🇮🇪 Debutants dazzle as Ferguson opens Ireland account in Latvia win | OneFootball

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Padraig Whelan·22 March 2023

🇮🇪 Debutants dazzle as Ferguson opens Ireland account in Latvia win

Article image:🇮🇪 Debutants dazzle as Ferguson opens Ireland account in Latvia win

Some stars of the new Republic of Ireland era shone in Dublin on Wednesday night as they saw off Latvia in a five-goal friendly thriller.

Scorers: O’Dowda 6′, Ferguson 17′, Ogbene 65′; Uldrikis 33′, Zjuzins 45+1′


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Chief among those who shone were the impressive Will Smallbone who got his international career off to the perfect start with just six minutes on the clock at the Aviva when he picked up Callum O’Dowda in the area with a sublime cross and the Cardiff man headed home.

On his 26th cap, that was also O’Dowda’s first goal for his country and it wasn’t long before another player got in on the act to open their account for the boys in green.

Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson grabbed what is likely to be the first of many goals for his country (start looking out Robbie Keane perhaps?) by finishing calmly with his first sight of goal.

But old defensive issues raised their head again on 33 minutes when Robert Uldrikis was given time to get his shot at goal away and he unleashed a fantastic effort to pull one back for the visitors from 30 yards – punishing captain Matt Doherty’s slack loss of possession.

And in first half injury-time the home support were stunned into silence when Latvia levelled through Arturs Zjuzins, whose deflected effort managed to beat Caoimhín Kelleher from the edge of the box.

Ireland restored their lead 20 minutes after half-time when another debutant dazzled as Mikey Johnston was unleashed from the bench and he drove forward to unleash a low strike which came back off the post and after Latvia failed to deal with the loose ball, Chiedozie Ogbene pounced for the winner.

Attention for Stephen Kenny’s side now turns to their European Championship qualifier against France.