Shane Duffy stretches to cut out a cross but gets it wrong and Gavin Bazunu saves with his feet!

The flag is then finally raised for offside. Duffy is incandescent that it didn't go up earlier.

That's not how they do things anymore, unfortunately.

Jamie McGrath has replaced Daryl Horgan for the visitors.

No changes for the hosts, who get us going in the second half.

Callum Robinson managed one goal in 20 caps before this evening.

He's just scored two in a thoroughly satisfying 45 minutes.

Can he grab a hat-trick? He'll definitely have a chance or two with the way the hosts are defending.

Robbie Keane is the last man to have scored a treble for the Republic. That came against Gibraltar in 2014.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Two goals from Callum Robinson - the first of which was a beauty - have put the Republic in the driving seat at the midway point in Baku.

Are we finally going to get Stephen Kenny's first competitive win?

It certainly looks that way.

Get to half time with their clean sheet intact. That's all the Republic need to do.

They have two minutes of added time to negotiate first.

Matt Doherty weaves his way past a couple of challenges before laying the ball off to Daryl Horgan, who again wastes the chance to find one of his team-mates.

Doherty has looked bright down the Republic's right flank, full of confidence and endeavour despite his bit-part role for Tottenham this season.

Mahir Emreli - who scored the winner for Legia Warsaw against Leicester in the Europa League recently - has been quiet so far, but he steps away from Josh Cullen in midfield before hammering a shot over the bar.

The game has come to life again after a bit of a scrappy period.

An Irish attack breaks down and Namig Alasgarov steams forward, but John Egan lands a crunching tackle to snuff out the threat.

At the other end, Callum Robinson has the chance to double his tally with an audacious volley from an Adam Idah cross, but it drifts over the bar.

The tempo's dropped off and so has the quality. The Irish have just lost their way a bit after that buoyant start.

Filip Ozobic, who likes a shot from distance, looks up to see no Irish defender in front of him.

The Qarabag winger has a pop, but it's no danger for Gavin Bazunu as it sails wide.

The hosts are dominating possession now.

Azerbaijan starting to gain momentum now.

Abbas Huseynov picks out a peach of a cross to Haghverdi, who again outjumps the Irish defence but, again, can't find the target.

Stoppage in play with Josh Cullen down and requiring treatment.

Azerbaijan have joined the party after a sluggish start and Hojjat Haghverdi should have headed the equalising goal, but the cross is a little too high for him and he can't direct it towards goal.

A warning sign for the Irish defence, though.

Callum Robinson has been in the headlines this week after saying he's decided not to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

It seemingly hasn't affected him in the slightest. That was a wonderful goal, his second for the Irish.

Jeff Hendrick fizzes a low pass into Callum Robinson, whose heavy touch allows the home defence to clear.

Robinson's been lively early on.

What a waste.

A clever turn from Jeff Hendrick in midfield allows Callum Robinson to play Daryl Horgan in down the left.

He cuts inside on his right foot and lashes a shot (or was it a cross?) well wide of the target.

Should have done better.

The Republic get us under way.

The players are out on the pitch, taking in the national anthems.

There are so many empty seats in this spectacular arena. A curious sight indeed.