Randolph helps Ireland to victory

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  • Darren Randolph kept a clean sheet as Ireland beat Georgia in World Cup qualifying
  • West Ham United goalkeeper helped Boys in Green to 1-0 win in Dublin
  • James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna unused substitutes for Wales and Italy respectively

Darren Randolph’s Republic of Ireland continued their unbeaten start to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 Group D win over Georgia in Dublin.

The West Ham United goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on his 16th appearance for his country at the Aviva Stadium, where Seamus Coleman’s goal secured a win to follow Ireland’s opening 2-2 draw in Serbia.

The Boys in Green will contest their third qualifier in Moldova on Sunday 9 October.

Centre-halves James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna were both unused substitutes – Collins for Wales in their 2-2 Group D draw with Austria in Vienna, while Ogbonna sat on the bench for Italy’s 1-1 Group G draw with Spain in Turin.

Further afield, on-loan Everton striker Enner Valencia started Ecuador’s 3-0 win over Chile in South American qualifying.

At age-group level, goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics started for Latvia in their 2-2 UEFA European U19 Championship Group 13 draw with Turkey in Bucha, Ukraine. Latvia face the mini-group hosts in Borispol on Saturday, before tackling Iceland in Bucha on Tuesday.

Declan Rice missed Ireland’s 1-0 win over Albania in Tirana in Group 4, but the Hammers centre-half will hope to be involved when they take on Gibraltar in Durres on Saturday and Germany in the same venue on Tuesday.

Finally, Domingos Quina started Portugal U19s’ 2-1 friendly defeat by Italy in Fatima. The two nations will face each other again in Marinha Grande on Sunday.