Republic of Ireland 3-0 Scotland: Michael Obafemi stars as Irish finally claim first Nations League win

Michael Obafemi stole the show as the Republic claimed a much-needed Nations League victory

The Republic of Ireland claimed a maiden Nations League win at the 13th time of asking as they saw off Scotland in surprisingly comfortable fashion in Dublin.

Badly in need of points after defeats by Armenia and Ukraine in their first two games, the Republic took a 20th-minute lead through Alan Browne with Troy Parrott doubling the advantage after being teed up brilliantly by the impressive Michael Obafemi.

Obafemi then capped an outstanding individual display by thundering home the Republic's third from distance five minutes before being forced off injured.

The Irish thought they had netted a fourth just after the hour but a VAR review found that Grant Hanley had hooked Scott Hogan's header off the line before it crossed.

While the Republic will bask in the relief of a long-awaited win in this competition, for Scotland it is a disappointing result given how they bounced back from losing their World Cup play-off semi-final with Ukraine by beating Armenia on Wednesday.

Victory lifts the Republic up to second in Group B1, ahead of the third-placed Scots but having played a game more.

Obafemi shines for rejuvenated Republic

Scotland boss Steve Clarke had admitted to being wary of an Irish backlash after their winless start to the Nations League and that is exactly what happened with the Republic looking much sharper and hungrier from the outset at a noisy Aviva Stadium.

Obafemi, one of five players drafted in by Stephen Kenny after the Ukraine defeat, was key to the Republic's rejuvenation in what was the 21-year-old Dubliner's first international start.

It was Obafemi who robbed Scotland centre-back Grant Hanley of the ball before finding James McClean, and the Swansea striker would have connected with McClean's cross at the far post had it not been for Scott McKenna's header flicking the ball behind for a corner.

Thankfully for the hosts, McClean's corner was headed back into the danger area where Browne was able to bundle the ball past Craig Gordon from point-blank range.

While Obafemi played a minor role in bringing about the corner for the Republic's opener, he was the architect for the second.

After picking up a loose ball in midfield, Obafemi checked back to gain a yard on Callum McGregor, took a step-over and, having spotted Parrott's clever dart between Anthony Ralston and Jack Hendry, deftly lifted the ball in for the 20-year-old to nod past Gordon.

There were contrasting emotions between the Irish and Scottish fans

Scotland struggle to respond to Irish goals

It was, however, an even first half for the most part, and the Republic were fortunate not to have been punished for a couple of sloppy Shane Duffy passes out of defence, both of which resulted in John McGinn shots from the edge of the area with the second coming immediately before the Republic's second goal.

But this was clearly the Republic's day and Obafemi put the game beyond Scotland when he lashed a fierce right-footed shot past Gordon after Billy Gilmour had lost the ball in a dangerous position.

Aside from Hogan being denied by Hanley, the Republic dropped off after Obafemi was withdrawn in the 56th-minute because of injury but the home side's third goal had effectively killed the game as a contest with Scotland failing to muster a meaningful response.

Clarke's side must now look to do that by managing what the Republic could not by beating Armenia in Yerevan on Tuesday (17:00 BST) while the Irish will hope to maintain momentum when they travel to Poland to take on Ukraine later that evening (19:45).

Scotland's first defeat in Ireland since 1963 - match stats

• Republic of Ireland have won their first ever game in the Nations League at the 13th attempt of trying (W1 D5 L7), scoring more goals (3) than they managed in their first 12 matches in the competition combined (2).

• Scotland suffered just their second away defeat to Republic of Ireland (P7 W2 D3 L2) and first since June 1963 (1-0).

• This was Republic of Ireland's biggest competitive win on home soil since October 2014, when they beat Gibraltar 7-0 in a European Championship qualifier.

• Republic of Ireland had two players aged 21 or under (Michael Obafemi & Troy Parrott) score in a competitive game for the first time since September 1997 (David Connolly & Mark Kennedy vs Iceland).

• Parrott (20y 127d) became the youngest player to score a competitive goal for Republic of Ireland since Stephen Ireland in October 2006 (20y 46d vs Cyprus in a European Championship qualifier).

• Obafemi and Parrott became the first players to both score and assist in a competitive game for Republic of Ireland since both Robbie Keane and Wes Hoolahan did so against Gibraltar in October 2014.