China PR 0 - 0 Republic of Ireland | 2023 - Senior Women's Friendlies | 999948540

Senior Women's Friendlies International Friendly | Estadio Nuevo Mirador

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

China PR 0 - 0 Republic of Ireland

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REPORT | China PR 0-0 WNT

The Republic of Ireland Women's National Team extended their unbeaten run to a record nine games with a 0-0 draw with China PR in an International Friendly in the Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Spain.

22nd Feb 2023

This was the 50th time that Katie McCabe led her Ireland team-mates out as captain and there were two new faces alongside her as Aoife Mannion and Deborah-Anne De La Harpe made their debuts.

Marissa Sheva came off the bench in the second half to bring the number of debutants up to three and they each impressed against a team currently 14th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

Ireland will feel that they should have won this game - especially with a goal harshly ruled out in the second period - but the performance is what mattered most as they continue their preparations for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Sky Ireland Player of the Match Louise Quinn rattled the crossbar early on with a thumping header, while havoc set in every time Megan Campbell launched one of her signature long throw-ins toward the China penalty area.

Manager Vera Pauw said that she wanted her team to use this encounter to improve their attacking play and that was evident with Heather Payne, McCabe and Sheva causing problems for the opposition.

Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan made one fine save to record her 10th clean sheet overall. The defensive stats of this team were further boosted with this being their seventh clean sheet in a row.

With this game bookending a strong 10-day training camp in Marbella, Ireland will feel that they are on the right track moving towards the summer's main tournament.

China PR: Xu Huan; Chen Qiaozhu, Wang Linlin, Wang Xiaoxue, Li Mengwen (Gao Chen 90); Zhang Xin (Wu Haiyan 71), Zhang Rui, Yao Lingwei, Xiao Yuyi (Maidinai Shadike 71; Wang Shanshan, Lou Jiahui.

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Deborah-Anne De La Harpe (Áine O’Gorman 46), Aoife Mannion (Diane Caldwell 69), Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly, Megan Campbell; Lily Agg (Ruesha Littlejohn 46), Denise O’Sullivan; Abbie Larkin (Marissa Sheva 46), Katie McCabe; Heather Payne (Kyra Carusa 73)

Referee: Jason Lee Barcelo (Gibraltar).

PREVIEW | China PR v WNT

The Republic of Ireland Women's National Team continue their preparations for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with an International Friendly against China PR on Wednesday, February 22.

21st Feb 2023

The game against the AFC Women's Asian Cup winners - who are currently 14th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings - will kick off at 13:00 Irish time and will be broadcast live on the RTÉ NewsNow Channel.

This will be first meeting of the two teams as they both conclude 10-day training camps in Marbella, Spain with this game, which will be played in the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras.

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TEAM NEWS
All players are fit and available for selection. The trio of Aoife Mannion, Deborah-Anne De La Harpe and Marissa Sheva have each received FIFA International Clearance.

QUOTES
Republic of Ireland WNT Manager Vera Pauw
"All of our players are fit and ready for this game after a really good week training. We also had a tough game against Germany behind closed doors, which allowed us to use 26 of the 27 players here in camp with us and that was a very good exercise for us.

"We expect a very tough game against China. We expect them to put us under pressure, which is why we have chosen to play against this type of opponent. It is also an opportunity for us to make the next step in our attacking play."

Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney (Reading), Naoisha McAloon (Durham WFC)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Deborah-Ann De La Harpe (Sydney FC)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee | Jason Lee Barcelo (Gibraltar)
Assistant Referee | Daniel Gomez Gordillo (Gibraltar)
Assistant Referee | Michael Gerard Marcias (Gibraltar)
Fourth Official | Jose Maria Delgado (Gibraltar)

International Friendly
China PR v Republic of Ireland
Wednesday, February 22
KO 14:00 (13:00 Irish Time)
Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Algeciras, Cadiz
LIVE on RTÉ NewsNow Channel
#CHNIRL