Kosovo vs Ireland ended with a 1-0 home win in the UEFA Liga das Nações, decided by a late goal after Kosovo had created the clearer chances. The scorer was not listed in match data, yet that single strike was enough, because Ireland rarely threatened at the other end.

Match Summary

The first half produced no goals. Kosovo were the pre-match favourite, but they went into the interval still looking for a finish, and Ireland went in still level.

After the restart Ireland were booked twice in two minutes. Jayson Molumby received a yellow card in the 66th minute. James Abankwah followed in the 68th minute. Kosovo finished with no yellow cards, and neither side saw a red, so Ireland kept a full team. Those cautions still arrived close together while the match was locked at 0-0.

Kosovo scored in the 83rd minute. It was the only goal of the match. The scorer was not listed in match data. Ireland did not reply in the time that remained, and the official result was 1-0.

Key Moments

The Molumby and Abankwah bookings mattered because they came as a pair, with the score still 0-0 and Kosovo still searching for a way through. From the 68th minute Ireland had two players on yellows and a long stretch left to survive. That is a hard way to close a match you have not yet scored in.

The late Kosovo goal then removed the one thing Ireland had been playing for. A draw was alive until that moment and gone afterwards. Ireland's attack never looked equipped to recover a deficit, and the closing minutes became a question of whether Kosovo would hold 1-0 rather than whether the visitors could snatch a point.

Match Statistics

The numbers backed Kosovo's control of the chances. They took 18 shots to Ireland's 3 and put 7 on target against 1. Expected goals were 1.96 for Kosovo and 0.28 for Ireland, a gap that made the one-goal margin look small beside the opportunities. Kosovo won 1 corner and Ireland won 0. Kosovo collected 0 yellow cards, Ireland 2, and neither team was shown a red card. That shooting split, 18 to 3, is the simplest measure of how few attempts Ireland registered. Seven shots on target for Kosovo against one for Ireland also shows why the home side were the team that eventually scored, even if they needed until late to do it.

See also

• Kosovo vs Ireland live score
• AltBets live scores
• AltBets tips
• Match recaps