Shane Duffy averts Republic of Ireland disaster against Azerbaijan.

Staff Reporter.

Shane Duffy spared the Republic of Ireland’s blushes with a late header to earn a World Cup qualifying draw with Azerbaijan in Dublin.

After losing their last home qualifier to Luxembourg, the Irish risked embarrassment once again thanks to Emin Mahmudov’s first-half strike.

But Duffy’s 87th-minute header earned Stephen Kenny’s side their first point of the campaign.

The Republic created more than enough chances to win the game comfortably.

However, a lack of composure in the final third resulted in a draw against a side ranked 112th in the world.

While they avoided a repeat of the disastrous home defeat by Luxembourg in March, the result sees the Republic – playing in front of home fans for the first time since November 2019 – extend their record winless competitive run to 15 games.

Having failed to pick up a point from their first three qualifiers, the draw leaves the Irish further adrift of the top two with Serbia beating Luxembourg to join Portugal on 10 points.

With the first half seemingly drifting towards a scoreless conclusion, Mahmudov stunned the Aviva Stadium into silence with a superb right-footed effort that was as much to do with the Republic’s feeble defending as it was the midfielder’s clinical finishing.

Having picked up Shane Duffy’s headed clearance, Mahmudov was afforded the time and space by Seamus Coleman and Josh Cullen to shift on to his right foot and send a curling shot into Gavin Bazunu’s right-hand top corner.

The goal reminded one of Gerson Rodrigues’ winner for Luxembourg in Dublin in March when the Dynamo Kyiv attacker latched on to a loose ball and went unchallenged before firing past Bazunu.

Thankfully for the Irish this time, though, Duffy rose to meet Josh Cullen’s cross to keep another dismal defeat off Kenny’s copybook.

Meanwhile Memphis Depay scored twice as the Netherlands secured an important World Cup qualifying victory over Montenegro.

The Barcelona forward scored from the penalty spot after he had been hauled down in the box by Dusan Lagator.

He struck his second after the break, lashing in from an angle before Giorginio Wijnaldum struck the third.

Cody Gakpo then curled in the best goal of the night as the Dutch moved second in Group G, a point behind leaders Turkey, who they host on Tuesday.

Elsewhere France drew for the fifth game in a row in all competitions as their stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign continued with an entertaining draw in Ukraine.

Mykola Shaparenko put the hosts ahead with an excellent 44th-minute strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

Anthony Martial bundled in a close-range equaliser for only his second international goal – and first since 2016.

Moussa Diaby almost won the game, but hit the post from Karim Benzema’s pass.

Seven of the 10 Group D games have resulted in draws, including all five of Ukraine’s games.

France top the group on nine points from five games but Finland – in second on five points – have two games in hand.

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