Slovakia v Estonia

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Slovakia v Ireland

Ireland secure Round 2 World Cup Qualifying spot with win in Slovakia

The Republic of Ireland ended their World Cup qualifying campaign with a win and in doing so booked their place in the second round of the playoffs.

The only goal of the game came in the 37th minute. It was Jess Ziu that started the move, Heather Payne cut the ball back and Denise O’Sullivan fired to the net to give Ireland the lead. Played in front of a crowd of almost 500 spectators in Senec.

Ireland began to press from early on but no chances of note were created as Ziu, Payne, and McCabe were involved in a lot of play. The home side enjoyed a spell of possession themselves but failed to trouble Ireland.

The first half was scrappy at times as neither side could get a real hold on the game and neither keeper was called into action as they kept their goal intact.

The first chance in the game didn’t arrive until the 21st minute with Dominika Škorvánková with a low drive that went wide. Two minutes later and Ireland had their first effort but Katie McCabe’s shot didn’t trouble Maria Korenčiová.

As the half went on Ireland grew more into the game. Louise Quinn’s knockdown fell to Diane Caldwell in the 33rd minute. Four minutes later they broke the deadlock through O’Sullivan. Just before the break, Katie McCabe had a chance but it just went wide. 

Ireland showed well for the ball at the start of the second half. McCabe made a break and put a ball into the box but no one was able to connect with it. On the hour mark, the Tallaght girl hit a shot from outside the box that just dropped over the bar.

Claire O’Riordan saw her shot cleared in the 73rd minute as Ireland looked to double their advantage. Slovakia offered very little and possessed no real threat to Ireland. Substitute Tamara Morávková tried her luck in the 84th minute but her strike sailed over the bar. 

As the clock ticked down Ireland still put the pressure on while also trying to deny the Slovakians an equaliser. 

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