Caoimhin Kelleher went from hero to villain as the Republic of Ireland slipped to a 2-0 Nations League defeat in Greece.

Greece players pose with a shirt of team-mate George Baldock following his death aged 31 (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
Ireland, who ran out looking for back-to-back competitive wins for the first time since March 2019 following their success in Finland on Thursday evening, defended stoutly for much of a hard-fought contest, but were eventually undone in front of a partisan crowd of 30,253.
On an emotional night, the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium fell silent ahead of kick-off as both teams paid tribute to Greece defender George Baldock following his death at the age of 31.
Once the game was under way, the first chance fell to Ireland with just four minutes gone when the ball broke to Evan Ferguson off Lazaros Rota, but the striker was unable to hit the target under pressure from the defender as he attempted to make amends.
However, Kelleher, who had earlier ufabet https://ufabet999.app seen a Bakasetas shot deflected just wide, had to be at his best to palm away Giorgos Masouras’ stinging 11th-minute volley after defender Liam Scales had blocked Vangelis Pavlidis’ initial attempt.
Masouras failed to test Kelleher with a tame header from a Christos Tzolis cross but the Liverpool keeper denied Bakasetas with a foot and then claimed Pavlidis’ follow-up.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson moved to refresh his embattled side when he sent on Festy Ebosele and debutant Jack Taylor for Chiedozie Ogbene and Ferguson.
Vlachodimos had to tip a 69th-minute Taylor header over amid a flurry of activity around the home penalty area and the Ipswich man saw appeals for a late penalty waved away after his shot appeared to hit the arm of Mavropanos on its way towards goal.
But the contest was over when Kelleher presented the ball to Mantalos, who rounded him before firing into the empty net.