As it happened: Evan Ferguson keeps Ireland's World Cup hopes alive with win over 10-man Armenia
Evan Ferguson celebrates after scoring. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.
Oh how Ireland needed that. It wasn't pretty but that doesn't matter, Ireland still in with a chance of going to the World Cup heading into November.
Stay tuned to our website for John Fallon's on the whistle match report, Brendan O'Brien's comment as well as player ratings and reaction from the Irish camp.
Thanks for following, roll on November then. Portugal at home, Hungary away, a playoff place still at stake.
Thank you Jayson Molumby, he wins Ireland a throw close to the corner.
Ireland looking for a second when they should just head to the corner.
Hungary equalise in Lisbon! Dominik Szoboszlai.
Festy named man of the match. Ireland with a throw-in now in their own half.
Manning taking all the time in the world to get over to the corner.
Ireland have a corner. They should keep it there for 5 more minutes.
VAR checking but looks like Idah was offside in the build-up. And he was. No goal.
Armenia head the corner clear and Ireland have the ball in their own half.
Ireland close to a second but Idah can't convert Ogbene's square ball. It's out for a corner though.
Who else but Evan Ferguson to put Ireland ahead? Becomes first player since Robbie Keane in 2014 to score in four consecutive home matches. 5 mins left vs 10 man Armenia.
Ireland with like a 4 on 2 there by Idah can't finish the move because of another stunning stop by the Armenia keeper.
WHAT A SAVE AGAIN BY AVAGYAN!
Here's how the Aviva celebrated Ferguson's goal.
Ireland fans celebrate after Evan Ferguson’s goal! pic.twitter.com/DcZGuZpqj4
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 14, 2025
Just as an update, Portugal still lead Hungary 2-1 in Lisbon. Ronaldo with both goals there.
Ireland subs. Idah and Taylor for Ferguson and Smallbone.
Ogbene leads Ireland on the counter attack and wins a corner but Collins can't direct the ball towards goal from the set piece.
42,292 the attendance tonight.
Armenia keeping the ball now, Ireland can't let them grow into the game.
Here's a look at Ferguson's goal that has Ireland in front.
Ferguson buries his chance this time. Superb cross from the left and Ferguson heads home from a few yards out. Big goal for Ireland.
Big chance for Evan Ferguson. Brilliant turn by Azaz and a lovely through ball. The Roma forward gets the ball out of his feet but can only drill the ball at the keeper.
Double change for Ireland. Ogbene for Festy and Parrott for Coleman.
Watch that incredible save below.
Good work by Festy but he fails to pick out a man in the box. Ball eventually falls to Molumby but he fires wide on the turn.
That’s the fourth red card for an Armenian player in their last three visits to Dublin. Ireland won both previous game through second half goals.
Red card! Armenia down to 10 men. pic.twitter.com/0u9fT9kUug
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 14, 2025
The crowd has found it's voice, at long last.
The keeper is down getting treatment. Both teams head to the dugout, almost like a time out now. Hallgrimsson should make a change or two. Attack. It's there to be won now.
Somehow Ireland don't score. Brilliant header by O'Shea to the far bottom left corner, incredible save by the keeper Avagyan and Collins can't bundle it home.
Ireland corner.
Nathan Collins' looping header is turned onto the post by the keeper and O'Shea can't sort out his feet to apply the finish. Came to him akwardly off the defender in fairness.
Barseghyan is shown a straight red card for a headbutt on Azaz. Ireland have to make the most of this now.
Bit of a scuffle after that as Coleman challenges the keeper. He then tackles the ball out of play and urges the crowd to lift the noise.
Good play by Coleman down the right. Cross to the back post by Smallbone is headed into the arms of the keeper by Azaz. Difficult chance though, no pace on the cross.
Half-time: The fact Troy Parrott and Adam Idah both still have their coats on during the interval kickabout by substitutes suggests there’ll be no immediate attacking reinforcement for the second half.
It’s a win or bust situation for Ireland to finish second in the group – maybe not technically – and this golden opportunity to thrust themselves into the mix cannot be lost.
