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Republic of Ireland are next in action when they face off Ukraine on Tuesday in Poland, while Scotland are also on the road against Armenia in their next Group B1 clash.
Republic of Ireland are off the mark in the Nations League in the 2022-23 campaign after easing past Scotland by a 3-0 margin at the Aviva Stadium. Alan Browne put the home side ahead from close range before Troy Parrott nodded home a second following fine work from Michael Obafemi. The two combined again for the third early in the second half as Obafemi found the net with a stunning strike from distance to secure the three points. Scotland were made to rue missed opportunities in the first half, but Steve Clarke and his team will be bitterly disappointed with the level of their performance.
90' + 4' FULL-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 3-0 SCOTLAND
90' + 2' WIDE! Stewart rises to attack a cross from Armstrong from the edge of the box, but the forward glances his header wide of the right post.
90' There will be four minutes of added time.
89' The resulting free-kick from the visitors comes to nothing. Scotland have not been at it in the final third today.
C. Robinson
Yellow Card
88' Robinson slides in hard on Armstrong on the left flank and goes into the book. A needless one from the Ireland forward.
C. Robinson
T. Parrott
85' Parrott enjoyed a fine outing with a goal and an assist. He is now replaced by Robinson.
J. Hendrick
J. Molumby
84' Molumby is withdrawn for the home side and is replaced in the middle of the park by Hendrick.
83' BLOCK! Stewart latches on to a cutback from Robertson and turns to strike on his left foot, but his effort is deflected behind by Molumby on the slide.
81' Ireland are in game management mode now. Although the win is already secure, Kenny will want his team to complete the job with a clean sheet.
79' The hosts have not been asked to work too hard at the back. Indeed, Scotland's best openings came from mistakes in defence from Ireland. Clarke and his players will not want to look back at this game.
77' Scotland win a corner down the left flank, but the delivery from Robertson sails out of the penalty area without threatening the home side.
75' Armstrong raids down the left flank and beats Collins for pace. He angles a cross into the box, but it has too much height and pace for Stewart to connect with at the back post.
J. Souttar
S. McKenna
74' Souttar replaces McKenna at the back for the visitors for the final 16 minutes.
73' Robertson swings a cross into the box from the left flank that Brown attacks and wins his header against McClean at the back post, but Kelleher makes a comfortable stop.
C. Hourihane
J. Knight
72' Knight has been energetic all over the field and is now withdrawn for Hourihane for the final 18 minutes.
69' Parrott is played into space down the inside-right channel and he fires a dangerous low ball into the middle, but Gordon gets off his line to make a vital stop.
67' Scotland have made changes, but have not been able to put any pressure on the home side in the second half. Clarke will be disappointed with their performance today.
65' Ireland are really leaving it all out there on the field. Scotland are not being given a moment in possession as Gordon is closed down by Knight as he attempts to clear a backpass from McKenna, but the ball travels out for a goal-kick.
63' There was a VAR check on the clearance from Duffy to ensure that the ball did not cross the line from Hogan's header, but the decision was confirmed.
62' OFF THE LINE! Hogan heads McClean's cross to the back post from the left flank beyond Gordon, but Duffy just gets a boot there just in time to slice it clear on the line.
61' Robertson opts against a strike at goal and clips a cross to the back post, but Kelleher makes an assertive decision and claims the ball.
S. Duffy
Yellow Card
60' Robertson intercepts a poor pass from Duffy and the defender needs to atone for his mistake by bringing down the Scotland captain on the charge on the edge of the box. He goes into the book for his challenge and hands the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position.
J. Brown
R. Christie
59' Christie is withdrawn after a decent outing and is now replaced by Brown.
R. Stewart
C. Adams
59' Stewart replaces Adams to lead the line for the visitors.
S. Armstrong
J. McGinn
59' McGinn endured a poor outing with two bad misses in the final third. Armstrong replaces the midfielder.
58' Scotland's hopes of getting anything out of the game appear to have been extinguished. Clarke still needs to see a committed effort from his team in the final third of this game.
S. Hogan
M. Obafemi
56' Hogan enters the action to replace the ailing Obafemi for Ireland.
55' Obafemi is down for the home side and requires treatment on an apparent groin injury. It's a shame because he has been outstanding today with a goal and an assist.
53' Ireland have unleashed a potent response to their back-to-back defeats. It has been the perfect remedy for Kenny to respond to criticism of his team.
T. Parrott
Assist
51' Parrott works a simple offload to Obafemi, who does the rest with a sublime strike.
