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Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland (Result) Ferguson heads in opener from close range on 45 minutes Finland hit woorkwork twice in first half Kelleher saves Pohjanpalo penalty after 77 minutes Republic finish third in Group B2 and face play-off Finland relegated to League C Andy Gray Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Mikey Johnston lets fly from the edge of the area but it arrows past the post! Good spell, this! Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Ferguson is almost at it again as he leaps to meet Szmodics's cross, but he can't jump high enough and the chance slips away. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Festy Ebosele has been non-stop down the right tonight. Another mazy run gives the Republic territory, but Jason Knight doesn't take his shot as he fires well, well over from outside of the area. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Daniel O'Shaughnessy is coming on for Finland (Yes, really! ). O'Shaughnessy was born and bred in Finland, but his dad is from Galway - hence the name. Matti Peltola is forced off with an injury. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Ronnie Whelan Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE It's been a sloppy start to this second half with no much happening whatsoever. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Finland are almost in, but Glen Kamara passes it wide when it looked like he should shoot from the edge of the area. It ends up with Jere Uronen, who sends a cross well over the bar. That's a gentle reminder about the danger Finland possess. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Evan Ferguson has only had 17 touches so far - but also the most important one. Can you tell which one was the goal? Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Fest Ebsoele launches in a long throw that is only half cleared. Josh Cullen is yet to score for the Republic, and that doesn't change as he loops a volley well, well wide as the ball lands to him on the edge of the area. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Mikey Johnston is a livewire and he plays in another dangerous cross, but this one is cut out. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Ronnie Whelan Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE Nathan Collins with a couple of great blocks again. He's been doing it all season for Brentford, he gets his body in the way Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Finland are crying for a free-kick on the edge of their own area as Szmodics challenges for the ball, but the referee is unmoved and Evan Ferguson's long-range effort is blocked. It's amazing what a goal can do. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Right, what will the second 45 minutes have in store? Let's find out. HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Kevin Doyle Former Republic of Ireland footballer on RTE 2 We did make Finland look awfully good at times and they're not. They're missing some of their really good players. We're 1-0 up and we scored a very goal, but we're lucky to be 1-0 up. HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Stephen Kelly Former Republic of Ireland right back on RTE 2 The Republic of Ireland come out on top being 1-0 up at half-time but Finland have definitely posed more of a threat. They have had more possession and they look dangerous. HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Kevin Doyle Former Republic of Ireland footballer on RTE 2 It [the goal] was really good from the Republic of Ireland. We had lots of set pieces and this was recycled from a corner. We did really well and Matt Doherty gets it in, recycled again and that's where you want Mikey Johnston - out wide and one-on-one against the full-back. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland What do we make of the 90s-inspired Irish kit tonight? It's to mark the 30-year anniversary of the 1994 World Cup in the USA. HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland That was Evan Ferguson's first Republic of Ireland goal in 11 months, and his fourth at international level. But how big could that be for his confidence as he looks to return to goal scoring ways for Brighton? HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland That goal would mean that, as things stand, Finland will be relegated from Group B2. However, with England leading in Greece, the Republic of Ireland would also be condemned to a relegation play-off with a League C side. We've still 45 minutes to go, so a lot can change. Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Ronnie Whelan Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE It was from great work from Mikey Johnston, he gets down the left hand side, he comes alive. He has so many tricks and step overs and gets a yard of space and it is a magnificent ball in. Also, what a header from Evan Ferguson. Evan Ferguson celebrating scoring Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland Finland hit the post twice in the first half but Evan Ferguson's header on the stroke of half-time puts the hosts in front. Evan Ferguson celebrates scoring against Finland in the Dublin encounter Evan Ferguson's goal and a superb penalty save from Caoimhin Kelleher helped Republic of Ireland to a 1-0 win over Finland in the Nations League game in Dublin. Finland were twice denied by the woodwork before Ferguson headed in from a Mikey Johnston cross on the stroke of half-time. The visitors were pushing for a deserved leveller when they were awarded a 77th-minute penalty after a VAR check for a handball by Ferguson. Kelleher dived to his right to keep out Joel Pohjanpalo's spot-kick and then got up to save Robin Lod's shot from the rebound. England's win against Greece means the Republic will finish third in Group B2 and face a play-off next year while Finland are relegated. Thursday night victory at the Aviva completed a Nations League double for the Republic against Finland after the 2-1 win in Helsinki last month. But it was the Finns who made the better start and Kann Kairinen fired off-traget before seeing his shot blocked. The Irish saw less of the ball but they carried a threat throughtout and the home crowd celebrated when Ferguson played in Sammie Szmodics and the Ipswich forward rounded keeper Lukas Hradecky before slotting home. However, the flag was raised for offside but the hosts were soon on the attack again with Ferguson's deflected long-range strike fizzing over. Lod went so close to putting Finland in front when he curled against the post before Benjamin Hallman headed just wide. Back came the Republic with an unmarked Matt Doherty running in at the backpost to meet a corner but he headed wide. The same post came to Ireland's rescue again as Oliver Antman cut inside and his shot was goalbound until Nathan Collins got a vital touch to divert it on to the woodwork. It proved to be a crucial intervention with the deadlock broken in the final minute of the first half as Johnston jinked his way to the byline and his dinked cross found Ferguson, who leaped highest to nod in from a yard out. More to follow. .. . Last Updated 14th November 2024 at 22: 00 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Manager: Markku Kanerva Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Manager: Markku Kanerva Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 UEFA Nations League All competitions All competitions All competitions Republic of Ireland have won four of their eight previous meetings with Finland (D2 L2), including when coming from 1-0 down at half-time to win 2-1 in Helsinki last month. Finland won on their last visit to the Republic of Ireland in September 2020, 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League; the Finns have never won back-to-back such away games however (D2 L2).   Republic of Ireland have won just 15% of their 20 games in the UEFA Nations League (W3 D6 L11), with only Iceland (5. 6%), San Marino (6. 3%), Andorra (10. 0%) and Liechtenstein (10. 5%) having a worse win rate in the competition. Finland have lost each of their last four matches – all coming in the UEFA Nations League – and could lose five in a row for the first time since October 1994. Republic of Ireland have lost their two home games under manager Heimir Hallgrímsson (0-2 v England and Greece) and could lose three in a row for the first time since August 1962 – the Icelandic boss would be the first to lose his first three home games in charge of the Boys in Green. Finland are winless in their last five away games in all competitions, since beating San Marino 2-1 in November 2023 (D1 L4); their four away losses in 2024 is their most in a calendar year since 2016 (6). Sam Szmodics is still awaiting his first goal for the Republic of Ireland, having debuted back in March – no player has had more shots for the nation in 2024 than the forward has managed across his eight international appearances (9). Finland’s all-time record goalscorer Teemu Pukki has been directly involved in 55% of the Finns’ goals in the UEFA Nations League (12/22 – 8 goals, 4 assists) with only San Marino’s Nicko Sensoli (100%) and Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko (63%) involved in a greater proportion of a nation’s goals in the competition. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.