GROUP D: HOW THE NIGHT UNFOLDED

5.0pm

All eyes are on Tbilisi as Wales kick off against Georgia. Ireland are hoping for a Georgian win but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really change what they need to do.

5.45pm

Wales and Georgia go into the break scoreless. Aaron Ramsey came closest to breaking the deadlock.

6.11pm

Four minutes after the restart, Wales get the breakthrough – Tom Lawrence (right) cracking home the goal.

6.23pm

Back in Dublin the teams are in. Martin O’Neill names David Meyler as captain while Callum O’Dowda and Daryl Murphy are given the nod.

6.56pm

Full time in Georgia as Wales grind out a 1-0 win to remain unbeaten in the group ahead of Monday’s showdown with Ireland in Cardiff. Crucially for Wales, they didn’t pick up any suspensions.

7.45pm

Moldova get the game under way at the Aviva. Over in Vienna, Austria begin their clash against tabletoppers Serbia.

7.47pm

Dream start for Ireland as Murphy pokes the ball home to give the hosts the lead after two minutes. The Waterford native’s first goal at home in green and boy did he enjoy it.

7.56pm

Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic gives

Serbia the lead in Austria. 8.0pm

Callum O’Dowda (pictured) has made a bright start and a couple of minutes earlier sent a shot crashing into the side-netting but this time he does well down the left and lays it on a plate for Shane Long who misses a great chance to double the lead.

8.03pm

But Ireland don’t have to wait long for their second and it’s Murphy again. Wes Hoolahan sprays the ball wide for Stephen Ward who sends a fine cross into Murphy who expertly heads the ball back into the far corner. A brilliant goal made in the League of Ireland.

8.07pm

The floodgates look like they are about to open as Jeff Hendrick plays

Long clean through on goal but he shoots straight at the ‘keeper. Another poor miss.

8.11pm

Ireland go to sleep and Sergiu Platica almost punishes them with a dipping volley but Darren Randolph pulls off a stunning save to keep it out. At the same time, Guido Burgstaller equalises for Austria.

8.26pm

Ciaran Clark almost heads home Hendrick’s cross as the half-time whistle approaches.

8.30pm

This time it’s Shane Duffy’s turn to send a header narrowly over. Ireland lead 2-0 as the teams head in at the interval. Ireland could well be four or five up but Darren Randolph (pictured) has also pulled off a terrific save. Austria and Serbia are still level at 1-1.

8.46pm

Long restarts the game, with Ireland looking to improve their goal difference in the second half.

9.02pm

Long’s last goal for Ireland came in the reverse fixture last October and he is presented with a third gilt-edged chance to end his barren streak but he fluffs his lines after O’Dowda has his shot blocked. Meanwhile, two would-be debutant strikers remain on the bench, desperate for a chance.

9.19pm

After 76 minutes, Martin O’Neill eventually looks to his bench but Sean Maguire and Scott Hogan still wait as Harry Arter and Aiden McGeady are introduced. A five-man midfield now for Ireland. 2-0 at home against a woeful Moldova side no less. West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic gives Austria the lead.

9.24pm

One of the biggest roars of the evening is reserved for Sean Maguire (pictured) as he makes his eagerly-awaited international debut with seven minutes remaining. Better late than never, eh?

9.26pm

Nemanja Matic equalises to put Serbia within touching distance of qualifying but a minute later Louis Schaub grabs a late winner for Austria.

9.34pm

Moldova’s miserable evening is complete as Alexandru Gatcan is shown a red card after an altercation with Harry Arter. The ref blows the full-time whistle and the show rolls on to Cardiff.