Azerbaijan make a triple sub and captain Maksim Medvedev is among the players to come off.

Josh Cullen - who took the corner in the end - pulls it back for Conor Hourihane, whose cross is cleared.

The Irish centre-backs just stay forward and Shane Duffy heads wide from Callum Robinson's cross.

Oooh. Substitute Conor Hourihane whips in a nice cross which an Azeri player just glances behind. Hourihane goes to take the corner.

Anton Krivotsyuk is booked for fouling Callum Robinson. Free-kick from the right.

Ireland pass it round for ages but Daryl Horgan has had enough of the slow build-up and crosses it in but the visitors clear.

Better from the Irish. Matt Doherty controls a ball very well down the right and cuts into the box. He might be clipped but he plays on and finds Seamus Coleman, whose shot is blocked.

Now Conor Hourihane curls just wide from 25 yards.

Double change for the Irish. Conor Hourihane and Callum Robinson replace Troy Parrott and Jayson Molumby.

Image source, Getty Images

So close! As an Azeri defender is down injured in the box, Daryl Horgan crosses from the left and Adam Idah heads just wide from eight yards. He should have hit the target there.

A long spell of Irish possession and probing ends with a Troy Parrott shot from about 20 yards out. Saved by the keeper. Better.

James McClean puts in another cross. He's a growing presence now. The goalkeeper tries to punch the ball but completely misses it but nobody is there behind him to head in.

Ooof. Jayson Molumby is booked for fouling goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev.

James McClean puts in a high cross which the keeper palms over the ball. Molumby races in to try to get a head onto it but all he does is clatter the goalkeeper into the net.

Like the first half, this period started well for the Irish but then Azerbaijan have grown into it.

James McClean finds Daryl Horgan with a long ball over the top. The half-time sub cuts in and blasts the ball off a defender.

A shot of Benito Carbone there on the TV. The ex-Premier League striker is on the Azeri coaching staff.

Jayson Molumby shouts for an Irish penalty but it's a real long shot following an aerial clash with Filip Ozobic. Ref isn't interested.

Troy Parrott races onto a ball over the top - he could be in but keeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev races miles out of his box to deal with it. A good sweeper keeper performance so far.

Disappointing. James McClean puts an inswinger in but it drops into the keeper's hands.

This has been a bit better from the Irish and they win a free-kick on the right wing.

Almost an instant impact by Daryl Horgan. First of all he shows intelligence to tell the offside Adam Idah to leave it. He beats a man and lifts in a lovely cross which Jayson Molumby heads over.

The second half begins. It has to be better, it just does.

Image source, Getty Images