Goal scorers Michael Obafemi and Robbie Brady both admitted that Ireland were sloppy in coughing up a two-goal lead to Armenia before pulling a result out of the fire in the dying embers of the contest.
Despite dominating the opening 45 minutes, John Egan's header was the only goal of the game when the sides made their way to the half-time break.
When Obafemi smashed home another brilliant goal from distance to make it 2-0, against a side yet to register a shot on target, Stephen Kenny’s side appeared to be coasting to the Nations League victory that would ensure it would be their opponents relegated to the bottom tier of the competition.
However, two goals in 87 seconds turned the game on its head before Robbie Brady kept his cool to stroke home from the penalty spot with the clock in the red to claim a 3-2 win in a topsy-turvy final quarter.
"We got a bit sloppy, I think we got too comfortable," was player of the match Obafemi’s assessment.
He followed up his Scotland wonder strike with another touch of finishing class into the south terrace end, yet it was Brady’s composure that was required to get Ireland over the line.
"We nearly shot ourselves in the foot with madness of five, 10 minutes," the Preston man said after what was his first start for the Boys in Green after nearly two years.
"We made it difficult for ourselves. We were in control throughout the game, we felt dominant, and luckily enough we nicked it in the end.
"It was difficult to break down, but we need to find more ways to do that."
'It's been a difficult time for me on and off the pitch’ - Robbie Brady was pleased to mark his Ireland return with a match-winning penalty in injury time #IRLARM #COYBIG #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/Kxt24frhs0
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 27, 2022
The game would conclude with quite a dramatic twist.
A goalmouth scramble eventually saw VAR intervene to award a penalty after Dara O’Shea’s snap-shot was blocked en route to goal by a stumbling Dashyan. Two Armenian players were dismissed for their vociferous protests, and while Alan Browne picked up the ball and Obafemi admitted he would have fancied his chances from 12 yards, it was left for Brady to cap a brilliant return to the international arena.
"It felt good. It’s been a difficult period for me on and off the pitch, so I have had a lot of thinking time. To find myself back in a green jersey...I was ectastic about tonight."
