Ireland begin Nations League campaign with another first game loss, this time against Kosovo

Kosovo 1

Republic Of Ireland 0

The Republic of Ireland opened their Nations League campaign with a frustrating defeat to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday night.

Caoimhin Kelleher, John Egan, Jake O’Brien, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Adam Idah all featured on a night decided by a goal in the 83rd minute.

The focus is now on Israel, the first of two politically charged meetings to take place across the autumn international break.

Kosovo exists in its own right, as another bitter defeat in a competition Ireland have only been able to muster seven wins in since its introduction in 2018.

This was supposed to be different. 

There were genuine expectations after the heroics against Portugal and Hungary last November, with the same system remained for a settled group under Heimir Hallgrímsson.

There was one adjustment to the tried and tested 3-5-2 formation with Egan in for an injured Nathan Collins.

This was the defender’s first competitive start for his country since a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium in September 2023.

The defender returned to full international duty that began with a cross into the box that was knocked into the hands of Kelleher by Vedat Muriqi.

Ireland recovered, had spells in possession, but rarely threatened. Kosovo soaked up the pressure during these exchanges and sent a free kick into the box in the 22nd minute. 

This was knocked down for an effort by Muriqi that went high and over the bar.

Ireland replied with a low pass from James Abankwah to an unmarked Ogbene, who fired over the bar with the inside of his right boot.

Instead of being the start of something, Kosovo settled back into a period of possession and targeted the left wing with Veldin Hodža and Dion Gallapeni putting crosses in.

This gave the home side three opportunities to score before the break, beginning with a stunning strike from Muriqi that was taken off the line by Jayson Molumby.

Hodza went for it during the next incursion, and saw his shot blocked down by Dara O’Shea in the 33rd minute.

Then came a looping header from Muriqi at the near post, a chance that was pushed out for a corner that came to nothing by Kelleher.

It was scoreless at the break and the game restarted with a chance for Ireland, a header from close range by Troy Parrott that was neatly caught by Arijanet Muric.

Ireland built on this by winning a free-kick on the right wing after a foul on Ogbene. Finn Azaz dropped this in for a glancing Egan header that was blocked down by the Kosovo defence.

Kosovo won a free-kick of their own in the 68th minute when Abankwah brought down Baton Zabergja on the edge of the area. O’Brien dived in the way of the cross, to prevent someone in a blue jersey from getting in and trying something inside the area.

The home side attacked the other wing in the 82nd minute and forced Kelleher into a low save at his near post off a Muriqi shot.

Kosovo sensed something was there and they seized it in the 83rd minute. It came from a cross that Ermal Krasniqi got a leg to. 

The subsite’s effort rattled the crossbar and came out to Muriqi, who muscled free of O’Shea and poked the ball in for the winner.

Ireland had to go for it. White jerseys pushed up in numbers, which gave room for Kosovo to break. Kelleher had to make two more saves, while the quest for an equaliser ended with nothing.

Kosovo: Arijanet Muric; Lumbardh Dellova, Ilir Krasniqi, Albian Hajdari, Dion Gallapeni; Mërgim Vojvoda, Veldin Hodža, Edon Zhegrova, Leon Avdullahu, Baton Zabergja; Vedat Muriqi.

Subs: Ermal Krasniqi for Zhegrova (73); Milot Rashica for Zabergja (73), Erblin Osmani for Hodza (87), Fisnik Asllani for Muriqi (87), Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; James Abankwah, Jake O’Brien, John Egan, Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales; Jason Knight, Jayson Molumby; Finn Azaz, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott.

Subs: Jack Moylan for Ogbene (61); Adam Idah for Parrott (80), Conor Coventry for Abankwah (80), Owen Elding for Egan (88), Ryan Manning for Scales (88).

Referee: Lawrence Visser (Belgium)