Ireland lose out to Russia at World University Games

The Irish women's soccer side has cruelly lost out on a place in the World University Games final by going down 4-2 on penalties to Russia in the semi-final in Bangkok today.

The game was tied at one goal a piece after normal time but as per the rules of the competition no extra time was played and the game went straight to penalties.

The Irish will go on to fight it out for bronze against Brazil in the third and fourth place play off on Friday.

Russia will face the People’s Republic of Korea in the final on Friday night.

The semi-final staged at the Bangkok University stadium saw the Irish on the defensive for the opening fifteen minutes as the Russian laid siege on the Irish goal.

Ireland’s first real attack came after twenty minutes when Shannon Smith took on and passed two defenders only to have her shot well held by the Russian keeper.

Fifteen minutes later after several speculative shots on goal from the Russians the Irish had one of their better chances. Captain Sonya Hughes sent Sarah McGrath down the left wing with a typical inch perfect pass.

McGrath then left a lovely ball inside for midfielder Victoria Mallett who sent a fine cross onto the head of the advancing Michelle O’Brien who just pushed it inches wide of the left upright.

A couple of minutes later the Russians won a corner and in a crowded Irish penalty box the cross delivered managed to find the toe of full back Jenia Praporshikova who snuck the ball past Irish keeper Sarah Peters on the line to take the lead.

Shannon Smith, the Irish striker based in the States whose parents are from Ringsend was not about to let the side down and just before the break took her opportunity running through two Russian defenders to coolly put the ball low in the back of the net to level things at 1-1.

The Irish started well after the break; their confidence up after the equaliser they chased the lead. Both sides traded chances with captain Sonya Hughes excelling at midfield and striker Michelle O’Brien causing Russian headaches down the left wing, and very possibly Ireland’s player of the tournament Niamh Fahy frustrating the opposition at the back.

There were not as many clear chances to speak of in this half with both sides visibly tiring in the crippling heat and humidity.

With twelve minutes left on the clock the safe hands of Irish keeper were called into action to deny the Russians on two occasions in quick succession.

Ireland’s best chance of a winner came just minutes from the end when Shannon Smith sent a great chip from just outside the box narrowly over the crossbar.

The sides could not be separated after normal time and as per the rules of this competition the game was to be decided in the cruelest way possible; penalties.

Niamh Fahy and Edel Malone slotted home the first two for the Irish, as did the Russians. It was two a piece as Irish captain Sonya Hughes stepped up and the Balbriggan midfielder just pushed her attempt wide of the right upright.

The Russians converted their third to pile yet more pressure on the next Irish girl up; Tara McMahon who narrowly missed the target pushing it to right also. Russia converted their fourth to take the win and break Irish hearts.

Despite the devastating manner of defeat Ireland’s manager Noel King was upbeat highlighting the terrific achievement of the Irish at these Games: “We’ve had so many fantastic performances out here, from people like Sonya Hughes, Sarah Peters, Niamh Fahy. That wasn’t always the case in Irish football, they’re as good as anyone out here and that’s huge progress. Real progress is being made and that is key; that is what we have to take from this”, he concluded.