'We were in complete control' - Ireland rise to third place of World Cup group after narrow win in Poland
POLES AXED: Ireland's Katie McCabe celebrates after she scores her side's second goal of the match. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Katie McCabe and Ewa Pajor will likely do battle again in the Champions League final on May 23 but the Ireland supremo gained an early upperhand in the duel on the international circuit.
Both players scored for the third successive World Cup qualifier but despite the Irish skipper blazing a late penalty over the crossbar she left Gdansk with a clearer path to next year’s tournament in Brazil.
Against an eerie backdrop of a gleaming 41,000-capacity stadium being 80% empty, and on a bumpy pitch unfit for the senior stage, McCabe supplied the sparkle.
Her sumptuous volley, mastering a difficult technique of connecting with Oliwia Woś’s clearance dropping out of the night sky, brought even the sparse home fans to their feet in appreciation.
It was the Arsenal veteran’s 34th goal of her international career and she could even afford to squander the chance of another late on from the penalty spot without her reputation being tarnished.
The only pity for her Ireland team was failing to use that goal, Ireland’s second in the 20th minute, to put a limited Poland side to the sword.
Carla Ward’s side looked every bit the superior team that their supremacy in Fifa’s rankings suggests, consolidating with a defensive structure and dominating possession in a patient manner.
Had Emily Murphy added to her opener by nodding in an easier chance for the third, then perhaps the hosts would have shut up shop to prevent a hiding.
“I don't think anyone could have argued if we went in 3-0 at half-time,” reasoned Ward afterwards.
“I think we were in complete control of it.”
That was evident from the off when Abbie Larkin, a late starter due to Kyra Carusa suffering illness overnight, was left alone in the box after 30 seconds, only to skew her shot wide.
It was apparent that a ploy from the outset was to test Poland’s goalkeeper Kinga Szemik. West Ham United’s first choice stopper looked ropey from crosses and not much better from the ground assault. Murphy fashioned space to shoot from the edge of the box on 12 minutes but the ‘keeper was cumbersome in diving, getting a hand to the effort without keeping it out.
“We knew Poland were there to be exploited,” revealed Ward. “There were certain areas that we could hurt them.
“And, having worked on those all week, it was nice to see that one come alive.”
Instead of capitalising on further Polish shortcomings, a rare lapse to cede a corner led to them cutting the deficit three minutes before half-time through Tanja Pawollek header.
That roused the few locals, altering the complexion as the players headed for the dressing rooms.
Poland, however, lacked the collective cohesion to mount a siege in search of an equaliser.
Much had been expected from Bayern Munich’s rising star Natalia Padilla but bar a goalmouth scramble in the first half from which she saw a shot blocked, her contribution was next to zero when substituted with 25 minutes left.
Barcelona’s Pajor is the standout among the mediocre as a world-class performer but the shape which Ireland stuck to conspired against her trademark inverted runs. Just once she evaded the linear wall and it ultimately cost Ireland.
Before then, Anna Patten’s last-ditch block as the 29-year-old looked poised to scoop home a close-range chance was the closest she came to registering. All Brosnan had to contend with before the concession were a couple of floated shots over the crossbar.
Denise O’Sullivan’s return from injury was instrumental to the triumph. It was by her chasing a lost cause by harrying Pawollek at the corner flag 14 minutes into the second half that Ireland retrieved the ball to create the third.
Once O’Sullivan fed Aoife Mannion in support, she found Murphy near the endline.
Sheva still had work to do when receiving the squared pass but took one touch before shooting across her body to find the far top corner.
What ought to have been a routine conclusion for Ireland didn’t transpire because Poland’s sharpshooter lobbed Courtney Brosnan with four minutes left to make it 3-2.
Mannion, in a rare blemish, allowed Pajor to peel off her into the space she devours. The flighted finish, however, was sublime.
The ping-pong nature of the contest was maintained a minute later when Ireland were awarded a penalty following a trip by Aleksandra Zaremba on Murphy.
McCabe, usually so reliable from the spot, squandered the opportunity but it didn’t affect her being the global star leaving the pitch with the smile of a World Cup participant.
K Szemik; A Zaremba, O Wos, P Dudek, M Wiankowska (W Zieniewicz 70); E Kamczyk, T Pawollek (G Grzybowska 66), A Achcinska; N Padilla (P Sarapata 66), E Pajor, P Tomasiak.
C Brosnan; A Patten, C Hayes, C Mustaki; A Mannion, M Connolly, D O’Sullivan, K McCabe; M Sheva (J Ziu 87), E Murphy; A Larkin (A Barrett 69).
Hristiyana Guteva (BUL).
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