The Republic of Ireland suffered a third defeat in four games under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson as Greece ran out deserved winners in Sunday’s Nations League Group B2 tussle in Athens.
Having returned to winning ways in dramatic fashion against Finland on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland were humbled as Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas struck early in the second half before Petros Mantalos pounced on a Caoimhin Kelleher mistake to wrap up the home side’s win late on.
It was a disappointing end to the night for Kelleher, who had been outstanding for the visitors, making a string of saves to shut out the dominant hosts in the first half.
While Greece remain three points clear of England, who beat strugglers Finland earlier on Sunday, a third loss leaves the Irish in third place and facing the prospect of a relegation play-off with two games left.
The Greeks host England and travel to Finland next month while the Republic of Ireland welcome the Finns to Dublin before finishing with a trip to Wembley.
In-form Greece dominate first half
Buoyed by a much-needed win in Helsinki on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland started brightly and could have been ahead inside four minutes.
However, after a mix-up in the Greek defence as they tried to clear their lines, Evan Ferguson fired wide from the edge of the area while being challenged by Lazaros Rota.
From there, though, the visitors retreated in the face of sustained pressure from Greece, who played with great courage and endeavour in an emotionally charged first home game since the death of their defender George Baldock, for whom a minute’s silence was observed prior to kick-off.
Indeed, the Greeks would have had the result wrapped up before half-time had it not been for Kelleher.
First, the Liverpool goalkeeper kept out Giorgos Masouras’ volley at his near post before thwarting Bakasetas after the Greece captain breezed past Liam Scales on the edge of the Irish box.
With the Republic of Ireland unable to find joy on the counter-attack, Greece continued to press for an opener with Kelleher again standing firm to turn away Dimitrios Giannoulis’ shot with his foot after the left-back was picked out by Christos Tzolis.
In Helsinki on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland scored inside the first 15 minutes of the second half to draw level before going on to win.
This time they fell behind three minutes after the interval as Bakasetas struck.
The home side’s skipper benefited as his right-footed shot spun off Scales and went past Kelleher, prompting a huge roar from the raucous crowd.
Given the emotions they have grappled with and the huge effort it took to beat England at Wembley on Thursday, it perhaps wasn’t surprising that Greece’s intensity waned as the second half wore on.
And their fatigue coupled with the introduction of Festy Ebosele and Jack Taylor offered the Republic of Ireland fresh impetus, with Taylor denied a debut goal when his header was flicked over by Odisseas Vlachodimos.
The Republic of Ireland’s only other clear opening also fell to Taylor but the Ipswich midfielder was unable to trouble the Greek keeper after a Robbie Brady corner reached him.
Then the away side’s hopes of rescuing a point late on were shattered by Kelleher’s lapse in concentration, with the 25-year-old passing straight to Greece substitute Mantalos, who rounded the keeper and fired into the unguarded Irish goal.
It was another soft goal from an Irish perspective after captain Nathan Collins gifted Finland an opener on Thursday.
But unlike in Helsinki, there would be no way back for Hallgrimsson’s men, who were left to reflect on a fourth defeat by Greece in the space of 16 months.
Greece, meanwhile, have boosted their bid for promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, their players holding up a shirt bearing Baldock’s name at full-time on another night when they battled through emotion to deliver three points.