Michael Obafemi stole the show as the Republic claimed a much-needed Nations League victory
The Republic of Ireland claimed a maiden Nations League win at the 13th time of asking as they saw off Scotland in surprisingly comfortable fashion in Dublin.
Badly in need of points after defeats by Armenia and Ukraine in their first two games, the Republic took a 20th-minute lead through Alan Browne with Troy Parrott doubling the advantage after being teed up brilliantly by the impressive Michael Obafemi.
Obafemi then capped an outstanding individual display by thundering home the Republic's third from distance five minutes before being forced off injured.
The Irish thought they had netted a fourth just after the hour but a VAR review found that Grant Hanley had hooked Scott Hogan's header off the line before it crossed.
While the Republic will bask in the relief of a long-awaited win in this competition, for Scotland it is a disappointing result given how they bounced back from losing their World Cup play-off semi-final with Ukraine by beating Armenia on Wednesday.
Victory lifts the Republic up to second in Group B1, ahead of the third-placed Scots but having played a game more.
Obafemi shines for rejuvenated Republic
Scotland boss Steve Clarke had admitted to being wary of an Irish backlash after their winless start to the Nations League and that is exactly what happened with the Republic looking much sharper and hungrier from the outset at a noisy Aviva Stadium.
Obafemi, one of five players drafted in by Stephen Kenny after the Ukraine defeat, was key to the Republic's rejuvenation in what was the 21-year-old Dubliner's first international start.
It was Obafemi who robbed Scotland centre-back Grant Hanley of the ball before finding James McClean, and the Swansea striker would have connected with McClean's cross at the far post had it not been for Scott McKenna's header flicking the ball behind for a corner.
Thankfully for the hosts, McClean's corner was headed back into the danger area where Browne was able to bundle the ball past Craig Gordon from point-blank range.
While Obafemi played a minor role in bringing about the corner for the Republic's opener, he was the architect for the second.
After picking up a loose ball in midfield, Obafemi checked back to gain a yard on Callum McGregor, took a step-over and, having spotted Parrott's clever dart between Anthony Ralston and Jack Hendry, deftly lifted the ball in for the 20-year-old to nod past Gordon.
There were contrasting emotions between the Irish and Scottish fans
Scotland struggle to respond to Irish goals
It was, however, an even first half for the most part, and the Republic were fortunate not to have been punished for a couple of sloppy Shane Duffy passes out of defence, both of which resulted in John McGinn shots from the edge of the area with the second coming immediately before the Republic's second goal.
But this was clearly the Republic's day and Obafemi put the game beyond Scotland when he lashed a fierce right-footed shot past Gordon after Billy Gilmour had lost the ball in a dangerous position.
Aside from Hogan being denied by Hanley, the Republic dropped off after Obafemi was withdrawn in the 56th-minute because of injury but the home side's third goal had effectively killed the game as a contest with Scotland failing to muster a meaningful response.
Clarke's side must now look to do that by managing what the Republic could not by beating Armenia in Yerevan on Tuesday (17:00 BST) while the Irish will hope to maintain momentum when they travel to Poland to take on Ukraine later that evening (19:45).
Scotland's first defeat in Ireland since 1963 - match stats
Republic of Ireland have won their first ever game in the Nations League at the 13th attempt of trying (W1 D5 L7), scoring more goals (3) than they managed in their first 12 matches in the competition combined (2). Scotland suffered just their second away defeat to Republic of Ireland (P7 W2 D3 L2) and first since June 1963 (1-0). This was Republic of Ireland's biggest competitive win on home soil since October 2014, when they beat Gibraltar 7-0 in a European Championship qualifier. Republic of Ireland had two players aged 21 or under (Michael Obafemi & Troy Parrott) score in a competitive game for the first time since September 1997 (David Connolly & Mark Kennedy vs Iceland). Parrott (20y 127d) became the youngest player to score a competitive goal for Republic of Ireland since Stephen Ireland in October 2006 (20y 46d vs Cyprus in a European Championship qualifier). Obafemi and Parrott became the first players to both score and assist in a competitive game for Republic of Ireland since both Robbie Keane and Wes Hoolahan did so against Gibraltar in October 2014.
Player of the match
ObafemiMichael Obafemi
Republic of Ireland
Squad number19Player nameObafemi
Squad number10Player nameParrott
Squad number4Player nameDuffy
Squad number17Player nameKnight
Squad number12Player nameCollins
Squad number14Player nameBrowne
Squad number15Player nameMolumby
Squad number5Player nameEgan
Squad number1Player nameKelleher
Squad number6Player nameCullen
Squad number11Player nameMcClean
Squad number8Player nameHourihane
Squad number20Player nameHogan
Squad number7Player nameRobinson
Squad number13Player nameHendrick
Line-ups
R. of Ireland
Formation 3-1-4-2
1Kelleher
12Collins4Duffy5Egan
6Cullen
14Browne15Molumby17Knight11McClean
19Obafemi10Parrott
1Kelleher12Collins4DuffyBooked at 60mins5Egan6Cullen14Browne15MolumbySubstituted forHendrickat 84'minutes17KnightSubstituted forHourihaneat 72'minutes11McClean19ObafemiSubstituted forHoganat 56'minutes10ParrottSubstituted forRobinsonat 85'minutesBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
2Christie3Stevens7Robinson8Hourihane9Keane13Hendrick16O'Leary18O'Shea20Hogan21Hamilton22Lenihan23Travers
Scotland
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Gordon
13Hendry5Hanley15McKenna
23Ralston4McTominay8McGregor3Robertson
7McGinn11Christie
10Adams
1Gordon13HendrySubstituted forGilmourat 45'minutes5Hanley15McKennaSubstituted forSouttarat 74'minutes23Ralston4McTominay8McGregor3Robertson7McGinnSubstituted forS Armstrongat 59'minutes11ChristieBooked at 44minsSubstituted forBrownat 59'minutes10AdamsSubstituted forStewartat 59'minutes
Substitutes
2Patterson6Souttar9Stewart12McCrorie14Gilmour16Taylor17S Armstrong18Turnbull19Brown20Campbell21Kelly22Hickey
Live Text
Match ends, Republic of Ireland 3, Scotland 0.
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 3, Scotland 0.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Shane Duffy.
Attempt missed. Ross Stewart (Scotland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
Callum Robinson (Republic of Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stuart Armstrong (Scotland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Callum Robinson (Republic of Ireland).
Anthony Ralston (Scotland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Conor Hourihane (Republic of Ireland).
Anthony Ralston (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by James McClean (Republic of Ireland).
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Callum Robinson replaces Troy Parrott.
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Jeff Hendrick replaces Jayson Molumby.
Hand ball by Billy Gilmour (Scotland).
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by John Egan.
Attempt blocked. Ross Stewart (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Robertson.
Hand ball by Ross Stewart (Scotland).
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Alan Browne.
Substitution, Scotland. John Souttar replaces Scott McKenna.
Attempt saved. Jacob Brown (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross.