Ireland’s dream of Euro 2022, dented by defeat in Ukraine

by



[ad_1]

Ukraine 1-0 Republic of Ireland

Ireland’s dreams of reaching the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2022 were hit hard when Vera Pauw’s side was beaten 1-0 by Ukraine in Kiev.

The result means that Ireland is more than likely hoping other teams can do them a favor with Ukraine now in pole position to snatch second place in Group I.

Ireland remains in second place in the group, but has only one match left, at home to table leaders Germany, while Ukraine has matches against Greece and Montenegro to potentially knock Ireland out of the play-off position.

Despite dominating the play for the first 45 minutes, Ireland found themselves behind a rare own goal in the 25th minute when Aine O’Gorman overcame a back pass and passed Courtney Brosnan, who was unable to adjust her feet to clear. .

To make matters worse, Katie McCabe had a chance to reestablish parity with a penalty shot in the 33rd minute, however the Ireland captain slammed her effort off the crossbar.

The Girls in Green huffed and puffed during a disappointing second half in which they dominated the ball, but couldn’t really test the home’s second-row goalkeeper.

With three corners in the first 10 minutes, everything was focused on Ireland from the start and Harriet Scott signaled her intention to take an early lead by shooting from distance.

The visitors kept playing and Katie McCabe hit the top of the crossbar with a free kick. The constant waves of Irish pressure kept Ukraine within its own half most of the time.

Surprisingly, it was Ukraine that took the lead when O’Gorman found himself under pressure and tried to return the ball to goalkeeper Brosnan, but dodged it at the net.

Ireland responded by winning a penalty in the 32nd minute after Denise O’Sullivan was brought down. Captain McCabe approached, but her effort crashed against the crossbar.

Undeterred by the lack of luck, Vera Pauw’s team continued to press for the goal that their positive play deserved. It almost came just before the break when Rianna Jarrett received a pass from Heather Payne, but the ball was cleared before it could cross the line.

It was all of Ireland in the second period as O’Sullivan, Payne, Jarrett, McCabe and Louise Quinn were close at times but just couldn’t provide that finish their game deserved and Ukraine held on for all three points.

Ukraine: Sanina; Filenko, Kravets, Shmatko, Pantsulaya (O Voronina 46, Petryk 70); Andrushchak, Khimich; Boychenko (Malakhova 90), Apanaschenko, Kozlova (Voronina 90); Kalinina (Kunina 46).

Republic of Ireland: Brosnan; O’Gorman, Caldwell, Quinn, Scott (Barrett 86); Connolly, O’Sullivan; Payne, Littlejohn, McCabe; Jarrett (Molloy 86).

Referee: Ivana Martincic (Croatia).



[ad_2]