Ireland 0-1 Sweden: Self-goal gives visitors a win in the World Cup qualifiers
An own goal in the first half by Louise Quinn ensured that Ireland lost 1-0 against Sweden in the first of their Group A qualifiers for the World Cup in Dublin.
A low drive by Stina Blackstenius deflected the foot of Birmingham City’s defender and into the net six minutes before half time.
Katie McCabe and Lucy Quinn came closest to scoring for the hosts, who made a credible home performance.
The world-ranked two Swedes top the group with three wins out of three.
In tonight’s second match in the group, Finland maintained their 100% start to the campaign as a 3-0 victory in Georgia helped them continue the hunt for Sweden.
The republic is away against Finland in the next match on Tuesday, followed by home matches against Slovakia and Georgia in November.
Vera Pauw’s side contained the group’s number one seeds good for big periods even though they were under pressure and camped on their own half of the pitch for much of the first 25 minutes.
Blackstenius curved a shot into Courtney Brosnan’s arms from a narrow angle but at the other end McCabe made an attempt outside the area.
Both sides had appeals for penalties that were waved away by referee Deborah Anex and then Filippa Angeldal unleashed a dipping 25-yard strike that Brosnan brilliantly tipped over the crossbar.
The decisive moment of the match came in the 39th minute – Angeldal fed Blackstenius, who rushed into the left side of the box, cut inside and drilled in a low effort that cannoned in the ankle of the unfortunate Quinn, and dribbled past the wrong foot. Brosnan.
Four minutes after the break, a deep free kick fell against Lucy Quinn, whose measured attempt slid a yard past the left post.
Blackstenius forced a good save from Brosnan in the middle of the second period and the Irish goalkeeper excelled again by palming off Fridolina Rolfo’s angled drive.
The hosts put together a late plethora of balls in the box for six minutes, but could not create an equalizer.
Lineups
R. of Ireland Wom
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Brosnan
- 17FindBooked in 53 minReplaced forBarretton 74 ‘minutes
- 5Fahey
- 4Quinn
- 12McCarthy
- 13O’Gorman
- 15QuinnReplaced forNoonanon 90 + 3 ‘minutes
- 10O’Sullivan
- 6Connolly
- 11McCabe
- 14PayneReplaced forKiernanon 74 ‘minutes
Substitute
- 2Walsh
- 3Scott
- 7Caldwell
- 8Kiernan
- 9Barrett
- 16Moloney
- 18Farrelly
- 19Grant
- 20Noonan
- 21Clancy
- 22McLaughlin
- 23Badana
Sweden
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Lindahl
- 4Glass
- 13Ilestedt
- 6Eriksson
- 2Andersson
- 20BennisonReplaced forZigiotti Olmeon 76 ‘minutes
- 18Rolfö
- 16Angeldal
- 10JakobssonBooked in 49 minReplaced forFischeron 89 ‘minutes
- 11Blackstenius
- 8FastBooked in 52 minReplaced forSchoughon 61 ‘minutes
Substitute
- 3Kullberg
- 5Fischer
- 7Janogy
- 9Riding Kaneryd
- 12Falcon
- 14Blomqvist
- 15Zigiotti Olme
- 17Curmark
- 19Anvegard
- 21Musovic
- 22Schough
- 23Rubensson
- Judge:
- Deborah Anex
- Presence:
- 4 017
Live text
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The match ends, Ireland, women 0, Sweden 1.
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Second half ends, Republic of Ireland Women 0, Sweden 1.
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Corner, Sweden. Developed by Áine O’Gorman.
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Corner, Sweden. Developed by Megan Connolly.
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Byte, Ireland Women. Saoirse Noonan replaces Lucy Quinn.
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Try failed. Megan Connolly (Republic of Ireland Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Filippa Angeldal (Sweden) wins a free kick in her own half.
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Ugly by Denise O’Sullivan (Republic of Ireland Women).
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Byte, Sweden. Nilla Fischer replaces Sofia Jakobsson.
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Offside, Ireland, women. Niamh Fahey tries a through ball, but Lucy Quinn is caught offside.
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Error by Julia Zigiotti Olme (Sweden).
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Katie McCabe (Republic of Ireland Women) wins a free kick in her own half.
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Ugly by Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden).
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Katie McCabe (Republic of Ireland Women) wins a free kick in her own half.
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Attempt blocked. Olivia Schough (Sweden) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Filippa Angeldal.
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Offside, Ireland, women. Katie McCabe tries a through ball, but Leanne Kiernan is caught offside.
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Offside, Sweden. Jonna Andersson tries a through ball, but Olivia Schough is caught offside.
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Corner, Ireland Women. Developed by Jonna Andersson.
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Corner, Sweden. Developed by Katie McCabe.
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Byte, Sweden. Julia Zigiotti Olme replaces Hanna Bennison.