M. Obafemi
Goal
51' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! OBAFEMI SCORES A STUNNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3-0 IRELAND!!!!!!! The home side take a decisive 3-0 lead in the courtesy of a super strike from 25 yards from Obafemi. Gilmour loses possession in the Scotland half before Parrott works the ball to Obafemi. The striker turns and goes for the blast with Gordon off his line and finds the back of the net with a sensational effort.
48' Scotland press down the left flank and win a corner as Duffy has to head behind. However, the resulting set-piece from Robertson is cleared by the home side.
46' We're back under way at the Aviva Stadium.
B. Gilmour
J. Hendry
46' Clarke makes an attacking change at the break as Gilmour replaces Hendry.
Steve Clarke will be disappointed with his side's clinical edge in the first half. They were exposed at the back by the home side, and failed to take their opportunities in the final third. There has not been a lot between the teams, although fates in competitions are decided by small margins. After back-to-back defeats, Stephen Kenny will be urging his side to complete the job in the second half and get off the mark in the Nations League.
Republic of Ireland hold a 2-0 lead over Scotland at half-time in their Nations League B1 clash at the Aviva Stadium. Alan Browne put the home side ahead from close range after Shane Duffy won a header from a James McClean corner. Michael Obafemi then released Troy Parrott to extend their advantage with a well-placed header. Scotland had chances, but were unable to capitalise on Irish mistakes at the back.
45' + 2' HALF-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2-0 SCOTLAND
45' + 2' McGinn lines up the resulting free-kick, but his delivery is cleared by the Ireland defence with Duffy winning a vital header.
45' + 1' Egan brings down Adams in the Ireland half and it will have Scotland a chance to send a free-kick into the home side's penalty area.
45' There will be one minute of added time.
R. Christie
Yellow Card
44' Christie wipes out Knight on the counter and goes into the book.
43' Robertson collects in space down the left flank and tries to place a first-time cross into the box that Collins deflects behind for a corner.
41' Ireland have not overwhelmed the visitors with free-flowing football, but their clinical edge has put them in command as we approach the break.
39' Robertson angles a cross into the box from the left flank that McGinn tries to steer towards goal, but his effort is deflected behind by Egan.
38' Hanley has to be alert at the back post to head another dangerous corner behind for McClean. Scotland are not coping well with Ireland's set-pieces.
36' SAVE! McClean lifts his corner deep to the back post from the left flank where Duffy rises highest. He powers a header at goal, but Gordon makes a fine save to turn the ball over at his near post.
36' WIDE! Knight runs at the Scotland defence and brushes off Christie's challenge. He fires at goal, but his effort is deflected wide of the target by the sliding Hanley.
35' Adams probes at the Ireland defence and goes down under a challenge from Collins. However, the flag goes up for offside against the forward late. Nothing is going right for Scotland so far.
34' McGinn is wasteful in the final third once more as he collects in space on the right flank, but puts too much power on his left-footed cross and sends it behind for a goal-kick.
33' Scotland press down the left flank as Robertson wins a corner off the legs of Collins. The visitors need to answer back here.
31' Both sides have had chances in the game, but the difference is that Ireland have converted their openings, while Scotland have failed. McGinn will feel that he has let his team down with that last miss.
30' Ireland have scored as many goals in the opening 28 minutes of this game as they had in their previous 12 Nations League matches.
M. Obafemi
Assist
28' Obafemi collects in the Scotland half in a central position and lifts a perfect ball into the box for Parrott to attack and score.
T. Parrott
Goal
28' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! PARROTT DOUBLES IRELAND'S LEAD!!!!! 2-0!!!!!! Ireland double their advantage through a deft header from Parrott in the box. Obafemi leads Ireland forward before lifting a precise ball over the top between Hendry and Hanley for the run of Parrott. The forward holds his composure amid the onrushing Gordon, nodding his effort over the keeper into the back of the net.
27' MISS! McGinn has to score! Ireland give the ball away at the back and Christie seizes possession and feeds McGinn on the edge of the box. The midfielder has time and space to pick his spot, but he places his left-footed strike wide of the left post. That's two chances spurned by the Aston Villa man.
26' Ralston raids down the right flank and digs out a threatening cross to the back post that Browne heads behind for a corner.
24' Ireland have not been at their best so far in the contest, but have a vital lead. It will give Kenny's team a shot of confidence after a poor start to the Nations League.
22' Republic of Ireland ended a run of 705 minutes without a goal in the Nations League, their longest since going 413 minutes without scoring from 6th September 2018 to 3rd September 2020
S. Duffy
Assist
20' Duffy rises at the back post to direct McClean's corner back into a dangerous spot where Browne converts.
