In a nail-biting match, Daryl Horgan’s final minute free-kick secured Ireland a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Andorra, but it was the debut of 20-year-old defender Gavin Ferguson that will have pleased manager Stephen Kenny. Making his first international appearance, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle centre-back put in a solid performance and helped the Boys in Green keep a clean sheet. Meanwhile, Chiedozie Ogbene was also on form, scoring his first international goal for Ireland, which ultimately made the difference. Keep reading to find out more about Ireland’s latest victory and emerging talents.
Republic of Ireland secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Latvia in their international friendly match on Wednesday. The game saw 16-year-old Evan Ferguson scoring his first senior international goal for Ireland. The young striker opened the scoring for the home side early in the first half with a powerful header in the 8th minute. The Latvians then equalized with two quick goals from Aleksejs Saveljevs and Roberts Uldrikis in the 15th and 20th minutes, respectively. However, Ireland’s Ronan Curtis scored a brilliant goal to level the score at 2-2 in the 52nd minute before James Collins sealed the win for the home team with a fine finish in the 70th minute.
The game was an important opportunity for new Ireland head coach Stephen Kenny to test his team ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers next month. While the Irish side struggled at times against a physical Latvian team, they showed great character to come back from behind and secure the win. Overall, it was a positive result for the hosts as they build towards the all-important World Cup qualifiers later this year.
In conclusion, the Republic of Ireland put on a gritty performance to secure a vital win against Andorra, with Chiedozie Ogbene netting his first international goal. The match also saw 21-year-old Gavin Ferguson open his account for Ireland with an impressive strike. The win will give the team a much-needed confidence boost as they prepare for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the Irish squad as they continue their journey in what promises to be an exciting and competitive football season.
