Ireland's World Cup dream turned into a nightmare as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side were shocked in Yerevan, losing 2-1 to bottom seed Armenia at the Republican Stadium.
Ireland were first to concede, once again, Armenia taking the lead just before the break as Eduard Spertsyan converted from the spot, and they added to the manager's misery by adding another seven minutes into the second half through Grant-Leon Ranos.
Evan Ferguson gave Ireland some hope in the 57th minute, however, Ireland did not possess the quality nor the composure to fight their way back into the contest as their campaign hopes all but ended with just two games played.
Focus from the start was what was called for from the manager after conceding early against Hungary, and Ireland showed their intent, going right at Armenia from the tip.
The ball was worked quickly forward and with just 25 seconds on the clock, the ball fell to Finn Azaz with his back to goal, and the Southampton man spun and hit the target. The keeper, however, was on hand to make a standard save from a shot that lacked power.
And Hallgrimsson’s side maintained their assault inside the Armenia half as Ryan Manning helped a clever ball forward for Ferguson to chase.
The keeper got there just before the attacker, but proceeded to spill, allowing Ferguson a chance to work the ball into the empty goal, yet Erik Piloyan rushed back to clear off the line and save his keeper’s blushes.
All looked good from an Ireland perspective for those opening 15 minutes before Armenia finally got forward, and while Ireland initially looked composed and structurally sound, they were exposed a moment later, getting caught in transition, and suddenly seemed vulnerable.
A decent spell of attacking play followed from the home side, with Lucas Zelarayan making space to shoot from distance, and with the ball moving in the air, Caoimhín Kelleher did well to take the pace off the ball before Dara O’Shea came in to clear.
It took a long hopeful ball over the top in the 30th minute to finally get Ireland going again, as Ferguson got the better of both markers to get on the ball and work it inside for Jack Taylor who steamed into the box and worked the keeper from close range.
A half-shout for a penalty from Taylor after his shot was turned around the post for a corner, and while he was nudged off balance, it would have been soft.
Two minutes later, Ireland maintained the attack and a tempting delivery from O’Brien, whipped towards the back post, left two attacking the ball. Nathan Collins got there first but could not direct it on target, while Ferguson was probably in a better position arriving after.
Then in the 35th minute, Ireland’s defensive fragility was exposed once more as a hopeful ball over the top caused a commotion in the penalty box.
Tigran Barseghyan raced onto it and was aided by O’Shea losing his footing on the far-from-perfect Yerevan pitch, and suddenly the forward was in on goal.
Cutting back inside, Barseghyan opted to lay it off rather than shoot and played it square to the arriving Grant-Leon Ranos whose well-hit strike was blocked by Collins. But Ireland could not clear and Ranos again worked the ball goalwards, this time, crashing it off the crossbar and somehow Ireland survived.
The home side, and crowd, were buoyed by the performance, and it took an athletic run the length of the pitch from Ogbene to relieve the pressure.
Armenia hit the front from the spot
But Armenia had the bit between their teeth and the momentum would pay dividends minutes later as they were awarded a penalty following a hopeful cross from the left.
Collins appeared to have dealt with the danger, however, the referee was alerted to an infringement and he pointed to the spot, with replays revealing that Zelarayan had just got to the ball ahead of the Ireland captain, who had opted to go with his wrong foot.
Eduard Spertsyan took on the responsibility to hand his side the lead from the spot, and cleverly waited for Kelleher to commit before slamming it to the keeper’s right and into the back of the net.
And so the trend would continue with Ireland conceding first, as Hallgrimsson’s side once again broke for half-time with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Two substitutions at the break was what the manager decided, as Adam Idah and Kasey McAteer replaced Chiedozie Ogbene and Jack Taylor.
Hosts double their lead
But if Hallgrimsson hoped that the changes would have the desired effect, he could not have been more wrong, as his side were cut open seven minutes into the second half as Armenia doubled their lead.
Jake O’Brien was caught flat footed and Spertsyan’s ball inside him proved perfect for Nayair Tiknizyan, arriving at pace off the left flank.
The ball was slapped across the face and Ranos was first to it, whipping it home from ten yards out to put Ireland’s World Cup hopes in real jeopardy.
Idah and Ferguson would combine five minutes later to hand Ireland a lifeline, as the latter finished well, latching onto a great pass to split the defence.
Ferguson on target
Gung-ho time again for Ireland as they pushed numbers forward, attempting to hold a high line to keep the ball inside the Armenia half, however, the home side were happy to burst forward when the opportunity arose.
And four times within ten minutes the Irish goal was tested, with Kelleher saving three attempts, while another looped just over the bar.
Mikey Johnston, Killian Phillips and Liam Scales were thrown into the mix, but Ireland could offer little other than a well-hit Ryan Manning shot from the edge of the box that was well saved by Ognjen Chancharevich.
The clock ticked towards 90 minutes, and with Ireland unable to create, it was the home side who finished in the ascendancy, with Artur Serobyan curling a great shot into the bottom corner of the net for what looked like the deciding goal.
VAR would eventually rule that one out on the narrowest of offside decisions, offering Ireland some last-ditch hopes to try to create another injury time fightback.
Hallgrimsson’s side needed two to turn it around, in relation to challenging for a path to the World Cup, however, they were unable to trouble the home side throughout the nine additional minutes, as Armenia celebrated a well-deserved and famous victory.
Armenia: Ognjen Chancharevich; Nayair Tiknizyan, Sergei Muradian, Georgii Arutiunian, Erik Piloyan; Ugochukwu Iwu, Eduard Spertsyan, Lucas Zelarayan (Artur Serobyan 78), Tigran Barseghyan (Zhirayr Shaghoyan 78), Kamo Hovhannisyan; Grant-Leon Ranos (Vahan Bichakhchyan 66)
Republic of Ireland: Caoimhín Kelleher; Jake O'Brien, Dara O'Shea, Nathan Collins, Ryan Manning (Liam Scales 82), Josh Cullen (Killian Phillips 70), Jason Knight, Jack Taylor (Adam Idah HT), Chiedozie Ogbene (Kasey McAteer HT), Finn Azaz (Mikey Johnston 77), Evan Ferguson
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (GEO)
