Republic of Ireland 3-2 Latvia: Teenage striker Evan Ferguson scores on first start

Evan Ferguson doubled the Republic of Ireland's pb connected 17 minutes with his archetypal planetary goal

In-form teenage striker Evan Ferguson scored his archetypal planetary extremity arsenic the Republic of Ireland bushed Latvia 3-2 successful a affable astatine Aviva Stadium.

Roberts Uldrikis pulled a extremity backmost with a screamer and Arturs Zjuzins levelled successful first-half wounded time.

Substitute Chiedozie Ogbene struck a victor successful the 2nd half.

All eyes were connected Ferguson, making his archetypal elder commencement successful an Irish jersey, aft his goalscoring exploits successful a breakthrough play Brighton.

Dubbed a "superstar" by Danny Murphy aft scoring twice arsenic Brighton reached the FA Cup semi-finals, the 18-year-old reacted quickest to Michael Obafemi's cutback to spark the loudest cheer of the nighttime successful Dublin connected 17 minutes.

Ferguson became the Republic's youngest scorer since legendary striker Robbie Keane with his goal.

• Ferguson stars arsenic Republic bushed Latvia - arsenic it happened

The onslaught partners had been progressive successful the Irish opener arsenic their link-up play allowed debutant Will Smallbone to whip successful a first-time shot and Cardiff's O'Dowda raced successful to caput location aft 5 minutes.

Ferguson, buoyed by his goal, astir doubled his tally erstwhile his effort from a choky space was deflected into the side-netting by Antonijs Cernomordijs arsenic the hosts missed galore chances to propulsion further clear.

Alan Browne, O'Dowda and Smallbone each had attempts and Latvia capitalised connected the Republic's deficiency of a objective edge.

Vladislavs Gutkovskis had spurned a aureate accidental aft racing successful down the location defence, but Stephen Kenny's were yet punished erstwhile Uldrikis' 25-yard screamer flew past helpless Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and into the apical corner.

The location assemblage were temporarily silenced by the Latvian goal, but they were stunned successful first-half wounded clip erstwhile Zjuzins' debased effort flew disconnected the soaking turf, took a deflection disconnected Nathan Collins and, to compound the Republic's misery, took a interaction disconnected Kelleher en way to the apical corner.

Ogbene makes instant impact

The intorductions of Chiedozie Ogbene and Mikey Johnston changed the crippled for the Republic of Ireland

Latvia astir took the pb little than a infinitesimal into the 2nd fractional erstwhile Gutkovskis fired implicit erstwhile good placed.

Ferguson, inactive brimming with assurance contempt the Latvian fightback, fired narrowly implicit from 25 yards and Uldrikis attempted to repetition his first-half effort but Kelleher was adjacent to it.

Mikey Johnston, who changed allegiance from Scotland, was introduced for his debut successful the 2nd fractional on with Ogbene successful the 64th infinitesimal and the substitutes made an contiguous impact.

Johnston struck the station aft a driving tally astatine the Latvian defence 45 seconds aft coming connected and Ogbene reacted quickest to pat into the unguarded net.

Tiring aft taking a mates of knocks, Ferguson was fixed a lasting ovation arsenic helium was replaced by Troy Parrott with 18 minutes to play.

Johnston introduced himself to the Irish enactment with a lively show and helium astir capped with a extremity aft immoderate mesmerising footwork but his effort was good blocked by the scrambling Latvian defence.

While determination were positives successful the triumph - astir notably Ferguson, Smallbone and Johnston - manager Kenny knows his broadside volition person to amended arsenic World Cup finalists France question to Dublin connected Monday successful the Republic's opening Euro 2024 qualifier.

The Irish are underdogs to scope the finals with the Netherlands, Greece and minnows Gibraltar to travel successful Group B.