The Republic of Ireland took on Moldova in their World Cup 2018 qualifying clash on Friday night knowing that they needed three points in order to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Victory for Martin O'Neill's men would ensure that the Republic would then face Wales on Monday with the chance to usurp the Dragons in the table, and the Greens duly obliged as they swept Moldova aside with a comfortable 2-0 win courtesy of a Daryl Murphy brace.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Please note that this game gets underway at 7.45 pm.
Good evening all and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of the Republic of Ireland's must-win World Cup qualifying clash with Moldova at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Tonight marks a massive occasion for the hosts, who need three points tonight in order to leave themselves with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next summer. Should they be able to defeat Moldova here, Martin O'Neill's charges will then need to beat Wales next week too.
Things have come off the rails slightly in recent qualifying matches for Ireland, who are now without a victory in their previous four qualifiers. Last month, O'Neill's men dropped points in a woeful display against George, before redeeming themselves with a resolute displaying despite suffering a defeat at the hands of favourites Serbia.
Despite the stress on this evening's encounter, the ROI will know that they are coming up against what you might describe as the lesser opponents in the group. Moldova are without a win in 18 qualifiers matches across both the World Cup and European Championships, having lost 14 and drawn four. The country has scored only four times while shipping 20 in their eight qualifying games in Group D.
Right, time for the team news now...
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND STARTING XI: Randolph; Christie, Duffy, Clark, Ward, Hoolahan, Meyler, Hendrick, O'Dowda, Long, Murphy
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SUBSTITUTES: Doyle, Elliot, O'Shea, Keogh, Whelan, McGeady, O'Kane, Maguire, Hourihane, Hogan, K. Long, Arter
MOLDOVA STARTING XI: Cebanu; Bordian, Racu, Epureanu, Razgoniuc, Platica, Gatcan, Anton, Ionita, Dedov, Ginsari
MOLDOVA SUBSTITUTES: Graur, Antoniuc, Pascenco, Cojocari, Cociuc, Ambros, Pascenco, Ojog, Koselev
So the major news for the ROI is that O'Neill has opted to start Nottingham Forest's Daryl Murphy alongside Shane Long as the Greens go in search of a victory tonight. There are places on the bench for newcomers Scott Hogan and Aiden O'Brien, while as you might expect Jeff Hendrick comes into the side following the suspension of Robbie Brady. James McClean is missing through suspension too, while Jonathan Walters is out with an injury.
This will be an important game for Hendrick who shone so brightly Euro 2016. He hasn't been at his best for Ireland of late, but he'll be hoping to respond to his return to the team. The real issue for the ROI in their last four qualifiers has been a lack of goals. In fact, Ireland scored just twice across those four games.
Long's inclusion will allow ROI follows to breathe a huge sigh of relief given that the frontman was unable to take part in training on Monday and Tuesday. Having said that, McClean will be a huge absence here given that he represents the country's highest goalscorer in qualifying with three goals.
This game now comes loaded with that added element when you consider that O'Neill has just put pen-to-paper on a two-year extension, seeing him through until the end of the country's Euro 2020 campaign. O'Neill suffered his first competitive home defeat as ROI coach against Serbia, having previously pushed his team to five victories and four draws in nine fixtures.
This will be only the second time that these sides have faced each other competitively, the first coming when the ROI beat Moldova comfortably 3-1 in the reverse of this fixture last year.
Wales beat Georgia a little earlier this evening meaning that this really is a must-win game for the Republic, a draw might just give them a slither with goal difference pending, but their most realistic shot is winning here and then trying to overcome Wales on Monday in Cardiff.
Another key man to watch tonight will be Norwich City's Wes Hoolahan, who will be key in linking up midfield and attack. The veteran produced a standout performance in the country's defeat to Serbia, while he also combined well with Long for the frontman's goal when Ireland beat Moldova in Chisinau last year.
Needing three points, the ROI could not have walked into an easier contest statistically. Moldova have not been able to win a competitive match since beating Montenegro 5-2 four years ago.
The Republic will be hoping to prevent themselves from equaling their worst World Cup qualifying run with a victory too. The country's longest winless run in a World Cup qualifying campaign came back in 2000, when they went five contest without victory.
Callum O'Dowda has a huge night ahead of him here. The 22-year-old is making his first competitive start for the ROI and has been included in the starting XI ahead of the experienced Aiden McGeady.
Moldova did make things difficult for the ROI when they met last year and it took two late goals to wrap up victory on the road for the Republic. Moldova coach Igor Dobrovolski has insisted he will be hoping to frustrate Ireland again: "We tried this with Wales. We try to do whatever we can and play as well as we can."
