Ireland v Greece: Player ratings as Liam Scales shines in defeat
Celtic defender Liam Scales was arguably Ireland's best performer on the night as the Boys in Green lost 2-0 to Greece in Athens.
CAOIMHIN KELLEHER: The Liverpool goalkeeper kept Ireland in the game in the first-half and could do nothing about the opener - but loses a mark with his error that gifted Greece their second. 7
DARA O’SHEA: Found Dimitris Giannoulis’s movement difficult to handle as he was pulled and stretched, but could have done with more help at times from teammates further up the pitch. 6
NATHAN COLLINS: Was pulled from one side to the other and back again, but the Brentford man made a big block in the 25th minute to deny Vangelis Pavlidis and was strong in the air too. 6
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LIAM SCALES: The best of Ireland’s defenders, with strong aerial and ground skills, and some important blocks. He almost got enough on the opener to send it spinning wide of the post, as the ball clipped his studs on the way to the net. 7
ROBBIE BRADY: Became more of an attacking threat as the second-half went on, but the Preston left-back looked exhausted towards the end. A couple of good runs went unspotted by teammates. 6
JOSH CULLEN: His distribution was better than in Finland, but he was slow on a couple of occasions to react to Greek runs from midfield. A decent showing by the Burnley man. 6
JASON KNIGHT: Played a lovely back-heel nutmeg to Robbie Brady as Ireland mounted a promising second-half attack, and hurt himself in a brave challenge to cut out a Greek attack, but one of his quieter nights. 6
CHIEDOZIE OGBENE: Forced back to deal with Greece’s bombardment down his flank and only had one opportunity to create something at the other end, shortly before half-time, but the end product was lacking. 5
SAMMIE SZMODICS: He was exhausted by the time he came off for Mikey Johnston, having raced up and down the Irish left-hand-side with very little in terms of reward. 6
TROY PARROTT: Full of running, snapping at the heels of Greek defenders whenever the opportunity arose, and was unlucky with the bounce of the ball on one occasion when he blocked a clearance. 6
EVAN FERGUSON: Missed a glorious chance to hand Ireland an early lead, but looked to have been pushed as he struck the ball. 5
SUBS:
Jack Taylor (for Ferguson 57) - came agonisingly close to equalising with a second-half header. 6
Festy Ebosele (for Ogbene 57) - caused plenty of problems for Greece down the Irish right with some excellent runs. 6
Mikey Johnston (for Szmodics 72)
Jayson Molumby (for Knight 72)
Kasey McAteer (for O’Shea 82)
GREECE: Odysseas Vlachodimos 7; Lazaros Rota 6, Ntinos Mavropanos 6, Pantelis Hatzidiakos 7, Dimitris Giannoulis 8; Dimitris Kourbelis 7 (Kostas Tsimikas 82), Manolis Siopis 6; Giorgos Masouras 6 (Dimitrios Pelkas 65, 6), Tasos Bakasetas 8 (Christos Zafeiris 72), Christos Tzolis 7 (Petros Mantalos 82); Vangelis Pavlidis 6 (Tasos Douvikas 72).
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