Ireland make hard work of seeing off Slovenia

Ireland 2 Slovenia 0

A long-range Julie Ann Russell goal after just two minutes could have triggered a goalrush against Group One’s basement nation but Sue Ronan’s side instead became ragged and only put the tie beyond doubt 14 minutes from time through Fiona O’Sullivan.

Ireland’s dream start arose when Denise O’Sullivan was hauled down by Anisa Rola 40 yards out on the left side. It seemed that reigning player of the year Russell would deliver a cross but she elected to shoot and looped the ball high over the stranded Lucija Mori in the visitors’ goal.

Although the Irish went about building on that lead by rampaging forward in numbers, their efforts came unstuck through a combination of poor finishing and better goalkeeping from Mori.

The Slovenian stopper stooped low to produce a superb save by batting away Diane Caldwell’s header after Russell’s left-wing cross had found her unmarked at the back post.

That amounted to Ireland’s best chance during the remainder of the half, allowing the Slovenians to gain a foothold in midfield and frustrate the hosts.

Indeed, the slide continued after the break and twice in the space of four minutes the Girls in Green were only spared the embarrassment of conceding an equaliser by the width of the woodwork.

Firstly, on 58 minutes, Kaja Erzen seized upon defensive hesitancy to fire in a shot from the edge of the box that hit the post and rebounded into Emma Byrne’s hands.

The Arsenal stopper was once again relieved to see Mateja Zver’s opportunistic 35-yard lob bounce off the crossbar when the ball had floated over her head.

Sluggish though they were, Ireland soon added the second to settle the nerves.

Aine O’Gorman’s right-wing cross was controlled on the chest by Fiona O’Sullivan and she prodded her 13th international goal past Mori.

IRELAND (4-2-3-1): Byrne; O’Gorman, Quinn, Fahey, Duggan; Caldwell, Gorman (Littlejohn 46) ; Roche (Killeen 59), D O’Sullivan (Smyth 67), Russell; F O’Sullivan.

SLOVENIA (4-4-1-1): Mori; Marolt (Kralj 51), Rola, Kos, Tibaut; Nikl, Grad, Zganec, Jerina (Ketis 75); Zver; Erzen.

Referee: Linn Anderson (Sweden).