Evan Ferguson's goal in his fourth international appearance secured a crucial 1-0 victory for the Republic of Ireland against Armenia in the World Cup qualifiers. Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson had expressed willingness to accept an unconvincing performance if it led to a win, which is exactly what his team delivered. The match turned after Tigran Barseghyan was sent off for headbutting Finn Azaz, and the 20-year-old Ferguson scored with a header in the 70th minute at Aviva Stadium. This victory keeps Ireland in contention for second place in the group, trailing Hungary by just one point, with upcoming matches against Portugal on November 13 and Hungary on November 16. Despite the win, Ireland will need to significantly improve their performance to secure qualification, especially against stronger opponents.