Finland 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland | 2023 - FIFA Women's World Cup | 999947157

FIFA Women's World Cup | Olympic Stadium

26 Oct 2021 16:15

Finland 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland

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REPORT | Finland 1-2 WNT

A first win in qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup felt sweet for the Republic of Ireland as they earned a 2-1 victory away to Finland in Helsinki.

26th Oct 2021

The hosts had moved this fixture to their Olympic Stadium as part of 50 year celebrations of women's football but goals from Megan Connolly and Denise O'Sullivan spoiled their evening.

This was the second game in Group A for Vera Pauw's team - having narrowly lost 1-0 to Sweden - and they knew that a positive result was required to boost their chances of staying in the mix to reach the World Cup in 2023.

Connolly certainly shifted them in the right direction with a superb curling free-kick on nine minutes that opened the scoring. It was a similar finish that the Cork native converted in 2014 at the UEFA Women's Under-19 European Championships. Perhaps she should shoot more often.

Ireland took control of the game in the early exchanges by pushing Finland back, pressing them high and using the ball well with O'Sullivan linking play so effortlessly.

Finland did have their chances with Linda Sällström and Anna Westerlund going close, while Natalia Kuikka was excellent in her overall play. Yet they rarely troubled goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

In fact, it took a moment of fortune for the home team to draw level as they took advantage of Katie McCabe being off the pitch with an injury before breaking through and Adelina Engman netting from close range.

It took Ireland just four minutes to respond as Heather Payne raced down the right flank and stood up a superb cross that veteran goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela dropped and O'Sullivan pounced to head in.

McCabe went close soon after with a rasping effort wide, while Finland piled on the pressure in the final minutes but brave defending and a collective performance saw Ireland collect the three points.

Next up for Pauw's team is a double-header in Tallaght Stadium against Slovakia (November 25th) and Georgia (November 30th).

Finland: Tinja-Riika Korpela; Tuija Hyyrynen, Anna Westerlund, Natalia Kuikka, Emma Koivisto; Adelina Engman, Emmi Alanen, Eveliina Summanen, Ria Öling (Essi Sainio 86); Sanni Franssi, Linda Sällström (Amanda Rantanan 89).

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Áine O’Gorman, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Savannah McCarthy, Katie McCabe; Megan Connolly, Denise O’Sullivan, Jamie Finn; Lucy Quinn (Rianna Jarrett 75), Heather Payne.

Referee: Alexandra Collin (France).

PREVIEW | Finland v WNT

The second game in Group A for the Republic of Ireland sees them take on Finland in their quest to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

25th Oct 2021

The game, which will be played in the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, will kick off at 16:15 Irish time and will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 and on the RTÉ Player worldwide.

Vera Pauw's team narrowly lost 1-0 to top seeds Sweden last Thursday but will be hoping to collect their first points of the campaign on Tuesday evening.

TEAM NEWS
All players are fit and available for selection.

QUOTES
Republic of Ireland Manager Vera Pauw
"Finland are a completely different team to Sweden, who we played last week, but there are some similarities. They are very strong, they are very much a Scandinavian team, so they have very fit players, very strong players, they play very direct and have a lot of pace.

"We know that we have do more in possession and to create chances. Everybody would have seen that we tried to do that against Sweden but they were a very strong opponent. In this game against Finland we might have more opportunities to use possession and to do more with it.

"This game against Finland is the game where we really have to show what we've learnt over the last half year. We are excited about the challenge, this is what elite international football is all about and we feel that we are ready for it."

SQUAD LISTS
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths), Roma McLaughlin (Central Connecticut State University), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)

Finland
Goalkeepers: Tinja-Riikka Korpela (Tottenham Hotspur), Anna Tamminen (Hammarby), Paula Myllyoja (Espanyol)
Defenders: Natalia Kuikka (Portland Thorns) Anna Westerlund (Åland United), Anna Auvinen (Sampdoria), Elli Pikkujämsä (Örebro), Eva Nyström (Hammarby), Emma Koivisto (Brighton & Hove Albion), Tuija Hyyrynen (Juventus)
Midfielders: Nora Heroum (Lazio), Eveliina Summanen (Kristianstads DFF), Emmi Alanen (Växjö DFF), Ria Öling (FC Rosengård), Olga Ahtinen (Linköpings FC), Essi Sainio (HJK), Julia Tunturi (Vittsjö GIK), Adelina Engman (Växjö DFF), Iina Salmi (Valencia)
Forwards: Juliette Kemppi (Växjö DFF), Jutta Rantala (Kristianstads DFF), Sanni Franssi (Real Sociedad), Amanda Rantanen (Örebro), Linda Sällström (HJK), Jenny Danielsson (AIK)

CAPS LIST
Republic of Ireland
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (5 Caps / 0 Clean Sheets), Courtney Brosnan (6 Caps / 1 Clean Sheet), Eve Badana (3 Caps / 0 Clean Sheets)
Defenders: Niamh Fahey (96 Caps / 0 Goals), Diane Caldwell (84 Caps / 3 Goals), Louise Quinn (88 Caps / 12 Goals), Claire Walsh (3 Caps / 0 Goals), Savannah McCarthy (6 Caps / 0 Goals), Áine O'Gorman (109 Caps / 13 Goals)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (86 Caps / 12 Goals), Megan Connolly (30 Caps / 1 Goal), Jamie Finn (7 Caps / 0 Goals), Ciara Grant (15 Caps / 0 Goals), Niamh Farrelly (4 Caps / 0 Goals), Aoibheann Clancy (0 Caps / 0 Goals), Roma McLaughlin (6 Caps / 0 Goals), Katie McCabe (54 Caps / 10 Goals)
Forwards: Heather Payne (20 Caps / 1 Goal), Rianna Jarrett (15 Caps / 1 Goal), Amber Barrett (25 Caps / 3 Goals), Saoirse Noonan (1 Cap / 0 Goals), Leanne Kiernan (22 Caps / 4 Goals), Lucy Quinn (2 Caps / 0 Goals)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
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NOTES

The Finnish FA have moved this game to the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki as part of their celebrations of 50 Years of Women’s Football
A crowd of 5,000 spectators is expected to be in attendance, including over 100 schoolgirl teams from around the country
Ahead of kick-off, the Finnish FA will host a special presentation to goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela after she earned her 100th cap in last week’s win over Georgia
This will be Vera Pauw's 14th game in charge of Ireland - and her ninth competitive game - since taking over in October 2019
This game has attracted the largest travelling media contingent for an Ireland WNT game, following on from the Sweden game being the busiest ever media-wise

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier - Group A
Finland v Republic of Ireland
Tuesday, October 26
Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
KO 18:15 (16:15 Irish Time)
LIVE on RTÉ2
Referee: Alexandra Collin (France)

SOCIAL MEDIA
Game Hashtag: #FINIRL
Team Hashtag: #COYGIG