Zero attempts on goal in the opening 49 minutes against the team ranked 103 in the world should be alerting management to a flawed approach. Unlike Saturday’s gameplan in Portugal, this isn’t working.
The gaps between Evan Ferguson and his two supporting No 10s, Azaz and Ebosele, are too large. Neither wing-back are sufficiently advanced to be effective as an attacking force while Jayson Molumby, understandably, is shadowing Eduard Spertsyan.
The teams are back out on the pitch as "Shipping off to Boston" rings out on the PA. They won't be shipping off to America for the World Cup if they don't find a winner.
Half time and it remains 0-0. Pretty poor overall from Ireland, decent start but not much else. 45% possession for the hosts and no shots on target.
Grim.
Maybe we're set for a onslaught in the second half similar to the Hungary match here.
That would be nice. That is very much needed as well.
Half time in Lisbon as well. Portugal 2 Hungary 1.
Another big goal in the other group game and Portugal now lead Hungary in Lisbon. 2-1. Ronaldo again. Taking his frustration from the Ireland match out on the Hungarians.
Armenia have pretty much had the ball for the entire injury time. No late surge from Ireland before the break.
Ferguson could be doing more in general but you have to feel sorry for him as well. The amount of times he should be picked out but isn't...
Wasted opportunity there to create an opportunity. Wild, wayward pass from the Armenia defence but Azaz rushes his pass to Ferguson when he could've burst into the space.
Festy does well again and wins Ireland a free, bit out the pitch though, and a bit too straight. Smallbone's free is tamely headed into the arms of the keeper.
Azaz goes down before heading to the touchline. Should be ok to continue.
Armenia almost take the lead, by far the best chance of the half for either side but the excellent Spertsyan can't direct his volley on target when picked out in acres of space at the back post by Hovhannisyan. Let-off for Ireland.
Nervy moment there as Collins was waiting for Kelleher to come for it but he wasn't. Usually the Cork man is quick from his line but he does gather before the Armenia forward can nip in.
Break in play as Armenia's Barseghyan gets a bandage wrapped around his head. Home fans not happy, he was right next to the touchline.
At the half hour mark and some early promise by Ireland faded into that familiar sight of a visiting side gaining a foothold in midfield.
Retaining the back five system is clearly designed to avoid Armenia dominating that area again. We’ve still awaiting either goalkeeper to be properly tested and it’s interesting that Armenian stopper Henri Avagyan is relying on Styopa Mkrtchyan to take the goal kicks.
That numerical advantage should facilitate Ireland snapping the press but the white-shirted visitors have been able to play out without penetrating.
Their dangerman Eduard Spertsyan was camped back in his own half for the first 10 minutes but displayed his first dollop of class on 17 by swapping passes with Grant-Leon Ranos on his way towards the box before drilling a shot straight at Caoimhín Kelleher.
Finn Azaz, restored to the team after being left idle in Lisbon on Saturday, has been lively without being incisive but the other No 10 behind Evan Ferguson, Festy Ebosele, has struggled.
He’s been delegated with long throw-in duties instead of Jake O’Brien but his impact in the final third has been non-existent.
We may see Chiedozie Ogbene unleashed in a like-for-like sub – sooner rather than later if the chances fail to materialise.
Irish fans can at least by thankful for Cristiano Ronaldo helping the other side of the equation required to keep Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side relevant in next month’s final double-header. Unless there’s a win here, though, whatever Portugal do is irrelevant for Ireland.
Some chanting and drumming coming from the away end. Not sure what exactly they're saying but I'm sure they're pleased with their side so far.
Festy charges forward but appears to lose his footing trying to beat another man. Pity, he had taken Molumby's pass lovely on the turn.
Another goal in Lisbon and Ronaldo has equalised for Portugal. 1-1, 22minutes played there.
Festy claims a long ball over the top and battles to win Ireland another free in a decent position to cross from the right.
More like it from Ebosele. He beats his man and his low cross makes his way to Manning but he drags his shot back across the face of goal and wide.
