As it happened: Ireland v Uzbekistan, U17 World Cup

Ireland 2-1 Uzbekistan

19 hrs ago 3:36PM

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

Ireland will be hoping to make it two wins from two, after an encouraging opening 4-1 defeat of Panama.

Asian champions Uzbekistan will also be feeling confident, however, after overcoming Paraguay 2-1 in their opening match.

A victory will qualify Ireland for the knockout stages, and even a draw would put them in a strong position to qualify at worst as one of the best third-place teams.

Kick-off is at 3.45pm.

19 hrs ago 3:37PM

Confirmation of the Ireland starting XI below…

19 hrs ago 3:40PM

And here’s the Uzbekistan team…

19 hrs ago 3:46PM

The match is underway…

19 hrs ago 3:50PM

3 mins: Decent start by Ireland.

They win a corner, delivered by Finneran, that ends with Grady McDonnell’s flick-on forcing a save.

19 hrs ago 3:52PM

5 mins: Uzbekistan break through Abdumuminov.

But Sodikov’s subsequent effort from a tight angle is well off target.

18 hrs ago 3:55PM

9 mins: After a bright opening by Ireland, Uzbekistan are enjoying a decent spell.

They’ve yet to test the Irish goalkeeper Noonan, however.

18 hrs ago 3:57PM

10 mins: There’s a stoppage in play.

Kovalevskis and Anvarov are involved in a nasty clash of heads as they contest a challenge.

Both players appear okay to continue, thankfully.

18 hrs ago 4:02PM

15 mins: Sodikov gets in behind Solanke after a defence-splitting pass catches Ireland out.

But Alex Noonan comes off his line promptly to save the one-on-one, parrying it out for a corner.

Down the other end, Umeh crosses for Michael Noonan, but the Shamrock Rovers starlet heads it wide.

18 hrs ago 4:06PM

IRELAND 0-1 UZBEKISTAN (SHUKURULLAEV 19)

18 hrs ago 4:08PM

Uzbekistan take the lead.

Khabibullaev’s shot on the edge of the area is saved, but Shukurullaev is on hand to convert the rebound.

18 hrs ago 4:11PM

25 mins: Finneran’s free kick falls to McDonagh, whose header is well off target.

Still, it’s a bit more encouraging from an Irish perspective.

18 hrs ago 4:13PM

Uzbekistan appear to have targeted Ireland’s left-hand side in the early stages.

Sodikov has got inside Solanke on more than one occasion.

18 hrs ago 4:16PM

Here’s a look at the opening goal…

18 hrs ago 4:19PM

IRELAND 1-1 UZBEKISTAN (MCDONNELL 33)

18 hrs ago 4:20PM

Umeh and Solanke link up down the left.

The latter’s cross takes a slight deflection, and McDonnell finds the corner of the net with a powerful header.

18 hrs ago 4:24PM

37 mins: Khabibullaev crosses for Abdumuminov.

It appears to come off the thigh of the Uzbekistan player, and Noonan gets down well to parry it out for a corner. 

18 hrs ago 4:25PM

Here’s a look at Ireland’s equaliser…

18 hrs ago 4:27PM

41 mins: Abdumuminov gets the game’s first booking.

He is punished for cynically tripping McDonnell.

18 hrs ago 4:30PM

44 mins: Sodikov gets in behind Solanke again down the left before the cross is cut out for a corner.

That’s clearly a problem area that Colin O’Brien will surely need to address at half-time.

18 hrs ago 4:32PM

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

That’s mainly due to the long break earlier, owing to the clash of heads involving Kovalevskis.

18 hrs ago 4:36PM

A new initiative allows Uzbekistan’s coach to challenge a decision not to award a penalty against Ireland.

It would have been very harsh, as McDonagh had his arm down by his side as it ricocheted off Abdumuminov and then hit the defender.

After going to the touchline monitor, the referee decides to stick with his original decision.

