Summary

  • Greece 3-1 Northern Ireland (FT)

  • Republic of Ireland 3-2 Armenia (FT)

  1. ouch!

    Postpublished at 20:57 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell comes out to claim a high ball but instead clatters into team-mate George Saville.

    Saville receives treatment before rejoining the fray.

    Meanwhile, Kosovo are now beating Cyprus 4-0 which all but ensures Northern Ireland's safety from relegation regardless of the outcome in Athens.

  2. Postpublished at 20:53 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Tom Flanagan makes a crucial tackle to deny Giorgis Masouras a clear shot on goal from close range.

    Superb defending!

  3. goal

    GOALpublished at 20:53 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 2-0 Armenia

    Michael Obafemi doubles the Republic's lead!

    The Swansea City striker takes a beautiful first touch to take the ball away from the surrounding Armenia defenders and fires an ambitious effort from 25-yards out.

    To the delight of the the Irish faithful his long range effort skids past the helpless David Yurchenko and finds the bottom left hand corner of the net.

    Exquisite finish.

  4. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    First substitution of the evening for the Republic as Conor Hourihane replaces Jayson Molumby.

  5. Postpublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    The second-half action starts in Athens!

  6. Surrounded!published at 20:49 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    Five Armenia players look to take the ball off Republic of Ireland striker Michael Obafemi.

    Republic of Ireland's Michael Obafemi on the attack against ArmeniaImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Republic of Ireland's Michael Obafemi on the attack against Armenia

  7. Magilton praises 'smart finish'published at 20:49 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster

    Quote Message

    It’s a magnificent ball and to be fair to Shayne, he’s on the move and he’s the only one that is on the move. It’s coming across and you’ve got to be so concentrated because he could easily have shanked it or taken his eye off it. It was a really smart finish.

  8. Postpublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    We're back underway for the second half here at the Aviva Stadium...

  9. Gillespie rues 'really poor' goalpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Keith Gillespie
    Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster

    Quote Message

    He (Bailey Peacock-Farrell) has probably not shouted loud enough. It’s food and drink, it’s a loopy ball which should be easy enough for the goalkeeper and it’s a really poor mistake for an international goalkeeper to make. In the first 15 minutes we looked solid but we gave them such an easy goal to go ahead.

  10. Postpublished at 20:39 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    Matt Gault
    BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

    A half that will be swiftly forgotten by most inside the Aviva Stadium I suspect bar John Egan, whose 18th-minute header is the difference at the break.

    The other positives for the Republic? Gavin Bazunu may as well still be on the bus, Robbie Brady has looked bright in his first international start in 18 months while there have been flashes of the growing partnership between Troy Parrot and Michael Obafemi.

    But the home supporters won't be getting overly excited unless they see the ball fly into the net a few more times.

  11. 'Game is there to be won'published at 20:38 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Quote Message

    You don’t mind goals going in if the opposition has done something very spectacular to score but it was a poor mistake by Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Up front we’ve got to make it stick a bit better and at the back, we have to close down a lot quicker around the 18-yard box but the game is there to be won by either side.

  12. Postpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI in Athens

    There wasn't much quality in that first 45 minutes of football, but after falling behind in such calamitous fashion Northern Ireland will be satisfied to be level at the break.

    Their response to conceding was excellent but, though both sides have huffed and puffed, neither have found any real attacking rhythm.

    Getting in behind the Greeks down the right channel looks to be Northern Ireland's best route to creating chances, but they have committed too many individual errors and do not look tight at the back.

    It's a massive second half coming up for Northern Ireland and Ian Baraclough. As things stand they will retain their place in the third tier of the Nations League, but they will not want to be relying on the result in Kosovo to ensure that remains the case.

  13. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    John Egan's header is all that separates the two sides here at the Aviva Stadium, as Stephen Kenny's men go in a goal to the good at the break.

    The Republic have been by far the better side, controlling the game and enjoying a lot of the ball.

    Half-time Republic of Ireland 1-0 ArmeniaImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Half-time Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

  14. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:33 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland will be happy to be level at the break with Greece bossing possession in the opening 45 minutes.

    Dimitris Pelkas put the hosts in front but Shayne Lavery provided a quick reply.

    Northern Ireland's relegation concerns have been eased with bottom side Cyprus losing 2-0 to Kosovo and facing relagation as it stands.

    HT Score in AthensImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    HT Score in Athens

  15. 'Scrappy' game at presentpublished at 20:28 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Quote Message

    Both sides are very scrappy at the minute, passing the ball and giving it away. Neither side seems to be able to get their foot on the ball. The first 25-30 minutes was entertaining but now it’s just got scrappy.

  16. Postpublished at 20:27 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    The hosts are enjoying the lion share of possession so far and have Armenia penned back in their own half.

    However, as of yet the Republic haven't been able to double their lead.

  17. Lavery levels!published at 20:24 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Shayne Lavery levels the score in AthensImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland striker Shayne Lavery makes it 1-1 in Athens

  18. Postpublished at 20:23 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Greece skipper Tasos Bakastas twists and turns before rifling just wide from 25 yards.

  19. Up like a salmon!published at 20:20 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Armenia

    John Egan rises highest to give the Republic the lead against Armenia.

    Republic of Ireland's John Egan scores his sides first goalImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Republic of Ireland's John Egan scores his sides first goal

  20. Race for the ball!published at 20:20 British Summer Time 27 September 2022

    Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Greece's Manolis Siopis in action against Northern Ireland's Tom FlanaganImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Greece's Manolis Siopis in action against Northern Ireland's Tom Flanagan