The Republic's last home triumph came courtesy of a 3-1 friendly win over Uruguay in the summer. They will be hoping that the home crowd can help inspire them to put an end to this frustrating winless run throughout the qualifiers.
PREDICTION! We have around 15 minutes to go until kickoff and it is time to make a prediction. The Republic are without a win in four and will be desperate to achieve a win that will keep them in the running for qualification. Despite a poor run in front of goal, O'Neill's men are coming up against a side who have scored just four times in the group while conceding 20. This should be fairly simple for the hosts and I'm backing the ROI for a comfortable 2-0 victory.
It's an overcast evening in Dublin tonight but we're not expecting any rain. There really are no excuses for the hosts to be honest - Moldova have failed to win any of their last 18 qualifying matches.
The ground is filling up nicely now as we head towards kickoff. There should be a cracking atmosphere inside the Aviva as the Republic go in search of a vital win on home soil.
Here we go then, the players arrive on the bench - with the home fans in full song. It's time for the national anthems and then we'll be off...
KICKOFF! After a minute's applause in remembrance of the late Jimmy Magee, the visitors get things underway at the Aviva.
The hosts have been hot on the press early on and Hendrick wins the ball back before being clattered in the middle of the park. Feisty stuff already! It looks like the ROI have started with a diamond in midfield.
GOAL! REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1-0 MOLDOVA (DARYL MURPHY)
How's that for a massive relief? The Republic are up and running within two minutes and it's fairly simple stuff from the hosts. A throw-in from the right comes into the box and is flicked on, leaving Murphy to react quickest and send his finish beyond the keeper and in at the back-post. That's his second goal for his country and he'll be delighted with that.
Of course, we all know that Ireland enjoy an early goal but they often fail to go on and build from it. Getting the second will be crucial here if the hosts want to prevent any late jitters as they aim to close out a vital victory.
This could be a long night for the visitors, who are already camped well inside their own half, allowing the ROI to move things around mid-tempo in the middle of the pitch. The visitors do eventually win the ball back and aim for the counter down the right flank, although Ward does really well to cover and see the ball out for a goal kick.
Ireland get their first chance to put something into the box from a free kick, but Moldova show some good organisation to push up and catch three players offside.
The Republic are playing very narrow at the moment with this diamond, meaning that all the width will have to come from the full-backs. They'll certainly need some legs tonight! Ward finds room on the left and delivers into the box, leaving Epureanu to head clear.
O'Dowda has some space on the right channel and it looks as though he might just feed the run of Hoolahan on the overlap. He decides not to, however, leaving the youngster to drag a speculative shot wide of the post.
CHANCE! It should be 2-0 to the hosts. O'Dowda does incredibly well to hold off his man and turn into the box. The youngster than cuts a perfectly-weighted pass across the middle to find Long. The striker has the goal at his mercy, but places his side-footed finish just wide of Cebanu's post with the goal gaping.
Moldova break on a rare occasion going forward, but there are plenty of players back to deal with Dedov's cross into the middle.
GOAL! REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2-0 MOLDOVA (DARYL MURPHY)
You might not see a better worked goal than this all weekend! Hoolahan feeds things wide for the run of Ward, who then whips a ball into the middle. Murphy is there with the header, which he catches neatly from around 15 yards out and sends back across goal to beat a sprawling Cebanu. That was a world-class finish from the forward.
CHANCE! Ireland at full flow now as Hendrick steals possession in the Moldova half and he races onward towards the box. Long breaks away to the right and is found by his teammate, leaving Cebanu to make a strong stop with a goal looking almost certain.
The second goal seems to have filled the hosts with confidence after setting up a safety net. Ward goes galloping down the left again, but his cross is a poor one and Cebanu watches it swing out for a goal kick.
SAVE! Where did that come from? Platica takes the knock-down with one touch and with his second he lashes a volley at goal from all of 25 yards. It almost catches Randolph off guard, but the keeper responds with a neat save to tip the shot over his crossbar. Excellent work from the home stopper...
The hosts have settled into an enjoyable rhythm in possession and are starting to move the Moldovan defence around. Hoolahan tries a through-ball for Murphy, although Bordian reads things well and makes the interception.
Myler sells Randolph short and the keeper has to come sprinting off his line in order to prevent Ginsari from stealing in. The ball is then moved forward at pace for the run of O'Dowda, but Racu makes a timely tackle to deny the youngster a clean break on goal.
This is becoming slightly processional for the home side at the moment. The Moldova defence fall asleep and allow Long to break free. The forward stumbles with the ball at his feet and allows the defence to recover as the chance goes begging.
