MoroccoVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 November 2022 | 5:00 pm | Women's Senior | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Two goals in each half saw the Ireland WNT end 2022 on a high, as they defeated fellow World Cup bound Morocco in Marbella. Two goals came inside the first eight minutes, as Ireland started strong they would fizzle out a little as the game wore on but had some chances at goal, they netted twice toward the end to give insurance to the result. Minutes for Abbie Larkin as she made her first appearance for the WNT, fellow Women’s National league star Aoibheann Clancy of Wexford Youths also came on for her first cap. A friendly came on paper but far from it at times, plenty of coming together from both sides and some tough tackles going in, the beaten AFCON finalists gave Ireland an ideal tie to prepare for the World Cup, having been affected by Nigeria who are in Ireland's group. Ireland were ahead inside two minutes, again it was the Megan Campbell long throw in which was used to cause issues, the danger was cleared only as fair as Denise O’Sullivan outside the area, she played the ball in behind but was tackled in the process, Campbell did well to chase down the loose ball played behind the Moroccan backline before curling a lovely effort on her left to the far corner. The bright start continued for Ireland as Katie McCabe had a penalty awarded in the 7th minute, after Rkia Mazrouai fouled her inside the area, the Ireland skipper stepped up and dispatched the spot kick low to the bottom left corner past Assia Zouhair, the ball going under the keeper as she guessed correct as to where McCabe would place the penalty. Despite being down 2-0 and having a team missing some regular names, Morocco pressed on and controlled a lot of the second half, Salma Amani had a strike from range that went wide, Sabha Seghir tested Courtney Brosnan from range, whole a constant barrage of corners had Ireland on their toes, Brosnan able to gather in the air to deal with the danger as Ireland were ahead by two at the interval. McCabe tested the Moroccan keeper once more from a long range free four minutes into the second half, just after Zouhair did well to save the corner by McCabe but the Irish players appealed for another corner after Amber Barrett had a strike that went over the bar. The game remained nip and tuck until the 75th minute where Louise Quinn netted the third on her 100th appearance, it was bizarre one as she scored with her feet but the build up came from a clearance by Morocco as they dealt with a free kick, Quinn was on hand to block it into the net. On her birthday Kyra Carusa scored the fourth goal in the 80th minute, Aine O’Gorman with the delivery into the area, she broke clear from a marker and nodded a glancing header into the back of the net. A solid showing by Ireland both in defence and attack, as they now look ahead to what will be an historic year in 2023.Ireland end 2022 on high with comfortable win over Morocco
Timeline
| 6. Megan Campbell | 2' | |
| 15. Katie McCabe | 8' | |
| 35' | Diki Ouzraoui | |
| Jamie Finn Abbie Larkin | 45' | |
| 61' | Sofia Bouftini Imane Saoud | |
| Megan Campbell Chloe Mustaki | 62' | |
| Amber Barrett Kyra Carusa | 62' | |
| Denise O'Sullivan Aoibheann Clancy | 62' | |
| 4. Louise Quinn | 75' | |
| 76' | Sabah Seghir Ibtissam Bouharat | |
| 76' | Diki Ouzraoui Hajer Jbilo | |
| 19. Kyra Carusa | 80' | |
| Diane Caldwell Hayley Nolan | 80' | |
| 15. Katie McCabe | 90+2' |
Ground
| Dama de Noche Football Centre, Marbella |
|---|
| La Dama de Noche, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella, Costa del Sol Occidental, Malaga, Andalusia, Spain |
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.
All over in Marbella as Ireland record a four-nil success over Morocco, 2023 awaits for another test ahead of Australia
McCabe is booked in added time
Three minutes added on to finish the half
Another Irish change as Hayley Nolan replaced Dianne Caldwell
Birthday girl Kyra Carusa gets her second ever goal in green, heading home a cross from Aine O'Gorman
On her 100th cap Louise Quinn makes it 3-0 in bizarre circumstances having blocked down an attempted clearance it goes into the back of the net
Three changes for ireland as Chloe Mustaki, Aoibheann Clancy and Kyra Carusa replace Campbell, Barrett and O'Sullivan
Change for Morocco as Imane Saoud replaces Sofia Bouftini
From the corner Ireland appeal for another corner after Zouhair parries out Amber Barrett gets a touch but it goes over the bar, Zouhair looks to not have saved that second effort
McCabe tries the spectacular from range with a free kick but Assia Zouhair saves well
It's a first WNT appearance for Abbie Larkin as she replaces Jamie Finn at the break
Second half underway in Spain
Half Time in Marbella, Ireland ahead 2-0 they started brighter and ha those two goals inside eight minutes, but since then Morocco have looked brighter but are unable to test Ireland
Sabah Seghir tries a strike from range but Brosnan is able to gather comfortably in the end
McCabe goes down and looks to be trodden on by Sana Daoudi, nothing given besides a free kick as McCabe walks away laughing after being spoken to by the match referee
Yellow card shown to Diki Ouzraoui for a rough tackle on Jamie Finn
Morocco are pressing nicely and causing issues for Ireland with a couple of corners, but they come to nothing in the end
Courtney Brosnan dominant in the skies as always well taken catch from a Morocco corner
An error from Louise Quinn at the back leads to Salma Amani having a shot on goal which goes wide, the defence looking open there
Morocco are far from full strength due to league commitments, some not so regular faces in their ranks this evening but will be out to impress
McCabe slots it home, keeper guesses right but goes underneath her into the net
Penalty Ireland as McCabe is brought down in the area
What a start for Ireland as Megan Campbell curls one with the left foot inside the area into the back of the net
Kick off in Marbella
No Info yet for the team coming from Morocco, hoping to get their line up shortly as we approach kick off in the next 15 minutes.
Team News is in for the Girls in Green, Louise Quinn captains' the team on her 100th cap, while Katie Keane & Erin McLaughlin are on the bench for the first time looking to come on and get minutes, a strong selection as plenty of regulars are in the starting XI, goal scorer in Scotland Amber Barrett leads the line
Diarmuid Kearney reporting fir Final Whistle.ie this evening as Ireland take on Morocco in their 10th game if the year in a friendly in Marbella, follow along for live text commentary once we get underway around 5pm Irish time