Dara O’Shea, Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene started and Jack Taylor finally made his senior international debut as a sub as the Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-0 by Greece in a Nations League game in Piraeus.
Ireland, with O’Shea again at right-back, came under heavy Greek pressure in the first half and did well to get to half-time without conceding, but finally went behind three minutes after the restart via Anastasios Bakasetas’s deflected strike.
Ogbene, who had given the Irish a threat on the break in the first half, was replaced in the 57th minute at the same time as Taylor made his Ireland debut, four years after receiving his first senior call-up.
The midfielder, operating in an advanced central role, made a strong impression during his time on the pitch and went very close to scoring with a header in the 69th minute which Greek keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos did well to palm over.
After Szmodics and O’Shea had been subbed on 84, Taylor went close again as Ireland pressed for an equaliser, hooking a volley from a corner which had been flicked on against a defender. The Town midfielder’s rebound looped to the keeper.
In the dying moments, Ireland conceded again, keeper Caoimhin Kelleher misplacing a pass to Petros Mantalos, who took it past the Liverpool man and stroked into the net. Ireland remain third in Nations League Group B2.
O’Shea has now won 30 caps, Ogbene 24, scoring four times, and Szmodics eight.
Elsewhere, Blues academy keeper Woody Williamson, 18, won his ninth Scotland U19s cap as his side beat Hungary 2-1 in a friendly in Debrecen this morning.
Town U21s striker Ash Boatswain won his fourth full Montserrat cap and pplayed the full 90 minutes as his side were beaten 1-0 by Bonaire in St Vincent in a CONCACAF Nations League tie.