Eduard Spertsyan's tame shot from the edge of the box is easily saved by Kelleher. Decent enough opening for the visitors there.
Chants of Ireland ringing out now. Second time I've jinxed it so far tonight. I sure can't see Ireland scoring anytime soon though...
Poor layoff by Festy Ebosele greeted with groans from the home fans. Pretty flat in here now.
Armenia growing into this now, keeping the ball well. And now they've lost it. I didn't mean to curse them there, not really.
Goal in the other game in this group and Hungary lead 1-0 away to Portugal.
Ferguson looks to bully his way through the defence but the visitors clear their lines.
Pre-match atmosphere pic.twitter.com/tTdnlmrNnK
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 14, 2025
Decent start this from Ireland. Pressing their opponents, getting struck in.
Big chance for O'Brien from the corner but he gets his header all wrong. Seemed to time his jump too early.
Smallbone whips his free to the back post and it is cleared for a corner with Ferguson rising high.
Coleman's crunching tackle loudly appreciated by the Irish fans. Now he wins a free over on the right in a good position for a cross.
Ireland on the attack but Azaz can't latch onto O'Shea's long pass.
7.44pm And another powerful rendition of the Wild Rover, second time that's been sung following on from its debut before the Hungary match.
Powerful rendition of the Irish national anthem.
The teams are in the tunnel. Follow us on Instagram to get a taste of the atmosphere.
A reminder of the Ireland team for tonight. Two changes from the loss to Portugal.
Kelleher, Coleman, O'Shea, O'Brien, Collins, Manning, Molumby, Smallbone, Azaz, Ebosele, Ferguson.
Bazunu, Travers, Dunne, Egan, Ferry, Coventry, Taylor, Ogbene, Johnston, McAteer, Idah, Parrott.
The teams have returned to their dressing rooms and the stadium is slowly, and belatedly starting to fill up.
Right, hopefully that's the last technical issue we're going to have tonight.
The Ireland programme also said there was only a 1% chance of raining. It's starting to get a bit misty now as Ireland take to the pitch.
Interesting words from Hallgrimsson in his programme notes: “As a collective, we know we owe you, the supporters, and the country a good performance tonight.
“We have a responsibility to restore the pride, dignity, and honour that this jersey deserves after what happened in Yerevan.
“Every true professional wants that opportunity to correct what went wrong in that match in Yerevan.”
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Caoimhin Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers are currently out on the pitch for their warm-up. As are the Armenia goalkeepers.
Heimir Hallgrimsson has been speaking ahead of kick-off. Only 45 minutes to go now.
“It was amazing support in Portugal, it makes a huge difference having them cheer us on” 🇮🇪
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 14, 2025
Heimir Hallgrímsson gives his thoughts on tonight’s clash ahead of kick-off with a special mention to the following support in Lisbon on Saturday 💚 pic.twitter.com/r2laJ6W4jf
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has made two changes to his side for their decisive World Cup qualifier against Armenia.
Click here to read how the Boys in Green line up, as I take the long elevator journey up to my seat in the press box.
My name is Andrew Horgan and I will again be talking you all through the best of the action as the Republic of Ireland host Armenia in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
This time, myself, John Fallon and Brendan O'Brien are in the press box at the Aviva Stadium to bring you minute-by-minute updates, as well as the best of the analysis and reaction from another huge night for Irish football.
This time, it is well and truly win or bust for the Boys in Green. Any lingering hopes of reaching the World Cup in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico next summer will be dashed if they fail to win tonight.
Can Ireland get their first win in Group F? Can they overcome the heartbreak they suffered at the home of Sporting Lisbon last Saturday and at least put in another performance to be proud of? All will be revealed right here.
I will be back with regular updates from 7pm but until then feel free to read some preview pieces from our website below.
Team news will also be posted here, on our website and on our social media channels as soon as the sheets are handed to us.
Kieran Shannon believes pride can swiftly turn into embarrassment with this Ireland team.
Experience has taught Nathan Collins to not dwell on defeat.
'This game will be a war': Ireland and Armenia brace for high-stakes clash.
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