Nigeria| Katie McCabe 68' |
Video
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2023 | 11:00 am | Women's World Cup | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Girls In Green Bow Out Of World Cup With Respectable Draw
In Brisbane, the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria played to a respectable score of 0-0 to cap up their first World Cup campaign.
Vera Pauw's team secured their first point in the international tournament and will depart Australia this week having putting in a credible effort and performance.
With Katie McCabe having the finest opportunity early in the first half, the Girls in Green were excellent in the high press throughout. Despite a last-ditch efforts to score the winning goal, they were unable to do so, therefore leave the tournament with a point.
With Farrelly passing the ball to the advancing Katie McCabe, Ireland had a great chance to score almost immediately, but McCabe's shot just missed the target.
Nigeria had an excellent opportunity of their own when Asisat Oshoala broke down the right and beat Brosnan with a well-placed shot, but it just missed the post following a misplaced pass by Louise Quinn.
Megan Connolly's free-kick was initially saved by Nigerian custodian Chiamaka Nnadozie, but she fumbled it. Lily Agg appeared to connect properly on the rebound, but Nnadozie gathered it on the second try as Ireland continued to press forward and with determination.
Katie McCabe fired a free kick to the back post, where Lousie Quinn headed it across the goal face to Kyra Carusa, who headed it goalward, but Nnadozie was equal to the attempt. Ireland was proving to challenge the Nigerian defence in waves of attack.
Nigeria took the game to Ireland in the early stages of the second half with Courtney Brosnan producing one of the finest saves seen in this tournament, Paynes' cross was met by Kanu and her header looked goal bound only for Brosnan to tip it onto the crossbar and was cleared. Seconds later Nigeria pulled another effort wide with Asisat Oshoala taking a shot on goal that went wide of Brosnan's back post.
Ireland got a foothold in the half and Carusa laid the ball to O'Sullivan who struck it the first time but it took a deflection and went wide.
For Nigeria Payne's corner caused all sorts of issues in the Irish area with Louise Quinn finally having a chance to clear the line. Ireland's best chance of the second half was when a fantastic cross into the Nigerian penalty area by Katie McCabe was met by Carusa who clashed with the onrushing Chiamaka Nnadozie and both went down injured.
Nigeria was to have the last say in the game with Brosnan saving an excellent shot on the edge of the area from Rasheedat Ajibade who forced the keeper into a diving save.
If you can take anything away from this is that interest in this side has been a massive springboard for the future, the catalyst for future qualifications. This you feel is only the beginning.
Timeline
Ground
| Suncorp Stadium |
|---|
| Suncorp Stadium, 40, Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane City, Queensland, 4064, Australia |
Ciaran Callan
Ciaran Callan is a part-time sports journalist based in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He has more than 10 year’s experience working with media companies including both extensive radio broadcasting experience along with print and digital media reporting for the SSE Airtricity League as well digital media work with the national sports company eirSport. He joined FinalWhistle in February 2021 as is their main correspondent for Dundalk Football Club.
FULL TIME: In Brisbane, the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria played to a respectable score of 0-0 to cap up their first World Cup campaign. Vera Pauw's team secured their first point in the international tournament and will depart Australia this week having putting in a credible effort and performance. With Katie McCabe having the finest opportunity early in the first half, the Girls in Green were excellent in the high press throughout. Despite a last-ditch efforts to score the winning goal, they were unable to do so, therefore leave the tournament with a point.
SAVE: Brosnan saves as an excellent shot on the edge of the area from Rasheedat Ajibade forces the keeper into a diving save.
SUB: Niamh Fahy comes on for Diane Caldwell as the stalwart defender makes her World Cup debut.
ADDED TIME: Seven minutes here
SUB: Double change for Ireland as Abbie Larkin and Marissa Sheva come on for Lilly Agg and Heather Payne.
CHANCE: A fantastic cross into the Nigerian penalty area by Katie McCabe and Carusa clashes with the onrushing Chiamaka Nnadozie and both go down injured.
ATTENDANCE: 24,884 is here tonight in Brisbane.
MCCABE: Here was us thinking history would repeat itself with a corner whipped in that hit the roof of the net but not the right side.
CORNER: Paynes corner causes all sort of issues in the Irish area with Louise Quinn finally having to clear the lines.
SUB: Nigeria make two changes with Oshoala and Kanu come off and Onumonu and Gift Monday come in for her to make her debut.
YELLOW: Katie McCabe gets a yellow card and concedes a free kick.
AUSTRALIA ADVANCE: Barring a complete meltdown Australia are going to advance with a 3-0 lead over Canada.
CHANCE: Carusa lays the ball off to O'Sullivan who strikes it first time but it takes a deflection and wide.
MISS: Second later Nigeria pull another effort wide with Asisat Oshoala taking a shot on goal.
SAVE: What a save from Courtney Brosnan, Paynes cross was met by Kanu and her header looked goalbound but Brosnan tips it onto the crossbar and it goes out.
