Cork super-keeper Caoimhín Kelleher the hero as Ireland beat Finland

Republic of Ireland 1 Finland 0

Ireland have avoided relegation in the UEFA Nations League following their victory over Finland at the Aviva Stadium.

While Evan Ferguson got the goal, Kelleher was the hero as the goalkeeper denied Joel Pohjanpalo from the spot in the 77th minute.

The Boys in Green will now go to Wembley on Sunday knowing they are safe and in the competition’s second tier for another cycle.

Ireland wasted no time in asserting themselves with an early Matt Doherty cross finding Ferguson inside the area inside the first minute.  While nothing came of this, it was one of many moments that brought the fans to their feet during the opening exchanges.  

A large part of this was the movement between Ferguson, Doherty, and Sammie Szmodics. The three worked in tandem and pressed high while Festy Ebosele came forward from the right in support.  

Finland on the other hand, were meek. 

They struggled to get into forward positions and this began with a Nikolai Alho pass getting swatted away at the near post by Liam Scales in the 13th minute.  Even when Kaan Kairinen tried something from close range for Finland, it went harmlessly out for a corner that didn't trouble the Irish defence.  

The game went back to familiar patterns after that, a shift marked by a Jason Knight shot going high and wide in the 20th minute.  It looked like the positive play had paid off just 90 seconds later, but the referee ruled that Szmodics was offside as he scored.  

It was all going according to plan until Robin Lod twisted into space inside the penalty area and struck on the turn. The ball rattled the right post and silenced the Aviva Stadium, and acted as a reminder of what Finland are capable of.

Ireland responded with an attempt by Szmodics getting pushed out for a corner, and a flurry of set-pieces accumulated in a Doherty header going just wide at the back post in the 40th minute.  

These openings were getting more and more frequent, and they came together with a Mikey Johnston cross that was headed in by Ferguson on the stroke of half-time.  

Ireland continued to probe after the break, but clearcut chances were minimal.  Finland took a different approach.  They  made a triple substitution during a five-minute window, and the injection of fresh legs helped wrestle control of the game from Ireland.  

Their reward was a penalty, won from a VAR check that spotted a handball inside the area.  Pohjanpalo stepped up and saw his spot-kick stopped by Kelleher, who also got to an attempted rebound at his near post in the 76th minute.  The goalkeeper was also on hand to get to a shot from distance by Benjamin Källman.  

An opportunity fell to Szmodics late on, and the midfielder hit this straight into the hands of Lukas Hradecky.

IRELAND: Caoímhín Kelleher; Matthew Doherty, Callum O'Dowda, Liam Scales, Sammie Szmodics, Evan Ferguson, Mikey Johnson, Jason Knight, Festy Ebosele, Nathan Collins.  

Subs: Dara O'Shea for Doherty (75); Finn Azaz for Ferguson (75), Jayson Molumby for Ebosele (75), Ryan Manning for Johnston (85), Tom Cannon for Szmodics (85).

FINLAND: Lukas Hradecky; Matti Peltol, Robert Ivanov, Arttu Hoskonen, Glen Kamara, Oliver Antman, Robin Lod, Benjamin Källman, Kaan Kairinen, Nikolai Alho, Jere Uronen.  

Subs: Daniel O'Shaughnessy for Peltola (58) Joel Pohjanpalo for Antman (63) Daniel Håkans for Uronen (63), Teemu Pukki for Kallman (84).

Referee: Harm Osmers (Germany) .