Kosovo vs Republic of Ireland. UEFA Nations League Group B3. Report from the UEFA Nations League Group B3 match between Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland in Pristina; Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Boys in Green slip to deserved defeat courtesy of Vedat Muriqi’s late goal The Republic of Ireland slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to Kosovo in their Nations League opener in Pristina. The build-up to the League B3 encounter had been overshadowed by the controversy around upcoming fixtures against Israel, which Republic boss Heimir Hallgrimsson had admitted many of his squad members were uncomfortable about playing.
Chiedozie Ogbene had fired an early chance over before Kosovo responded to finish the first half strongly at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium. The home side saw two shots cleared off the line and Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher then clawed away a header from Vedat Muriqi as Hallgrimsson’s side got to the break on level terms. Ireland – who are scheduled to play Israel in Hungary on Sunday and then again in a ‘home’ tie at another neutral venue in Serbia seven days later – dug in for the second half but were eventually undone with seven minutes left when Kosovo captain Muriqi bundled the ball in from close range. Udinese defender James Abankwah was handed a first competitive start as part of a back five, with in-form Real Betis striker Troy Parrott the lone forward and Dara O’Shea taking the captain’s armband.
Ireland created what ended up being their only real clear chance in the 22nd minute. Abankwah got away down the right and ran into the Kosovo penalty area before cutting the ball back to Ogbene, who sent a curling effort over the crossbar. Kosovo, who are in League B for the first time, went close on the half-hour mark when a cross from the left found its way through to Muriqi, whose angled shot was cleared off the line by Jayson Molumby. Veldin Hodza then saw his 10-yard strike blocked in front of goal by O’Shea before Kelleher got up to claw away a looping header from Muriqi, which was set for the top corner.
Ireland made a positive start to the second half, with a deep cross from the right by Abankwah finding Parrott at the far post and his header was gathered by Kosovo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. Kosovo, though, continued to carry a threat themselves. Baton Zabergja sent a 20-yard effort just wide of the top corner, which again got the home supporters into full voice. Muriqi forced Kelleher into another smart reaction save from an angled shot at the near post before Kosovo eventually made the breakthrough in the 83rd minute.
Ermal Krasniqi’s shot was deflected onto the crossbar and Muriqi reacted quickest in a crowded six-yard box to nod the ball over the line. Kosovo should have got a second late on when substitute Krasniqi dragged his shot wide after being set up by Muriqi following a break onto a long ball. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson told RTE: “[Kosovo are] a good team, momentum with them, crowd with them, and to be honest they deserve the win. “There was nothing that we didn’t know about how they would play, where their threats would be, but [it was] an off day for a lot of our players and [it is] a tough place to come to if you have an off day, so a deserved win for Kosovo.” Hallgrimsson added: “We were the team that needed to defend today and didn’t connect in possession or passes, not as sharp as we have done.
“We have to quickly find out the reason that we had an off day. We can all do better than we did today. “It is a two-day turnaround for the next one, so we better be quick…and do better than this versus Israel. They are probably in the same position as us [having lost to Austria].” Asked if the controversy from playing the fixtures against Israel had impacted on his team’s performance against Kosovo, Hallgrimsson said: “I couldn’t say now.
It is difficult to measure that one.” He added: “This is the situation, we have to cope with it. And like I said before the game, this camp is a test of character. “We need to do better in that area than we did here today. We knew that we needed to win the duels, win the one-vs-ones, but sadly they had the upper hand on all the basics.” Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