A. Browne
Goal
20' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! BROWNE BUNDLES THE BALL HOME!!!!!!!! 1-0 IRELAND!!!! Browne is on the spot in the six-yard box to bundle the ball home from a corner. McClean angles his cross deep to the back post from the right flank where Duffy heads it back into the middle. Browne is the first to react and he uses his knee to force the ball past Gordon from close range.
19' McClean does well down the left flank as he cuts back on to his right foot before delivering a precise cross to the back post that McKenna has to head away from the lurking presence of Obafemi.
17' Ireland have not been able to break down Scotland at the back as McTominay has provided a very effective shield in the early stages of the game.
15' Scotland are growing into the game and are looking to capitalise on the home side's desire to play the ball out from the back.
13' SAVE! Duffy plays a loose pass out from the back straight to Christie, who offloads first-time to McGinn on the edge of the box. He fires low and hard on his left foot, but not far enough away from Kelleher, who makes a comfortable stop.
12' CHANCE! Ralston gets the better of McClean down the right flank and fires a dangerous low ball across the face of goal. It evades Christie, but finds Robertson at the back post, only to see his effort charged down by Browne.
11' BLOCK! McGregor rolls the ball into the path of Adams in the final third and he takes a neat first touch before seeing his strike blocked by Collins.
10' Hanley loses out under pressure from Obafemi and it allows Ireland to pressure the visitors. Knight feeds McClean down the left flank, but he overhits his delivery out for a goal-kick.
8' Hendry has space to place a long ball behind the Ireland defence, but he overhits his deep pass straight at Kelleher.
6' Ireland have settled into the game well and are knocking the ball around the pitch in a composed manner amid a high press from the visitors.
4' SAVE! Browne cuts in from the right flank and angles a low ball to the back post towards Knight that Gordon has to turn away from the bottom-left corner.
2' McTominay requires treatment on the field, but appears to be okay as he stretches out his right leg.
1' Knight tries to burst past McTominay, but catches the midfielder on the ankle and gives away a free-kick to the visitors.
1' We're under way at the Aviva Stadium.
This will be the first meeting between Republic of Ireland and Scotland since June 2015 at the Aviva Stadium in a Euro 2016 qualifier – the game ended 1-1 with Jon Walters netting for the Boys in Green and Scotland later equalising through a John O’Shea own-goal.
Scotland have made two changes to their side from their win over Armenia in their last match. Hanley comes into the side in the back three in place of Souttar, while McTominay comes into the midfield to replace Armstrong. McGinn is likely to push forward to support Christie and Adams in the final third.
Ireland have made five changes to their side that was beaten by Ukraine in their last outing. McClean, Browne, Molumby, Parrott and Obafemi all start for the home side as Christie, Stevens, Robinson, Hendrick and Chiedozie Ogbene make way, with the latter missing out on a place on the bench.
SCOTLAND SUBS: Nathan Patterson, John Souttar, Ross Stewart, Robby McCrorie, Billy Gilmour, Greg Taylor, Stuart Armstrong, David Turnbull, Jacob Brown, Allan Campbell, Liam Kelly, Aaron Hickey.
SCOTLAND (3-4-3): Craig Gordon; Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Grant Hanley; Anthony Ralston, Scott McTominay, Callum McGregor, Andy Robertson; John McGinn, Ryan Christie, Che Adams.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SUBS: Cyrus Christie, Enda Stevens, Callum Robinson, Conor Hourihane, Will Keane, Jeff Hendrick, Max O'Leary, Dara O'Shea, Scott Hogan, CJ Hamilton, Darragh Lenihan, Mark Travers.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-3-3): Caoimhin Kelleher; Nathan Collins, Shane Duffy, John Egan, James McClean; Alan Browne, Josh Cullen, Jayson Molumby; Troy Parrott, Michael Obafemi, Jason Knight.
Scotland kicked off their Nations League campaign with a 2-0 win over Armenia courtesy of goals from Anthony Ralston and Scott McKenna at Hampden Park. Steve Clarke's men responded well to their disappointment of missing out on a place at the World Cup after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in their playoff encounter. A second win in a row in the Nations League would provide the Scots with momentum to take forward into the competition.
Republic of Ireland have suffered back-to-back defeats to start their Nations League Group B1 campaign. They suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Armenia on the road before being beaten by Ukraine on home soil in their last outing. Stephen Kenny's men are under pressure to turn their record around, but it will be far from an easy task against the Scots.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the Nations League clash between Republic of Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.
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