Battling Ireland pay penalty in World Cup opener against Matildas
SO CLOSE: Megan Connolly of Republic of Ireland reacts after a missed opportunity at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Australia had pinpointed Ireland’s vulnerability at the end of halves to profit from but it was a mishap at the start of the second that settled this opening day World Cup fixture.
Marissa Sheva’s unfortunate tangle with the onrushing Hayley Raso led Edina Alves to award a penalty six minutes after the restart, leaving Arsenal’s Steph Catley to send Courtney Brosnan the wrong way from the spot.
Ireland skipper Katie McCabe refused to look across at her Gunners teammate in the tunnel beforehand, underlining the significance of this game for both nations. Next up for Ireland are Olympic champions Canada in Perth on Wednesday.
Behind early in the second half, Ireland did finally earn four corners in succession and Megan Connolly’s last minute free-kick that clipped the wall and went over had the Matildas rattled.
So too were on the rack when McCabe fizzed a shot at Arnold in stoppage time, soon followed by Louise Quinn nodding marginally wide.
Ireland succeeded in frustrating an Australian side missing their star act Sam Kerr, keeping the co-hosts scoreless by half-time in front of 75,000 in Sydney.
Twelve places separate the countries in FIFA’s standings but the tenth-placed Matildas failed to seriously test Courtney Brosnan in the first half that was extended by six minutes While an unpublicised calf injury sustained yesterday kept record scorer Kerr sidelined, Ireland had one of their maestros, Denise O’Sullivan, overcome her injury to take her place, producing a typically energetic display but incurring a bizarre booking from the Brazilian referee.
It took until first half stoppage time for the Aussies to muster their first attempt on target, a tame shot from distance by Katrina Gorry that Brosnan saw all the way.
Only Hayley Raso’s header which squirted wide was generated from their five corners. A spurious VAR deliberation for handball justifiably came to nothing.
At the other end, Kyra Carusa found herself released on goals from Katie McCabe’s 19-minute pass, only for her to dither, allowing Alanna Kennedy to recover and smother the danger.
Further hesitancy by the American striker when afforded a sight on goal prevented Ireland lodging a sole effort on goal. Pauw’s plea beforehand for her players to ditch any fear about trying their luck still appears to be a work-in-progress.
Mackenzie Arnold in the home side’s goal wasn’t extended but did cause her defenders stress by flapping at cross on the run by Sheva.
It will still a productive half by the Irish, whose right wing-back Heather Payne was evidently who Matildas boss was referring to as the weak link they’d prioritise exposing.
Cortnee Vine managed to make capital down that flank but a clear counter ploy by Pauw of instructing Sinead Farrell to track back supplied plenty of cover.
The game was to turn on the penalty incident, as the Brazilian didn’t require a VAR check to spot the infringement. Sheva was left inconsolable, shedding tears after being substituted.
Mary Fowler, in for Kerr, might have added a second when roaming through the defence and firing over but Ireland eventually grew into the game, forcing a couple of nervous moments for one of the tournament favourites.
Mackenzie Arnold; Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley (capt); Hayley Raso, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Cortnee Vine (Emily van Edmond 75); Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler (Claire Polkinghome 84).
: Courtney Brosnan; Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly; Heather Payne, Ruesha Littlejohn, Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe (capt); Sinead Farrelly (Abbie Larkin 64), Marissa Sheva (Lucy Quinn 64); Kyra Carusa (Izzy Atkinson 86).
: Edina Alves (BRA).
: 75,784.
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