18 hrs ago 4:37PM

HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-1 UZBEKISTAN

18 hrs ago 4:51PM

18 hrs ago 4:52PM

The second half has begun…

18 hrs ago 4:53PM

Ireland make a change at the break.

Kovalevskis, who took a knock to the head early in the first half, is replaced by Victor Ozhianvuna.

17 hrs ago 4:55PM

47 mins: Khakimov delivers a dangerous free kick.

Shukurullaev is unmarked but narrowly fails to get his head to the ball for what would have been his second goal of the game.

17 hrs ago 4:58PM

Former Arsenal manager and current Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, is among the interested spectators for this game.

He will be particularly interested in substitute Victor Ozhianvuna, with the Shamrock Rovers youngster set to join Arsenal in January 2027.

17 hrs ago 5:02PM

54 mins: Ireland’s goalscorer McDonnell appears to tweak a muscle and is forced off injured.

Burnley’s Kian McMahon-Brown comes on in his place.

17 hrs ago 5:04PM

57 mins: Solanke goes down in the area under a challenge from Musakhonov.

The ref waves play on, and it’s another one that would have been harsh, judging by replays.

17 hrs ago 5:06PM

59 mins: Noonan does really well to burst away from Bakhodirkhonov.

The striker’s effort from a near-impossible angle is saved by the goalkeeper before being deflected out for a corner.

17 hrs ago 5:08PM

62 mins: Uzbekistan make a change

Abdumuminov is replaced by Aliev.

17 hrs ago 5:11PM

64 mins: Umeh finds McMahon-Brown.

The Burnley youngster’s curled attempt from the edge of the area deflects a few inches wide.

17 hrs ago 5:13PM

Khasanov crosses for Aliev, whose header goes harmlessly wide.

Down the other end, Noonan makes a good run before his cross gets deflected out for a corner.

17 hrs ago 5:19PM

70 mins: McMahon-Brown does very well to get away from Khabibullaev.

However, his powerful strike from distance is too central to trouble Rustamzhonov unduly.

17 hrs ago 5:22PM

IRELAND 2-1 UZBEKISTAN (NOONAN 76)

17 hrs ago 5:23PM

Umeh and Solanke link up well down the left again.

The Lorient full-back’s cross finds Noonan, whose downward header goes into the net.

17 hrs ago 5:28PM

Here’s a look at Noonan’s goal…

17 hrs ago 5:30PM

84 mins: Another change for Uzbekistan.

Muradov replaces Erimbetov.

17 hrs ago 5:33PM

85 mins: Chance for Uzbekistan!

A dangerous corner is delivered, but Ozhianvuna does enough to put off Muradov, who heads it wide from close range.

17 hrs ago 5:35PM

In the other game in the group, Paraguay have beaten Panama 2-1.

Ireland, of course, will meet Paraguay in their final group game on Tuesday at 1.30pm Irish time.

17 hrs ago 5:36PM

There will be six minutes of stoppage time…

17 hrs ago 5:38PM

92 mins: Ireland are doing everything they can to slow the game down.

Uzbekistan’s resulting frustration is palpable.

17 hrs ago 5:41PM

95 mins: Ireland have the ball near the Uzbekistan corner flag.

Colin O’Brien’s side are seeing this game out well with a minute to play.

17 hrs ago 5:43PM

FULL-TIME: IRELAND 2-1 UZBEKISTAN

17 hrs ago 5:48PM

So that’s that.

Ireland prevail and confirm their place in the World Cup knockout stages.

A point against Paraguay on Tuesday will be enough to guarantee top spot in the group.

It was a great win for Colin O’Brien’s side against the Asian champions.

Ireland were on the back foot at times, and the two sides were relatively evenly matched, with Uzbekistan causing problems down the right-hand side in particular.

In the end, though, clinical finishes from McDonnell and Noonan were enough to see the Boys in Green over the line as they gained a hard-fought victory.

17 hrs ago 5:49PM

Right, that’s all from me for now.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

We’ll have a match report up on the site shortly.

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