Fredrik Jensen has become the scourge of the Republic of Ireland once again after firing the only goal in Finland's UEFA Nations League victory in Helsinki.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Augsburg striker also scored the only goal in a 1-0 win in Dublin last month and repeated the dose with a 66th-minute strike following an error by keeper Darren Randolph.
In front of a crowd of around 8,000 at the Olympic Stadium, the defeat completed a miserable October for Stephen Kenny's men.
Jensen's decisive intervention in the League B, Group 4 clash came just three minutes after full-back Enda Stevens had hit the crossbar at the other end.
Yet although Ireland gave as good as they got for long periods, their wait for a goal extended to 390 minutes of football since Shane Duffy's late equaliser in Bulgaria.
New manager Kenny has now seen his first five games pass without a win and while there were positives - 21-year-old debutant Dara O'Shea performed admirably alongside Duffy in central defence - the dearth of goals which last week ended hopes of a Euro 2020 finals berth is a lingering concern.
The Republic have collected just two points from their first four games to leave the Finns and Wales fighting it out for top spot.
Elsewhere, Lithuania and Albania drew 0-0 in another early game in Group C4.
Australian Associated Press