Muriqi scores for Kosovo to overcome Ireland in first-ever meeting

[p]Following an early period of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kosovo/v1DTPQwI/"]Kosovo[/a] pressure, the visitors started to grow into the game, albeit without committing numbers forward as they tried to limit any potential counterattack opportunities.[/p][p]That meant chances were at a premium, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ogbene-chiedozie/OOBNb1XC/"]Chiedozie Ogbene[/a] curled well over the bar after being picked out by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abankwah-james/QgfEnOwH/"]James Abankwah[/a].[/p][p]That proved to be an important moment in the half as it sparked the home side into action, and they laid siege to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kelleher-caoimhin/4S8JqWN0/"]Caoimhin Kelleher[/a]’s goal.[/p][p]In fact, the Brentford goalkeeper was helpless just before the half-hour mark as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muriqi-vedat/CjwNDgqi/"]Muriqi[/a] smashed an effort towards the bottom corner, only to be denied by a sensational block from the retreating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/molumby-jayson/fN0LlG8Q/"]Jayson Molumby[/a].[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="abdd2d98-a758-4721-969d-296dc60d7427" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="37125d9b-4da5-451e-ae2c-5eaaf8f0ce27" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Another goalline clearance was needed five minutes later; this time it was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-shea-dara/4ETEZJ7p/"]Dara O'Shea[/a] coming to the rescue at the far post to turn [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hodza-veldin/SOGZNaOr/"]Veldin Hodza[/a]’s goalbound effort to safety.[/p][p]Heading into half-time, the Irish simply couldn’t get out of their own half, yet the game remained scoreless thanks to Kelleher when he clawed Muriqi’s looping header wide of the post.[/p][p]The start of the second period saw a more end-to-end affair, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/parrott-troy/K6H9Uptn/"]Troy Parrott[/a] heading straight at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muric-arijanet/CfsIdb20/"]Arijanet Muric[/a], whilst Hodza curled just wide at the other end minutes later.[/p][p]With the game lacking any clear-cut chances, the hosts finally managed to craft a major opportunity to grab the opener in the 66th minute.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zabergja-baton/QywYDMw4/"]Baton Zabergja[/a] showed powerful running on the left to outmuscle [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-brien-jake/Sfgwnrmh/"]Jake O'Brien[/a] before driving into the box, but his cutback was smashed high and wide by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zhegrova-edon/vqK5oQ8e/"]Edon Zhegrova[/a]. [/p][image alt="Momentum" id="76d58be5-7bda-43c5-ba74-b93b1d10ff71" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8185e243-90d1-44f9-a571-2acf25b53fc6" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]With the game seemingly destined for a stalemate, the captain Muriqi stepped up to bravely nod home the winner from close range after Molumby had deflected a shot onto the underside of the bar.[/b][/p][p]The defeat extends a worrying away record for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ireland/Gfyqk1aG/"]Republic of Ireland[/a], with only one win from their previous seven (D2, L4), and their next fixture against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/israel/rqK1ypob/"]Israel[/a] won’t be played on home soil either.[/p][p]On the other hand, Kosovo are mightily impressive at home with eight wins from their previous 11, but their credentials in the group will be tested with a trip to Austria next time out.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muriqi-vedat/CjwNDgqi/"]Vedat Muriqi[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kosovo/v1DTPQwI/"]Kosovo[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ireland-Gfyqk1aG/kosovo-v1DTPQwI/summary/stats/?mid=xYhn4IsI"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore[/a][/b][/p]