Ireland succumb to late loss in Pristina pressure cooker

The Republic of Ireland were left to count the cost of another poor start to a competitive campaign as they fell foul of a late Vedat Muriqi winner in their UEFA Nations League opener in Pristina.

In truth, the Boys in Green were fortunate to be level when Kosovan record goalscorer Muriqi turned the ball in from point blank range to leave the scoreboard at a raucous Fadil Vokrri Stadium reading 1-0 at the final whistle.

The first half had seen Heimir Hallgrimsson's side survive a host of Kosovan chances with Jayson Molumby and Dara O’Shea making goal-saving blocks and Caoimhín Kelleher also coming to the rescue.

But those efforts came to nought as a Kosovo ranked 21 places behind Ireland's 56th spot by FIFA found a way through.

The build-up to this match had been overshadowed by the intense discourse surrounding the two controversial fixtures against Israel that are still to come in this window, including Sunday's trip to Debrecen, Hungary.

But Hallgrimsson and captain O’Shea had insisted that full focus needed to be centred on a Kosovan team that has pulled off a number of notable results over the past two years.

That respect, as the Ireland manager called it, was reflected in his starting line-up. The visitors opted for defensive solidity on the outer reaches of his back five with Liam Scales at left wing-back ahead of Ryan Manning and James Abankwah making his first competitive start on the opposite side.

Unsurprisingly, the start was cagey with Kosovo completely bossing possession in the first 10 minutes.

Ireland, attacking towards the south east end of the stadium where the lively Boys in Green faithful were mostly clustered, were content to remain compact in their 5-2-2-1 shape and funnel their hosts towards the fringes of a pitch that did not appear in brilliant condition.

Such was Ireland’s desire to prioritise defence, Troy Parrott’s number seven jersey was visible challenging for an aerial ball at the edge of his own box.

Shortly after Kosovo registered their first effort on target but it was the tamest of headers from their magnetic target man Vedat Muriqi.

In the 12th minute, Ireland had their first meaningful forays forward, with the best move of that spell coming when Jason Knight found Finn Azaz in a pocket of space.

He in turn tried to release Parrott in behind the Kosovan back four but the pass had a little too much weight on it, dragging the Real Betis striker wider than he would have liked.

Encouragingly, the defensive minded Abankwah offered width in that spell, getting a cross into the area that was ultimately cut away.

Four minutes later, Scales whipped in a cross from the other side after an Azaz and Parrott combo had worked the ball wide.

Momentary indecision in the Kosovo box provided further encouragement with signs that Ireland were slowly growing into the assignment as their possession share went over the 40% mark by the 20th minute.

The home side were still providing an intermittent threat when they could work the ball down the flanks, especially targeting Abankwah's side.

Kosovo went close in the 22nd minute from a second ball following a free-kick delivered by Edon Zhegrova. The six-foot-four Muriqi, coming into this game off the back of four goals for Fenerbahce at the weekend, made a nuisance of himself when the ball ricocheted back to him off Veldin Hodza in the Irish box.

But the man nicknamed 'The Pirate' placed his first-time shot just beyond the frame of Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal and wide.

Ireland then wasted an opportunity at the other end as Chiedozie Ogbene fired over from inside the box after Abankwah had squared it to him in space.

Kosovo went closer still six minutes later as Hodza got in down the left and whipped across a low invitation that eventually wound its way to Muriqi via Juventus’ Zhegrova.

His teasing low effort whizzed past Kelleher but Molumby played the role of defensive pessimist to perfection, making a goal-saving block.

Five minutes later, it would be captain O’Shea’s turn to prevent a low shot from making it in, denying the lively Zhegrova this time.

The match was clearly tilting back in Kosovo’s direction now and they were evidently targeting the space towards the right side of the Irish defence time and again.

Parrott, meanwhile, cut an isolated figure and showed his frustration as he bellowed back towards Jake O’Brien after a loose ball forward which the centre forward could do little with.

At the other end, Kosovo’s adventurous left back Dion Gallapeni gave Muriqi plenty to work with after flashing in a dangerous cross.

With Muriqi’s header arcing towards the top corner, Kelleher agility was on show as he just about swatted it away from danger.

Given the way the first half had unfolded, Hallgrimsson’s side could feel fortunate to still be level at the break.

Ireland created the first chance of the second half as Parrott diverted a header into the arms of Arijanet Muric after the ball was spread right towards Abankwah to deliver a cross.

Kosovo did not threaten Kelleher's goal until 10 minutes had elapsed with midfielder Hodza firing just over from outside the box.

Ireland seemed to find a touch more balance from then until just after the hour as Kosovo had a little less joy than they had found in the first half - the only blemish in that period coming in the shape of a Molumby booking after snapping into a challenge on Hodza.

Another yellow followed for Abankwah for a foul on Baton Zhaberga just to the right of the Irish box which seemed to rouse the home fans.

Muriqi had been quiet for much of the second half but offered a reminder of his threat as he got played in towards the byline. With few options centrally, he opted to test Kelleher’s alertness at the near post but the Corkman parried it away for a Kosovan corner.

But it would be the briefest of reprieves. In their next attack, Kosovo left the Ireland defence scrambling after a cross from their left.

It fell to sub Ermal Krasniqi at the far post. His shot bounced down off the bar and it was that man Muriqi who headed into the empty net on 83 minutes.

Krasniqi almost doubled that lead but fired just wide after Muriqi nodded the ball down to him.

The Boys in Green were reeling now and Krasniqi then turned provider for Hodza who also failed to hit the target.

Mergim Vojdova then forced Kelleher into a save after racing through and delivering an angled drive.

Lost in the chaos was a debut cameo for former Sligo Rovers forward Owen Elding in an attacking change, replacing John Egan.

But that will be a footnote as the final whistle confirmed a disappointing conclusion to Ireland's first-ever encounter against the Kosovans.

Kosovo: Arijanet Muric; Ilir Krasniqi, Lumbardh Dellova, Albian Hajdari, Dion Gallapeni; Mergim Vojvoda, Veldin Hodza (Erblin Osmani '87), Edon Zhegrova (Ermal Krasniqi '73), Leon Avdullahu, Baton Zabergja (Milot Rashica ‘73); Vedat Muriqi (c) (Fisnik Asllani '87).

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; James Abankwah (Conor Coventry ‘80), Jake O'Brien, John Egan (Owen Elding ‘88), Dara O'Shea (c), Liam Scales (Ryan Manning ‘88); Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight; Finn Azaz, Chiedozie Ogbene (Jack Moylan ‘61); Troy Parrott (Adam Idah ‘80).

Referee: Lawrence Visser (Belgium)