Georgia 0-0 Republic of Ireland
How vital this point will prove for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualification hopes, or how costly this draw was, will become apparent over the next month.
But there was a certain predictability that when the Irish needed a win the most against these increasingly familiar foes, it was not forthcoming.
This was definitely a point hard-earned by the Emerald Isle, but will it really be enough in their quest to reach a third-straight European Championship finals?
If Denmark beat Switzerland tonight, then the 1992 European champions will climb above the Republic into top spot.
The bars of Tbilisi will be praying for a draw in Copenhagen later.
Highlights of the game
As far as Euro 2020 highlights are concerned, look away now. For there were only three shots on target throughout the 90 minutes, all for Ireland at the start of what is a potentially defining four days.
Pre-match, some reports suggested a new-found optimism surrounding Mick McCarthy’s side as they travelled to Georgia in expectation, rather than hope.
Sitting atop the pile in Group D and unbeaten, Ireland were exactly where they wanted to be going into the most important phase of Euro 2020 qualifying.
Having claimed maximum points against group whipping boys Gibraltar, drawn with top seeds Switzerland and Denmark, and edged out Georgia at home, they also knew a victory in Tbilisi was essential to keep their place on top of the table.
Yet they also knew Georgia were no pushover.
Vladimir Weiss’ side may have seen their hopes of qualifying end but they are already assured of a play-off place via the Nations League.
Perhaps this was always destined to end goalless.
Just one goal had separated the sides in Ireland’s last four victories over their hosts and like Ireland, Georgia have found goals hard to come by of late.
Indeed, Weiss named just one senior striker in his squad in the form of Belgian-based forward Giorgi Kvilitaia, while Valeri Qazaishvili, who scored for Georgia against Ireland in a 1-1 draw in 2017, was an attacking threat to watch – although both were substituted in the latter stages.
Likewise, a lack of a real cutting edge up front has been a repeated concern for Ireland, and for all of their build-up play, they have the worst goal return and goal difference of all three qualification hopefuls.
To put it into context, seven goals from five games may not seem a poor return but, when you take into account the fact that two of those games came against a Gibraltar side that concede just over an average of three a game, Ireland’s problems in front of goal were clear.
Even the late introduction of debutant Aaron Connolly – fresh from starring for Brighton last weekend – was not enough to break the deadlock.
Promoted to the senior squad from the under21s, the Galway teenager was denied a dream moment when his low shot late on was saved, before Shane Duffy (probably the pick of the Irish players on the day) headed straight at the goalkeeper.
Earlier, John Egan had met Conor Hourihane’s free-kick with a glancing header, only to see the ball come back off the post.
That was just three minutes in but was pretty much as close as it got for the visitors who saw the hosts dominate possession without ever testing goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
McCarthy professed to being pleased after the full-time whistle sounded.
This group remains in the balance.
The SBOBET Euro 2020 betting odds may be against Ireland now and while my heart hopes they can make next summer, I feel they will just miss out.
Key statistics
This was the 11th clash between the nations – Ireland have won on nine occasions with the other two encounters ending level.
Ireland are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions (won four, drawn five), their longest such run since June 2012 (15 games).
Ireland have scored just eight goals in their last 13 away matches, never netting more than once in a game and failing to score on five occasions.
Georgia have recorded three consecutive clean sheets in home qualifying matches for the first time since March 2011.
Connolly (19years, 258days) is the youngest player to make his Republic of Ireland debut since Michael Obafemi (18years, 136days) against Denmark in November 2018.
What’s next?
McCarthy and his squad now fly to Geneva to meet Switzerland on Tuesday. Georgia are also on the road as they meet minnows Gibraltar.
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