Republic of Ireland Under-17s 0-0 Paraguay Under-17s
The Republic of Ireland will head to the round of 32 in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup as group winners after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Doha was enough to seal top spot.
With two wins from two, Colin O'Brien’s side knew a point would suffice to claim top spot in Group J.
Despite creating the better chances and dominating the final half hour, they were unable to unpick the Paraguayan defence.
The Boys in Green, who will learn their opposition later today, are back in action on Friday
O’Brien made four changes in personnel from the side that defeated Uzbekistan 2-1, with Josh Cullen, Finn Sherlock, Gavin McAteer and Victor Ozhianvuna replacing Oisin McDonagh, Ade Solanke, Ramon Martos and Max Kovalevskis
Ireland began the game like a side already assured of a place in the next round, sloppy in possession at times and not as committed in attack as they had been against Uzbekistan.
Paraguay began to control proceedings around the middle of the pitch without causing too much bother for Alex Noonan between the Irish sticks.
It was the 26th minute when the first big chance of the game arrived.
Jhosias Campss, who dusted himself down after a robust challenge minutes earlier, whipped in a deep cross from the touchline that sailed over team-mate Mauricio De Carvalho’s head and Victor Ozhianvuna looked set to clear.
The Shamrock Rovers man however miscued his clearance, instead rolling it into the path of De Carvalho.
The striker couldn’t adjust his angles sufficiently and his snatched effort was dragged wide of the post.
De Carvalho comes close to opening the scoring for Paraguay. Best chance of the match so far.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 11, 2025
📺Watch live now @rte2 and @rteplayer
Read updates here: https://t.co/DsjZeuCy6A pic.twitter.com/8RqNyXX57i
While Noonan and Jaden Umeh were willing runners throughout, they were getting little change up front, with Ireland happy on occasions to go direct from deep.
In the closing 10 minutes of the half however the Irish midfield began to exert a growing influence, with Grady McDonnell and Rory Finneran finding their creative groove.
In the 39th minute, O’Brien’s side created their best chance when Finneran, driving through, threaded a delightful ball for Umeh. The Benfica man had split the two defenders and while the first touch allowed him to get his shot away, it wasn’t a clean connection with goalkeeper Matias Fernandez down smartly with his feet.
Rory Finneran produces a wonderful run and pass to feed Jaden Umeh. He is denied by the goalkeeper. Still 0-0.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 11, 2025
📺Watch live now @rte2 and @rteplayer
Read updates here: https://t.co/DsjZeuCy6A pic.twitter.com/KVpReZHVmA
Ozhianvuna then showcased his talent on the left. His initial cross was blocked, but he regathered on the sideline, cut back inside and dinked through an inviting ball that McDonnell blazed over.
Finn Sherlock, who picked up a booking late in the half, was replaced at the interval by Oisin McDonagh, but it was another substitute, Paraguay’s Jose Burhing, who had an immediate impact with a couple of early opportunities to score.
The first was a free header after splitting Oisin McDonagh and Josh Cullen, while shortly after he sprung into life after a wayward Irish back pass that saw Noonan rush off his line to thwart the attacker.
A triple substitution on the hour mark saw Kian McMahon-Brown, Goodness Ogbonna and Ramon Martos introduced and from there on in it was Ireland that set the tempo.
Ogbonna in particular added real frisson to the Irish attacking play as they created a number of chances, if mainly from distance.
The UCD man teed up Ozhianvuna in the 66th minute and his left-footed strike appeared destined for the back of the net before a deflection averted the danger for Paraguay.
Ozhianvuna went closer again in the 83rd minute when he tried to guide the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the 'D', but it failed to curl back in sufficiently to trouble goalkeeper Matias Fernandez.
Umeh had a late wayward effort and despite failing to find the breakthrough, the point was enough to seal passage to the next phase as group winners.
Uzbekistan’s 5-0 win over whipping boys Panama saw the Asian side take second spot, with Paraguay likely to take one of the best third-place spots.
Republic of Ireland team: Alex Noonan, Josh Cullen (Goodness Ogbonna 62), Vinnie Leonard, Rory Finneran, Finn Sherlock (Oisin McDonagh 46), Grady McDonnell, Gavin McAteer (Ramon Martos 62), Ryan Butler, Victor Ozhianvuna, Michael Noolan (Kian McMahon-Brown 62), Jaden Umeh.
Paraguay: Matias Fernandez, Thiago Aranda, Leo Cristaldo, Mauro Coronel, Tobias Acosta, Carlos Franco, Jhosias Campss, Aldo Sanabria, Thiago Vera, Pedro Villalba
Referee: Filip Dujic (Canada)
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
