Report as Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-1 by Greece to make it two defeats from two in Euro 2024 qualifying; Anastasios Bakasetas scored a penalty then set up Giorgos Masouras for the winner after half-time; VAR helped Nathan Collins score a first-half equaliser in a rare Irish attack
Friday 16 June 2023 22:47, UK
Republic of Ireland's bid to get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign up and running has to wait for another round of games after Stephen Kenny's side succumbed to a disappointing 2-1 loss in Greece.
It was Greece captain Anastasios Bakasetas who stole the show in Athens, scoring a first-half penalty after Callum O'Dowda's handball, before setting up Giorgos Masouras in the second half with a clever defence-splitting assist.
Nathan Collins had equalised for the visitors, but they were unable to push on after drawing level.
Ireland, who in defeat are still waiting for their first point of their qualifying campaign, managed just six shots on target compared to their opponent's tally of 16 - with Brighton hotshot Evan Ferguson largely elusive in the Greek capital.
The frustration was summed up by Matt Doherty's red card for violent conduct as he scrapped with Greece's players in the last moments of the game.
The result leaves Kenny's side six points behind second-placed Greece after two games, leaving them with an already-arduous task to make up ground on the spots that would take them to Euro 2024 in 12 months' time.
Asked if questions about his future are justified, Kenny said after the game: "Criticism is part of it and I have to accept it. We wanted it to be better than it was.
"At the same time, we were right in the game at the end and had chances to equalise. We kept going and never gave up."
Ireland started slowly in Athens and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was called into two big saves in the opening seven minutes.
First, the Southampton goalkeeper had to be alert to tip Dinos Mavropanos' bouncing effort away from the top corner, before clawing captain Bakasetas' bouncing effort away 60 seconds later.
And the pressure that Greece created eventually led to a goal as VAR casted unknowing eyes on O'Dowda putting his arm up high to stop Giorgos Masouras' cross, leaving the referee with a simple penalty call.
Bakasetas was on hand to put Greece into a deserving lead by slamming down the middle against Bazunu from 12 yards.
Ireland slowed down the game but, for the next 15 minutes, barely threatened in the Greece half. But all of a sudden, they were level on the half hour mark.
Ferguson headed on Will Smallbone's corner for Collins to slam home from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but VAR spotted a deep Greek defender at the near post.
Greece came back looking for their lead back with Bakasetas denied by Bazunu, from 20 yards, before his long-range effort deflected just wide of the far post from even further out.
And the hosts needed just four minutes to reclaim the lead as the excellent Bakasetas took three Ireland players out of the game to release the underlapping Masouras in the box. The Greece winger curled in with his left foot despite the effort of the flailing Collins on the line.
Like in the first half, Ireland came out to search for a route back in the game and Doherty missed a good chance to level but fired wide at the near post from Smallbone's cross.
But the visitors had to wait until the 72nd minute for their next big chance. Doherty headed down a cross to the onrushing Collins, who let fly from the edge of the box but Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos parried away the rasping drive.
Greece then missed a couple of big chances, including one for former Celtic striker Giorgios Giakoumakis, to kill the game as Ireland failed to close off their opponents' threat.
Moments after Doherty saw a low effort saved, the Ireland defender was given his marching orders for causing a mass melee in the closing moments - his suspension acting as a further blow to a helpless Ireland.
Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny:
"We were well in the game for all of it but we just let ourselves down with the defending of the two goals. That was a disappointing aspect.
"The league finished six weeks earlier, the other leagues played right up until this week. Most of the players haven't played in six weeks.
"In the first half, Greece were better than us. They had more control of the game and they hurt us with the big 40-50 yard switches from right to left, full-back to full-back. We gave ourselves too much ground to make up.
"We started okay, we just got pinned with the corner-kicks. Five in a row and we couldn't get out. It was a bit of a harsh penalty, but it is what it is. If you lift your hands, it goes against us.
"We changed it at half-time, and we went 3-4-2-1 and we got more control of the game. We did have more control. We made a cardinal sin of giving the goal away four minutes into the second half."
Republic of Ireland host Gibraltar in their next Group B fixture on Monday June 19. Kick-off 7.45pm.
Greece are also back in action on Monday at the same time when they visit France.
