Video
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2022 | 7:00 pm | Women's World Cup Qualification | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Womens WC Qualifier Report: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland
Super sub Lily Agg gave Ireland another famous win for their history books, earning them a play off place for next year’s world cup in front of a record breaking crowd in Tallaght.
It was no more than what Ireland deserved with almost 7000 people making the atmosphere electric, Agg’s bullet header midway in the second half was the main difference, while Courtney Brosnan was rock solid at the back.
Finland will feel hard done by but Ireland could have added more, as the Finnish keeper also had a cracking performance. Both teams had scrappy chances but Ireland came out the better.
Finland attacked early Megan Campbell had to do well to clear the danger after three minutes, from the resulting corner however Courtney Brosnan failed to clear the danger and Kate McCabe had to be at her best to block and clear the effort.
Brosnan was summoned into action in the 22nd minute, Ria Öling with their second attempt that fell kindly for Brosnan to hold. Ireland had a great spell just minutes later but could not get an effort on target, Louise Quinn and Dianne Caldwell both having efforts.
It looked like the first goal was to come after 28 minutes, Brosnan however was not to be beaten with a fine stop, a number of deflections the last off Campell gave Finland a route to goal but Brosnan got down quick to tip the ball away.
The best attempt of the half came right at the end for Denise O’Sullivan, Campbell with an inviting cross into the area, O’Sullivan headed it down but Tinja-Riikka Korpela was able to save.
Level at the break Ireland were looking to attack early Caldwelll had two quick efforts to test the keeper but she was able to save well. Ireland would have a change of fortune from a long range free kick moments later.
Megan Connolly with a long range delivery for Lily Agg to power home a header from close range, the diagonal ball spitting the defence for Agg to rise above the keeper and head home.
Going ahead Ireland pressed and pressed for a second, Korpela doing well to thwart any efforts, Heather Payne had the best chance with a 1V1 but it was straight at the Finland stopper.
Smart game management saw Ireland have very little pressure on their goal in the second half, Brosnan looked unbeatable but the visitors could only create half chances, throwing everything at it late on they could not hit the target, against a smart well shaped Ireland defence.
Timeline
| Ruesha Littlejohn Lily Agg | 41' | |
| 53' | 2. Emma Koivisto | |
| 12. Lily Agg | 54' | |
| 6. Megan Campbell | 60' | |
| 67' | Heidi Kollanen Sanni Franssi | |
| 8. Jamie Finn | 72' | |
| 74' | Elli Pikkujämsä Jenny Danielsson | |
| Megan Campbell Chloe Mustaki | 76' | |
| 16. Jessica Ziu | 82' | |
| Jessica Ziu Lucy Quinn | 85' |
Past Meetings
 
(Elite Qualifying)
1 - 2WU17 International
Aviva Stadium Ireland 1-2 Finland |
|
(Elite Qualifying)
2 - 3U17 International
Aviva Stadium Ireland v Finland |
1 - 2Women's World Cup Qualification
Helsinki Olympic Stadium Finland v Republic of Ireland |
4 - 1UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Helsinki Olympic Stadium Finland v Republic of Ireland |
0 - 2Women's Senior
Tasos Markos Stadium Finland v Republic of Ireland |
0 - 2UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Tallaght Stadium Republic of Ireland v Finland |
1 - 0Women's Senior
Tasos Markos Stadium Finland v Republic of Ireland |
|
(International Friendly)
0 - 0Women's Senior
Iveagh Ground Republic of Ireland v Finland |
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.
IT'S OVER AND IRELAND ADVANCE TO THE PLAY OFF'S WITH A HUGE WIN
Sallstrom the next to come close but again it goes acres wide
Koivisto comes close but the effort is wide
Four minutes left for Ireland to hang on and guarantee a playoff place
Lucy Quinn another change for Ireland as Jessicia Ziu bows out
Ziu the next to be cautioned
Chloe Mustaki earns her fourth cap coming in for Megan Campbell
Second change for Finland with Elli Pikkujämsä making way for Jenny Danielsson
Jamie Finn is carded for time wasting
McCabe has a shot but it goes wide
Payne with a one on one but the shot is at the keeper
Change for Finland as Sanni Franssi replaces Heidi Kollanen
LILY AGG SCORES FROM THE RESULTING FREE KICK, a powerful header to beat the keeper
Emma Koivisto is carded for a foul on McCabe as she is down receiving treatment
Caldwell has another shot on target but again Korpela is equal
Caldwell comes close again but the keeper does well to save
The second half is underway in Tallaght, big 45 minutes for Ireland
Half Time in Tallaght, both sides attacking well Ireland with chances but the tie is very much up for grabs here
Payne comes close but the effort is saved well by Korpela, the keeper not spilling the shot to allow for the rebound
Two minutes of added time to end the half
Megan Campbell plays in a lovely ball for Denise O'Sullivan to head for goal but it falls perfectly for Korpela to save
Ireland forced into a change with Ruesha Littlejohn coming off for Lily Agg
Jess Ziu has the first attempt on goal for Ireland but Korpela makes the save
Some ping pong in the Irish box a number of deflections the last off Megan Campell, gives Finland a route to goal but Brosnan is quick to tip the ball away, could easily have been 1-0
From the resulting corner Ireland come knocking once more, Louise Quinn heads the ball back across goal as it flies to the pack post, Diane Caldwell hits the crossbar with the header but Quinn is penalised for a foul
McCabe tries a shot from range but again it goes out for a corner
Louise Quinn comes close with a powerful header but it goes out for a corner
Ria Öling has the visitors second shot on target but it goes down the throat of Brosnan for an easy save
Finland almost take the league from the resulting corner, Courtney Brosnan fails to clear with a punch, the shot from Anna Westerlund is on target but Katie McCabe is on the line to clear.
Early danger signs by the visitors but Megan Connoly gets in to clear
Ireland kick us off here in Tallaght
The route to reach the World Cup is complicated a win tonight is not a guarantee that Ireland can advance to next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
Finland will look to bounce back after a dismal showing at the recent European Championships, they are just behind Ireland in the table, a win for them puts them in a good place before taking on Sweden next week
Megan Connolly makes her first start in three years for Ireland, Katie McCabe has the armband this evening with Heather Payne tasked with providing the goals
Possibly the biggest game in the history of Women's soccer in this country, Ireland take on Finland in Tallaght with a playoff spot at stake, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will update the action this evening