Ireland come from behind to beat Finland and record their first away win in the Nations League

Finland 1

Republic of Ireland 2

A late-late goal from Robbie Brady was the difference as the Republic of Ireland came from behind to beat Finland 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday night.

The full-back hit the roof of the net in the 88th minute, and decided a game that saw Joel Pohjanpalo scoring after a mistake by Nathan Collins and Liam Scales equalising with a header at the start of the second half.

They now travel to Greece to take on the Greeks on Sunday night, who will be boosted by their incredible 2-1 away win over England.

It was all about a performance after back-to-back defeats to England and Greece in September, and it looked like it was going to be more of the same after the Finland striker picked the pocket of the Ireland captain and slotted in passed Kelleher in the 17th minute.

Up until that point, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team looked solid during this at both ends of the pitch, with some good work in the final third by Chiedozie Ogbene and Finn Azaz complimented by Collins and Scales controlling the penalty area and making sure shots from Topi Keskinen and Tomas Galvez caused no fuss.

Then Pohjanpalo scored and Ireland poured forward in search of an equaliser. 

The chance to tie the game was chalked off after Collins broke down a Brady free-kick to Evan Ferguson. 

The striker scored, but the offside flag went up as he ran away in celebration and it remained 1-0 to Finland in the 20th minute.

Ireland renewed their quest in the dying seconds of the first half, and the best they could do during a flurry of activity around the penalty box was a tame Finn Azaz shot which went straight into the hands of Lukas Hradecky.

The goalkeeper also came out to deal with a set-piece routine by Ireland after the restart that involved Scales breaking down a Brady corner to Sammie Szmodics at the back post.

It was a positive moment, and it was followed by a free-kick on the right wing after Ogbene was pulled back. Brady sent this to Scales and the defender headed in the equaliser in the 56th minute.

It was almost followed by a second as Ferguson tried his luck from distance and hit the ball straight to Hradecky.

The travelling supporters were suddenly delirious, and they were brought back down to earth with a shot from Glen Kamara that went just over in the 63rd minute.

This was the start of a prolonged spell in possession for the home side, and the best they could do was an attempt from Tomas Galvez that flashed wide.

Ireland kept their shape and took the three points when Festy Ebosele dribbled through and crossed to Brady for a stunning strike at the back post that hit the roof of the net.

Finland: Lukas Hradecky; Tomas Galvez, Robert Ivanov, Arttu Hoskonen, Glen Kamara, Robin Lod, Rasmus Schüller, Adam Ståhl, Joel Pohjanpalo, Topi Keskinen, Leo Walta.

Subs: Matti Peltola for Schüller (65); Oliver Antman for Keskinen (65), Benjamin Kallman for Pohjanpalo (78), Teemu Pukki for Leo (78), Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Liam Scales, Dara O’Shea, Josh Cullen, Sammie Szmodics, Evan Ferguson, Robbie Brady, Finn Azaz, Jason Knight, Chiedozie Ogbene, Nathan Collins.

Subs: Jamie McGrath for Azaz (70); Troy Parrott for Ferguson (70), Festy Ebosele for Ogbene (80), Adam Idah for Szmodics (80).

Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (North Macadonia)