CONCERN: Heather Payne goes down injured but it looks to be her knee and not her hamstring and she looks ok to continue.
SECOND HALF: Ireland restart proceedings and as things stand Nigeria are still on course to qualify.
HALF TIME: As things stand Ireland are shading this one in a very close tie, Katie McCabe and Kyra Carusa have the best of the chances for Ireland and Asisat Oshoala had the best chances for the Eagles. As things stand this is anyones game.
CORNER: Payne's corner from Nigeria sees Brosnan punches clear, on the second phase of attach Payne once again crosses into the area but Brosnan catches. We are coming up to half time here.
POSSESSION: Ireland has the lions share of the ball with 55% being at the feet of an Irish player.
CHANCE: Kaite McCabes free kick is sent to the back post to the head of Lousie Quinn she heads it to the path of Kyra Carusa who heads it goalwards but Chiamaka Nnadozie is equal to the attempt.
DOWN THE RIGHT: Ireland are continuing to get a lot of joy down the right with Heather Payne looking dangerous, however Nigeria are holding firm in terms of defensive duties.
CHANCE: Another great chance for Ireland as Heather Payne's cross is met by Farrelly at the back post but she was outstreched and it goes wide.
CHANCE: Megan Connolly's free kick is initally caught by the Nigerian goalkeeper but she drops it and it looks as if Lily Agg was going to get a connection on it but Chiamaka Nnadozie gathers on the second attempt.
CHANCE: What a chance for Nigeria, Lousie Quinns mislaid pass sees the overturned ball find Asisat Oshoala who breaks down the right with her well placed effort beating Brosnan but it went wide of the post.
ELSEWHERE: Australia have taken the lead against Canada and with that they top the group so Nigeria's game plan still stands, avoid defeat and they are through.
PRESS: Ireland are very much pressing higher than usual in this contest as Katie McCabe keeps Ireland on a front foot.
CORNER: A bright start for Ireland as Sinead Farrelly forces a corner which cannons off the crossbar and the ball didn't fall kindly to Katie McCabe and its been cleared by the Nigerian defense.
CLOSE: A big chance for Ireland as Farrelly lays the ball off to the onrushing Katie McCabe but her effort just stears wide. A big chance for the Irish side.
CHANCE: Nigeria's Payne cuts into the right from the left wing and curls and effort trying to catch Brosnan off her line but it goes well wide. An early threat from the Eagles midfield.
KICK OFF: Here we go! Nigeria kick us off and we are underway at Brisbane.
THE LAST DANCE: What a journey for this side, as they stand in the tunnel they know they can leave thier mark on this tournament still, led by the impressive and formidible Katie McCabe and talents such as Denise O'Sullivan the nation knows how impressive they can be.
LINE UPS: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND XI:: Brosnan; Fahey, Louise Quinn, Connolly; Payne, Agg, Littlejohn, McCabe; O’Sullivan, Farrelly; Carusa. NIGERIA XI: Nnadozie; Alozie, Ohale, Demehin, Plumptre; Ucheibe, Ayinde; Ajibade, Payne, Kanu; Oshoala.
ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT: Ireland will play thier away white kit for this evening.
HOW NIGERIA FARE: - Nigeria have competed in nine FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments – reaching the Quarter-Finals in 1999 - 11 times Nigeria have won the Africa Cup of Nations, while they made it to the Quarter-Finals of the 2004 Summer Olympics - There are 18 places between the two teams in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings as Ireland are currently 22nd while Nigeria are in 40th
MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: Katia Garcia (Mexico), Assistant Referee: Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico), Assistant Referee: Enedina Caudillo (Mexico), Fourth Official: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland), VAR Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy), VAR Assistant: Salome Di Iorio (Argentina), Offside VAR Referee: Lucie Ratajova (Czechia)
MATCH DETAILS: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Group B, Ireland v Nigeria, Monday, July 31, Lang Park, Brisbane, KO 20:00 (11:00 Irish Time).
BACKGROUND: The Ireland Women’s National Team will complete their FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 duties in Lang Park, Brisbane today when they take on Nigeria. The final game in Group B follows on from narrows defeats to Australia and Canada, but Ireland are aiming to finish on a high with a positive result.
TEAM NEWS: Vera Pauw has made two changes to the Irish team that took on Canada, Lily Agg starts in place of Lucy Quinn and Heather Payne (coming back in off injury) for Aine O’Gorman.
“They are lower ranked because they play against lower ranked side - they are a strong side, They leave different spaces but they are so fast and quick, We are taking this game seriously, we owe it to ourselves” the words of Vera Pauw ahead of todays game.
"We have nothing to lose and we are going to give it a bash" "We will try and get out creative players on the pitch" "We are disappointed to concede these type of goals" "We will give it all we got" These are the thoughts of Ireland midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn ahead of tonights match in Brisbane.
Good morning from FinalWhistle HQ - Dundalk branch where I am here to cover the Republic of Irelands final Womens World Cup match against Nigeria.