Match report

Armenia Defeats Rep. Of Ireland 2-1 in World Cup Qualification

Armenia
Armenia
2–1
FT
Rep. Of Ireland
Rep. Of Ireland
Sep 9, 2025

Armenia stunned Rep. Of Ireland with a 2-1 victory in their World Cup Qualification match, with goals from E. Spertsyan and G. Ranos. Despite a late push by Ireland, Armenia held on to secure a vital three points. The match saw a flurry of substitutions from both sides, with Rep. Of Ireland making several changes in the second half to try and turn the tide.

Key Facts

  • • E. Spertsyan scored the opening goal for Armenia from a penalty in the 45th minute.
  • • G. Ranos extended Armenia's lead with a normal goal in the 51st minute.
  • • E. Ferguson pulled one back for Rep. Of Ireland in the 57th minute.
  • • Rep. Of Ireland made multiple substitutions, including Jack Taylor and C. Ogbene in the 46th minute.
  • • Armenia held on to win 2-1 despite a VAR goal cancellation in the 90th minute.

Lineups

Armenia

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 O. Cancarevic (G)
  • 4 G. Harutyunyan (D)
  • 2 S. Muradyan (D)
  • 3 E. Piloyan (D)
  • 13 K. Hovhannisyan (M)
  • 6 U. Iwu (M)
  • 8 E. Spertsyan (M)
  • 21 N. Tiknizyan (M)
  • 11 T. Barseghyan (F)
  • 10 L. Zelarayan (F)
  • 17 G. Ranos (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 A. Beglaryan
  • 16 H. Avagyan
  • 5 E. Simonyan
  • 7 E. Sevikyan
  • 9 A. Serobyan
  • 14 G. Manvelyan
  • 15 K. Nalbandyan
  • 18 H. Harutyunyan
  • 19 E. Grigoryan
  • 20 A. Dashyan
  • 22 Z. Shaghoyan
  • 23 V. Bichakhchyan

Rep. Of Ireland

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 C. Kelleher (G)
  • 5 J. O'Brien (D)
  • 22 N. Collins (D)
  • 4 D. O'Shea (D)
  • 20 C. Ogbene (M)
  • 6 J. Cullen (M)
  • 8 J. Knight (M)
  • 3 R. Manning (M)
  • 14 J. Taylor (F)
  • 11 F. Azaz (F)
  • 9 E. Ferguson (F)

Substitutes

  • 16 G. Bazunu
  • 23 M. Travers
  • 2 M. Doherty
  • 7 M. Johnston
  • 10 A. Idah
  • 12 J. Dunne
  • 13 K. Phillips
  • 15 L. Scales
  • 17 K. McAteer
  • 18 B. Lawal
  • 19 J. Kenny
  • 21 J. Honohan

Timeline

  1. Armenia
    45' Armenia Goal · Penalty
    E. Spertsyan
  2. Rep. Of Ireland
    46' Rep. Of Ireland subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Jack Taylor · On: A. Idah
  3. Rep. Of Ireland
    46' Rep. Of Ireland subst · Substitution 2
    Off: C. Ogbene · On: K. McAteer
  4. Armenia
    51' Armenia Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Ranos · Assist: Nair Tiknizyan
  5. Rep. Of Ireland
    57' Rep. Of Ireland Goal · Normal Goal
    E. Ferguson · Assist: A. Idah
  6. Armenia
    67' Armenia subst · Substitution 1
    Off: G. Ranos · On: V. Bichakhchyan
  7. Rep. Of Ireland
    70' Rep. Of Ireland subst · Substitution 3
    Off: F. Azaz · On: Michael Johnston
  8. Rep. Of Ireland
    70' Rep. Of Ireland subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. Cullen · On: Killian Phillips
  9. Armenia
    79' Armenia subst · Substitution 2
    Off: L. Zelarayán · On: A. Serobyan
  10. Armenia
    79' Armenia subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Tigran Barseghyan · On: Z. Shaghoyan
  11. Rep. Of Ireland
    80' Rep. Of Ireland Card · Yellow Card
    Jason Knight

    Foul

  12. Rep. Of Ireland
    82' Rep. Of Ireland subst · Substitution 5
    Off: R. Manning · On: L. Scales
  13. Armenia
    90'+9 Armenia Card · Yellow Card
    K. Hovhannisyan

    Foul

  14. Armenia
    90' Armenia Var · Goal cancelled
    A. Serobyan

Match Stats

Stat Armenia Rep. Of Ireland
Fouls 9 13
Pass Accuracy 82% 77%
Offsides 1 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 15 8
Corners 1 2
Total Passes 427 393
Yellow Cards 1 1
Blocked Shots 2 1
Shots on Target 8 5
xG 2.24 0.86
Shots off Target 5 2
Possession 52% 48%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 352 304
Shots Inside Box 7 4
Saves 3 6
Shots Outside Box 8 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ E. Spertsyan's penalty in the 45th minute gave Armenia a crucial lead going into halftime.
  • ▸ G. Ranos' goal just minutes after the restart in the 51st minute effectively sealed Armenia's victory, despite Rep. Of Ireland's late goal.