Euro 2012 Qualifiers – Ireland 1-0 vs. Armenia: Late Keith Fahey goal gives Ireland opening win
Ireland made a winning start to get their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in motion. The goal came courtesy of substitute Keith Fahey in a frantic match that ended with the score-line reading one goal to nil in favour of Ireland.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland side looked to have blown their chances of winning the game and picking up the crucial three points on the night when skipper Robbie Keane hit the post from six yards in front of the goal on the sixty-second minute.
Birmingham City's midfielder Fahey was brought on to replace Aiden McGeady on the sixty-eight minute mark. The midfielder showed tremendous composure and finished into the bottom corner after a ball broke free into his path.
Armenia tried to pile on the pressure in the later stages of the match. However, this surge of attacks in the dying few minutes were not enough to see the Armenian side pick up any points from the game.
Richard Dune was back in the Ireland squad to play at his preferred centre-back position along with Sean St Ledger. John O'Shea and Kevin Kilbane were there to occupy the vacant side-back roles.
Ireland began the match brightly, with Keane going close on the seventh minute, but the striker’s volley from twelve yards out ended up sailing well over the bar.
Armenia were looking to counterattack; this was only possible because their keeper Roman Berezovsky was doing brilliantly to keep the Irish out for as long as he could.
Keane had the ball in the back of the Armenian goal on the thirty-fifth minute mark, but the striker was ruled to be offside and the goal was eventually disallowed.
Armenia were, however, a constant thorn to Ireland. They were constantly testing the back-line that the Irish had and Yura Movsisyan almost scored a screamer from a distance with Shay Given caught off his line, but the ball couldn't dip in time and sailed over.
The game was a viewing spectacle with the ball going back and forth for most part of the game. At one point, Dunne almost gifted the Armenians a goal by heading the ball into his own net, while Artur Yedigaryan failed to get a shot away from five yards, and almost immediately after, Keane scrapped a shot off the post. The game couldn't get any more open than that.
However, Fahey was present for the decisive moment that settled the game. Moments after Berezovsky blocked an intricate run by Kevin Doyle, the ball fell to the substitute. Fahey then managed to coolly slot home the rebound and give Ireland the lead.
Fahey provided the moment Ireland craved seconds after Berezovsky had blocked a mazy run and drive by Doyle.
Ireland were not given a second to rest, as Armenia started to throw all their bodies forward for the remainder of the match, but had no luck in front of the goal to Ireland’s delight.
Ireland will now face Andorra in their second qualifying match which will take place in Dublin on Tuesday.
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