CLOSE! Murphy shows a surprising turn of pace down the left flank in order to beat his marker. The full-back then squares a pass into the middle for Long, although Epureanu just about nips in front to take the ball off the forward's toes.
O'Dowda has been brilliant in the opening half and hats off for O'Neill to show the courage to pick the youngster. He is sneaking into some dangerous pockets of space and it seems to be opening the pitch up for the full-backs too.
A well-worked move down the right sees the ball flicked into space for Hoolahan, who bends to shoot only to offer the cross at the last minute. Racu does brilliantly, however, as he makes a vital tackle to put off the shot from Long.
CLOSE! A free kick is turned into the middle of the box and Moldova decide to sit deep. Clark rises highest in the box, but he cannot turn his header goal-wards as he sends an effort five yards wide of Cebanu's frame.
HALF TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2-0 MOLDOVA
Things are going perfectly for O'Neill and his men as the referee calls an end to the first half. As expected, Moldova have offered virtually nothing going forward and the Republic are full value for their two-goal lead.
The only cause for concern tonight would be how long it might take Ireland to break down 10 players inside the Moldova half, but that early goal has really helped to shift any home nerves. With the second being added, the Republic look like they are going to setup that vital clash with Wales on Monday with very few questions being asked of them tonight.
SECOND HALF! The Republic get us moving again in the second half, they'll be gunning for a third to allow O'Neill to make a few changes ahead of Monday's game with Wales.
Slow start to the second half really, as the Republic allow Moldova to break forward and earn a corner. Randolph almost makes a mess of his catch, but is able to gather at the second attempt with plenty of supporting defenders around him.
Moldova have had a couple of chances to get something into the box, and Bordian obliges this time with Dedov lurking in the middle. Randolph has it covered, though, as the keeper comes off his line to take the catch.
There's a slight dip in intensity from the Ireland side from the first half and the crowd have arguably dipped too.
More catching practice for Randolph as he comes out to gather again with just two Moldovan players in the middle. The ROI have stepped off their pressing slightly and it has allowed the visitors to settle into some much-needed possession.
Ireland show some patience on the edge of the area and finally feed the ball towards the head of long. Racu is up for the challenge though as they come together with a clash of heads, leaving the visitors to clear.
Moldova are starting to grow in confidence as they aim to capitalise on a dip in the hosts' approach. A ball is whipped towards the front post where Clark is on the stretch but is able to skew away for a corner.
Again the visitors make use of some space on the right this time as Cociuc gets beyond his marker. The substitute looks for Ginsari, but his pass is a poor one and Ireland clear.
CLOSE! Long has the chance to put this game to bed but somehow he comes up short. Ireland spring the counter and the ball is slipped into O'Dowda in the middle of the box. The youngster's shot is then deflected into the path of Long, who only has the keeper to beat on the angle. The frontman opens up his body for the side-footed finish, but can only guide his effort wide of the target. It was surely harder to miss than score...
The Republic are still in full control despite dipping in intensity here, Moldova have managed to wrestle back a bit more of a foothold bit at the moment it will not be enough to cause the hosts too much concern.
One criticism here is Ireland's long-ball game, which has crept back into proceedings in the second half. The hosts were moving the ball beautifully in the first period but now they're merely lumping things forward and looking for the knock-down.
Hoolahan has been quiet in the second half, but this time he does well to cut in from the right flank and turn a cross towards the front post. None of his teammates make the run, though, allowing Epureanu to head clear.
SUBSTITUTIONS: No hat-trick for Murphy then as he is replaced by Arter, while Hoolahan comes off in place of McGeady.
We are into the final 10 minutes now and things have not looked more comfortable for the Republic, despite a rather tepid showing in the second half - perhaps they're conserving themselves for Monday now that that game will be the decider.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a debut from then bench then for Sean Maguire, who is introduced with just over five minutes to play.
This game has slowed down to a stroll now as Ireland conserve their energy. Moldova are doing their best to push forward when in possession, but both sides are fully aware of the looming outcome here.
We are going to have two minutes of additional time here in Dublin...
RED CARD! Needless handbags now as Gatcan is shown a second yellow and his marching orders from the pitch. The frontman stupidly sends his head into Arter with the two looking horns. The referee sees it and sends off the Moldovan with little hesitation.
FULL TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2-0 MOLDOVA
So there we have it, Ireland will play Wales on Monday knowing that a victory in Cardiff will see them finish in second place and leave them with a good chance of making it to Russia next summer.
Murphy was brilliant in the first period and fully deserved his goals. The hosts dropped off remarkably in the second half, but they have still managed to get the job done despite the pressure around this game. Make sure you join us for our live coverage on Monday night when O'Neill's men meet Wales. Thanks for sticking with us tonight!
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
