Slovakia 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland | 2023 - FIFA Women's World Cup | 999947162

FIFA Women's World Cup | NTC Senec

6 Sep 2022 17:00

Slovakia 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland

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Preview
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Minute by Minute Commentary
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REPORT | Slovakia 0-1 WNT

A first-half goal from Denise O'Sullivan helped the Republic of Ireland claim a 1-0 win over Slovakia in Senec to finish their Group A campaign on a high.

6th Sep 2022

Vera Pauw's team made sure of finishing second in the Group, behind Sweden, to secure a spot in the second round of the Qualifying Play-Offs for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

After beating Finland in their previous game, Ireland knew that they were in the Play-Offs, this was just a matter of which round they would go into. And they got exacty what they wanted.

A fast start to the game suggested that Ireland were going to take an early lead but it took until 36 minutes before O'Sullivan turned sharply in the opponents' penaty area to fire in.

This wasn't a pretty game to watch but that didn't matter as Ireland stood firm to record another clean sheet and do enough to take the three points. It wasn't that they played poorly, it was just a tough contest.

Harriet Scott and Claire O'Riordan came into the defence with Niamh Fahey and Megan Connolly missing, while Lily Agg earned her first competitive start due to Ruesha Littlejohn being unavailable.

Jess Ziu was voted as the Sky Ireland Player of the Match as she excelled when attacking and then did an excellent job when switched to wing-back late on.

Captain Katie McCabe had a couple of chances on goal that fizzed wide, while Diane Caldwell also missed the target. The attacking threat was there but the goals did not come.

It mattered lttle though as Ireland held on to win the game and advance to the Play-Offs to stay in the hunt for a place at the World Cup.

Slovakia: Maria Korenciova; Kristína Košíková, Jana Vojteková, Diana Lemešová, Patricia Fischerova, Andrea Horvathova; L’udmila Mat’aková (Stela Semanová 66), Dominika Škorvánková, Mária Mikolajová, Martina Šurnovská (Kristina Panakova 83); Patrícia Hmírová (Tamara Morávková 72).

Republic of Irekand: Courtney Brosnan; Harriet Scott (Ellen Molloy 68), Claire O’Riordan, Louise Quinn, Diane Caldwell, Megan Connolly; Jess Ziu, Denise O’Sullivan, Lily Agg, Katie McCabe; Heather Payne (Leanne Kiernan 83).

Referee: María Martínez (Spain).

PREVIEW | Slovakia v WNT

The final game in Group A for the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team sees them come up against Slovakia on Tuesday evening.

5th Sep 2022

Vera Pauw’s squad are aiming to collect another win to aid their bid to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the game taking place in Senec.

Three points in this game would propel Ireland into the Second Round of the UEFA Qualifying Play-Off series – with the draw set for 12:30 on Friday, September 9th.

TEAM NEWS
There is a fully fit squad to choose from. Midfielder Aoibheann Clancy has been added to the squad.

QUOTES
Republic of Ireland WNT Manager Vera Pauw
“It will be an extremely difficult game because Slovakia are a very good team. They have drawn against Finland and their other games were very close. And we also remember that we couldn’t get the win against them either, earlier in the campaign in Tallaght Stadium.

“Qualification is still in our own hands and that is fantastic. We know what we have to do and we will have every box ticked with our preparation. The players and staff have worked incredibly hard to reach this point, something that we all dreamed about when the draw was originally made, and we will be ready for Tuesday’s game.”

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
22/09/2013: Republic of Ireland 2-0 Slovakia (FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier)
13/09/2014: Slovakia 0-1 Republic of Ireland (FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier)
10/04/2017: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Slovakia (International Friendly)
24/10/2017: Slovakia 0-2 Republic of Ireland (FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier)
06/04/2018: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Slovakia (FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier)
25/11/2021: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Slovakia (FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier)

Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United), Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC)

Republic of Ireland WNT Caps
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (15 caps / 6 clean sheets), Grace Moloney (6 caps / 1 clean sheet), Megan Walsh (1 cap / 0 clean sheets), Eve Badana (4 caps / 0 clean sheets)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (22 caps / 0 goals), Claire O’Riordan (17 caps / 0 goals), Diane Caldwell (89 caps / 4 goals), Louise Quinn (97 caps / 15 goals), Jessie Stapleton (1 cap / 0 goal), Hayley Nolan (1 cap / 0 goals), Chloe Mustaki (4 caps / 0 goals), Megan Campbell (43 caps / 3 goals), Áine O’Gorman (112 caps / 13 goals)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (66 caps / 19 goals), Denise O’Sullivan (95 caps / 17 goals), Ciara Grant (16 caps / 0 goals), Lily Agg (Caps 3 / 2 goals), Ellen Molloy (5 caps / 0 goals), Jess Ziu (11 caps / 0 goals), Lucy Quinn (12 caps / 2 goals), Isibeal Atkinson (4 caps / 0 goals), Aoibheann Clancy (0 caps / 0 goals)
Forwards: Heather Payne (28 caps / 1 goal), Amber Barrett (32 caps / 4 goals), Leanne Kiernan (26 caps / 4 goals), Abbie Larkin (4 caps / 1 goal), Saoirse Noonan (3 caps / 1 goal)

2023 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

RESULTS
21 October, 2021 | Republic of Ireland 0-1 Sweden
26 October, 2021 | Finland 1-2 Republic of Ireland
25 November, 2021 | Republic of Ireland 1-1 Slovakia
30 November, 2021 | Republic of Ireland 11-0 Georgia
12 April, 2022 | Sweden 1-1 Republic of Ireland
27 June, 2022 | Georgia 0-9 Republic of Ireland
1 September, 2022 | Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

FIXTURES
6 September, 2022 | Slovakia v Republic of Ireland

TEAM STATS
Goals Scored: 25
Goals Conceded: 4
Attempts on Goal: 89
Attempts on Target: 51
Attempts off Target: 25
Attempts Blocked: 13
Penalties Converted: 1
Free-Kicks Taken: 37
Corners Taken: 27
Fouls Committed: 35
Fouls Suffered: 84
Yellow Cards: 7 (Megan Campbell, Jamie Finn 3, Katie McCabe, Heather Payne, Jess Ziu)

PLAYER STATS
Goalscorers
7 – Katie McCabe
5 – Denise O’Sullivan
2 – Megan Connolly, Louise Quinn
1 – Lily Agg, Amber Barrett, Diane Caldwell, Kyra Carusa, Niamh Fahey, Abbie Larkin, Saoirse Noonan, Lucy Quinn, Maiko Bebia OG

Clean Sheets
3 – Courtney Brosnan

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Group A
Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
Tuesday, September 6th
NTC Senec
KO 17:00 (Irish Time)
LIVE on RTÉ2
#SVKIRL