Finn Azaz has criticized Armenia’s captain Tigran Barseghyan for losing control during their tense World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Tuesday. The Republic of Ireland midfielder described the moment Barseghyan headbutted him early in the second half as a crucial turning point in the match.
Just seven minutes after the break, Barseghyan was shown a straight red card following a heated clash on the sidelines, where he made forceful contact with Azaz. This left Armenia a man down and opened the door for Ireland to seize the advantage.
Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, the Irish side eventually broke the deadlock in the 70th minute thanks to a header from Evan Ferguson. The victory marked an important boost for Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
Southampton’s Azaz, who started the game under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, said the incident was driven by emotion and the physical nature of the match. “It was a heated game with a lot of passion, and moments like this can happen,” Azaz told BBC Sport NI. “But the captain lost his composure, and the red card changed the course of the game. It was definitely a headbutt, and I felt the impact.”
Reflecting on the incident, Azaz added, “It was a moment in the heat of battle, and that’s part of football. But it certainly influenced the outcome.”
Ireland’s win moves them up to third place in Group F, just a point behind Hungary, who secured a dramatic late draw against Portugal to improve their own qualifying chances. With two matches left, the group remains tightly contested. Should Hungary defeat Armenia next, Ireland will need at least a point in their upcoming game against Hungary in Budapest on 16 November to keep their hopes alive.
Azaz expressed optimism about Ireland’s prospects, despite previous setbacks, including conceding a late goal in their recent 1-0 loss to Portugal. “We know the challenge ahead will be tough, but we’ll take confidence from our recent performances,” he said. “It’s going to be a big game against top players, but we’re ready to compete and make something special happen.”
From Armenia’s perspective, head coach Yegishe Melikyan acknowledged the impact of the red card and confirmed that Barseghyan had apologized to his teammates after the match. “The dismissal was a mistake, and the player took full responsibility,” Melikyan said. “He apologized to the dressing room, and I also take responsibility as the coach. If we had remained at full strength, I believe we could have achieved a positive result. We must move forward and aim for better outcomes in the future.”