Armenia ended their eight-game winless streak in FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ireland at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. The win provides a crucial boost to their qualifying campaign, while leaving Ireland at the bottom of Group F after two matches.
Despite a promising start from Ireland, who came close to scoring early on through Evan Ferguson and Jack Taylor, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock just before halftime. A penalty, converted by Eduard Spertsyan, put Armenia in the lead after a foul on Tigran Barseghyan.
The second half began with a quick blow to Ireland’s hopes. Just six minutes after the restart, Grant-Leon Ranos found the net, doubling Armenia’s lead and putting the visitors in a difficult position.
Ireland, however, responded swiftly. Six minutes after the second goal, Ferguson, with a well-placed shot, halved the deficit to keep his team’s hopes alive. Despite late opportunities for both sides, including a disallowed goal for Armenia, the hosts held on to secure the three points.
The result moves Armenia up to second place in Group F, while Ireland now faces a tough road ahead to keep their qualification dreams alive.
