Wales beat Ireland 2-1 at the Aviva Stadium tonight to qualify for their first ever major tournament. Wales will feature at the European Championships this Summer after goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones were enough to secure victory in Dublin despite a late Irish fight back. The night had started brightly for Ireland, an atmosphere of excitement built around the streets Dublin 4 and flooded into the stadium before kick off with history on the line.
Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson made one change from the side that drew with Wales in the first leg, with Sunderland’s Jessie Stapleton brought into the starting eleven in place of Birmingham City’s Lily Agg. Wales made two changes, with Ffion Morgan and Ceri Holland dropping out while Leicester striker Hannah Cain and Crystal Palace midfielder Josie Green came into the starting line up. The introduction of Green perhaps to limit McCabe’s attempts to advance up the pitch.
The Line ups:
WAL: Clark, Woodham, Evans, Ladd, Roberts, Green, James, Fishlock, Rowe, Griffiths, Cain
IRL: Brosnan, Payne, Fahey, Hayes, Patten, McCabe, Stapleton, Littlejohn, O’Sullivan, Russell, Carusa
The Action:
Ireland started the match with intent looking to take the game to Wales, winning a few early corners both of which came to nothing. Both sides were beginning to show nerves, a loose touch from Ruesha Littlejohn set a couple of Wales players running at the Irish defence but they were unable to find Hannah Cain in behind and capitalise.
Rhian Wilkinson’s charges set about trying to limit Ireland on the ball, especially when it came through to the two defensive midfielders of Stapleton and Littlejohn with both being caught out a couple of times. After a looping ball created a game of head tennis on the edge of the Irish box the ball fell to Jess Fishlock who had the first shot of the match which was gratefully caught by Courtney Brosnan.
Katie McCabe found herself in the referee’s notebook after just 15 minutes, frustrated that she had not been awarded a free-kick after Josie Green pulled her back, McCabe went for a recovery challenge which had little chance of success. But then, the best chance of the game, with just over twenty minutes played Kyra Carusa held up the ball on the left side before finding Denise O’Sullivan, she cut onto her right foot and fired the ball against the crossbar.
Just a few moments later Ireland had another chance this time it was McCabe, in a similar position outside the box she dummied a shot before her wicked effort sizzled past the post. Wales were weathering an early Irish storm. Julie-Ann Russell almost had Ireland ahead but for a fine save from Olivia Clark just before the half an hour mark, from the rebound Heather Payne’s effort went agonisingly wide for the Irish but the pressure continued to build.
A late challenge from Littlejohn gave Wales an opportunity to arrest the Irish momentum from a free-kick in a good position on the edge of the Irish box. Taken by Lily Woodham, her fierce drive was brilliantly saved by Brosnan. Brosnan was called into action again from the resulting corner as she parried away Rhiannon Roberts shot on the turn. Shortly after McCabe was perhaps lucky to get away without a booking. As half time grew closer it appeared she clipped Green but the replays showed negligible contact and it was the right call from the referee to conserve her cards on this occasion.
Niamh Fahey came close to scoring one of the best goals the Aviva Stadium has ever seen taking the ball in her stride from a poor Welsh clearance but her driven shot on the half volley whistled past the post. The referee blew for half time to end a breathless first 45 minutes.
Within the first few minutes of the second half VAR was called upon after Anna Patten’s hand connected with the ball from a Welsh cross into the box. The on field decision of ‘no penalty’ was rightly overturned and Wales had a penalty, Cain sent Brosnan the wrong way and Wales into the lead.
Ireland appeared rattled and began to misplace passes in their own half. Minutes later wonderful running from Rachel Rowe saw two Irish players collide, her wonderful ball to the back post only just missed the outstretched leg of Cain, who almost had her second. As Ireland looked to progress up the pitch, gaps were starting to appear and a brilliant move saw Cain play Angharad James through on goal but her shot was vitally saved by the foot of Brosnan.
On 60 minutes Fishlock and goal scorer Cain were withdrawn, worryingly for Wales Fishlock came off the pitch limping. Carrie Jones and Ffion Morgan came on to replace them. And it was Carrie Jones who made an instant impact. With Ireland pressing forward, Jones was played through on goal. Caitlin Hayes did her best to intercept the ball but was unable to do so, Jones advanced into space and with pin-point accuracy found the bottom corner, Wales were in dreamland and crucially had one foot on the plane to Switzerland.
Ireland tried to fight back with McCabe’s half volley from outside the box missing the mark. Gleeson made a triple substitution bringing on Megan Campbell, Leanne Kiernan and Megan Connolly hoping to swing proceedings back in the favour of the Irish. The game became disjointed as Wales looked to slow the game down in the transitions. Wales began taking the ball to the corner flag with 15 minutes remaining to prevent possible Irish pressure.
With just five minutes remaining Ireland had one back, from a corner a melee in the box ensued as Patten atoned for her earlier header heading the ball into the back of the net and suddenly the Aviva was rocking. Ireland had momentum and continued to pressure Wales with minutes remaining. Megan Campbell delivered a stunning long throw into the box and Ireland came desperately close to levelling the scores with Wales clambering the ball off the line.
Leanne Kiernan was played through on goal but a wonderful block maintained the Welsh lead. From the resulting corner the ball ricochet to O’Sullivan whose shot was deflected over the bar and onto the roof of the net. Caitlin Hayes joined the attack as the match approached the final of the eight minutes to be added on. Despite a nervy finish, Wales held on and made history.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Hannah Cain – The Welsh striker was a tireless runner today, her running in behind and cool penalty set her team on the path to victory one which they never wavered from.
