalo
by Paul O'Hehir · Irish MirrorFinland 1-2 Ireland
Ireland fans in Helsinki went through a rollercoaster of emotions watching the Boys in Green produce the good, bad and ugly before Robbie Brady won it at the death.
Some supporters booed at half-time, after witnessing an all too passive performance where captain Nathan Collins gifted Finland an early lead with a horrible mistake that was rightly punished by Joel Pohjanpalo.
But when Liam Scales headed home an equaliser just before the hour mark, those fans were quickly back on board with a performance that was solid, if unspectacular up to that point.
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Finland had two good chances to win it late on and Ireland were certainly let off the hook in that respect, but Brady punished the hosts for wasting those opportunities with a fine 88th minute winner, high into the Finnish net.
With arms outstretched, his giddy run towards the Irish fans behind the goal was reminiscent of his celebration back in Lille, when he scored the late, late winner against Italy that sent Ireland to the Last 16 of Euro 2016.
Ireland’s management team, backroom staff and subs were all off their feet and on the pitch at that moment, celebrating what would be a rare Irish win and a first ever away win in the Nations League.
This needs to be the platform that launches the Heimir Hallgrimsson era. Functional football that was far from perfect but a base to build from and a result that can energise a squad low on confidence and re-engage supporters who were losing faith.
Hallgrimsson deployed a 4-4-1-1 formation with Dara O’Shea shifting to right back; Chiedozie Ogbene and Sammie Szmodics on the wings, and Finn Azaz made his competitive debut playing off lone striker Evan Ferguson.
But while Ireland enjoyed plenty of possession in a first-half devoid of energy and imagination on either side, they carried little or no threat in the final third and the only time they had the ball in the net, it was chalked off.
Brady’s deep free-kick had gone out of play by the time Collins headed it to Ferguson to tap home from two yards out. There was a VAR check but Ferguson’s face told the story as he knew well that the cross had gone out of play.
By then, Ireland were already behind after conceding a needless goal after 17 minutes with Joel Pohjanpalo punishing Collins’ howler. The captain traded defensive one-twos with Liam Scales but, under no great pressure, miscued a backpass to Caoimhin Kelleher. Pohjanpalo couldn’t believe his luck and applied the finish.
Ireland had more possession thereafter, as they tried to snatch an equaliser before the break but their approach wasn’t convincing and Bayer Leverkusen captain Lukas hradecky had very little to do in goal.
While Brady was well positioned on the edge of the area, his shot from an Azaz corner was terribly weak and packed no punch at all. The Preston North End man then drilled a free-kick into the Finnish wall from a similar position, while Ferguson had a scuffed half chance hacked clear.
Finland were no great shakes either but had more about them going forward and Topi Keskinen was winning his duel with Ireland’s makeshift right-back O’Shea. And from one attack, he squared a ball to Pohjanpalo but his shot was straight at Kelleher.
Some fed-up Ireland fans booed at the half-time whistle and, before Scales’ equaliser, could be heard demanding more from a team that were playing all too passively. But they didn’t have long to wait to finally find their voice.
Brady’s free from the right was expertly delivered and the big Celtic defender couldn’t believe the freedom he had in the box to head home his first goal for the Boys in Green. And by now, Ireland were playing with more purpose as they looked to flip the game completely.
But they needed more from some players, like Ogbene. He was struggling to make the impact that Ireland fans know he can and his decision making let him down at times. And yet from one brilliant, surging run down the touchline, he cut a ball back for Ferguson whose shot was saved.
Ireland just needed to tap into that outlet more than they had been, although they were blessed that former Rangers man Glen Kamara squandered a brilliant chance to reclaim the lead from 16-yards, only to blaze the ball high and wide.
Troy Parrott, the in-form striker with six goals in his last six games for AZ Alkmaar, was catapulted into the mix - along with Jamie McGrath - for the closing 20 minutes. And Adam Idah and Festy Ebosele arrived 10 minutes later.
But Finland went close to winning it late on with Tomas Galvez drilling a ball across the face of goal, only for Brady to step up and show him how it’s really done. Ebosele’s ball into the box was quality, and so too was Brady’s finish.
After the final whistle, the Ireland players went to celebrate with the 1000 travelling fans. And after they retreated into the dressing room, Halgrimsson emerged and walked up to them, pointing to the Ireland crest on his jacket before blowing them a kiss.
Ireland have a lot of work to do, but this might be the turning point they needed.
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