Greece wins and remains unstoppable in the Nations League
Hellenics have four wins in four matches and lead group B2, with three more points than England
Greece, with Benfica player Vangelis Pavlidis starting – he came off in the 72nd minute – beat Ireland 2-0 on the fourth day of group B2 of the Nations League .
Ireland almost scored after just four minutes. The Greeks rushed to get the ball out of play and lost possession in a restricted area. Ferguson was pressured by Lazaros Rota , but managed to shoot. The ball went wide of the net of former Benfica player Odysseas Vlachodimos .
In the 11th minute, Greece, playing at home, threatened Kelleher ‘s goal . Masouras shot on goal after some great work by Pavlidis , with Kelleher preventing the goal. In the 29th minute, the Irish goalkeeper was again forced to make an effort. Kelleher first stopped Bakasetas ‘ shot and then Pavlidis’ rebound.
In the 25th minute, the Benfica forward once again aimed at Ireland’s goal, but his shot was blocked.
In a first half in which Greece was better, with more of the ball and attempts at goal, Dimitrios Giannoulis put Kelleher to the test again, in the 29th minute.
Greece came out strong in the second half and Bakasetas curled a shot that was calmly saved by Kelleher in the 46th minute. After the warning, the goal. A good move between the Greek players and Bakasetas fired a powerful shot with his right foot from the edge of the area into the back of the Irish net. Greece’s number 11 benefited from a slight deflection of the ball off Scales .
The goal was dedicated to George Baldock, the Greek international player for Panathinaikos who was found dead in his swimming pool.
In the 69th minute, Ireland sniffed out an equaliser. A cross from the right wing into the box and Jack Taylor headed the ball, forcing Odysseas Vlachodimos to make a good save.
Greece sealed the result in the 90+1′ minute. Kelleher ‘offered’ the ball to Mantalos , who had no problems shooting into the back of the net.
Greece have 12 points, thanks to four wins in four matches, and are leading the group, three points ahead of England. The Greeks are already certain that they will finish in one of the top two positions in the group, ensuring at least the play-off for promotion to League A.
