Ireland were left stunned by an electric Slovenian performance in Koper. Slovenia secured a shock 4-0 victory after a brace from Lara Prašnikar set them on their way before being complimented by goals from Zara Kramžar and Nina Kajzba.
Slovenia made no changes from the side that beat Greece 2-1 away on Friday night, that side included stars like Frankfurt’s Prašnikar, Roma’s Kramžar and Paris FC’s Kaja Korošec. Ireland were coming off the back of a 1-0 win over Turkey at Tallaght on Friday night hoping to play more expansive attacking football than they were able to muster on that occasion.
The initial plan was for only one change for Carla Ward’s side with Amber Barrett introduced in place of Marissa Sheva. However a tight hamstring for Megan Campbell prior to kick off meant Megan Connolly came into the side to replace the London City Lionesses defender. It was an intriguing set up, with Kyra Carusa moved out to the wing and Katie McCabe starting as almost a second striker in the number 10 role.
The Line ups:
SLO: Meršnik, Križaj, Golob, Čonč, Eržen, Prašnikar, Makovec, Korošec, Kramžar, Sternad, Kolbl
IRE: Brosnan, Mannion, Connolly, Patten, Payne, Littlejohn, O’Sullivan, Lucy Quinn, Carusa, McCabe, Barrett
The Action:
Ireland started on the front foot with an attacking emphasis on their play, but within three minutes it was the home side that took the lead. Prašnikar was played in over the top by Maja Sternad brilliantly and Prašnikar made no mistake firing the ball into the top corner despite Courtney Brosnan getting a hand to it.
The Girls in Green responded positively, shortly after good work from Kyra Carusa, the San Diego Wave striker fired a blocked shot on goal, the ball came out to Denise O’Sullivan on the edge of the box but her shot was magnificently saved by Zala Meršnik.
The first 10 minutes of the match were extremely transitional and after a misplaced pass by Ruesha Littlejohn, Slovenia nearly doubled their lead. Once again it was Sternad who sprinted to the bye-line before cutting the ball back to two Slovenian shirts in the box but the ball evaded both and Ireland were able to clear. Slovenia packed the midfield, pressuring Ireland at every opportunity pushing up high with Sara Makovec proving a particular nuisance for the Ireland midfield. Lucy Quinn and Amber Barrett looked to try to respond but both efforts before the 2o minute mark evaded the target.
Ireland looked fragile in defence with Slovenia looking dangerous on the break. But it was from a set-piece that Slovenia would double their lead. After Slovenia won a corner, Kaja Korošec’s near post delivery found Prašnikar again and despite being marked by both Anna Patten and Heather Payne she was able to steal in and get the perfect touch to direct the ball past Brosnan again. Shortly after Slovenia stunned Ireland to make it 3-0 through Zara Kramžar who tapped in from close range for her second in as many games after great wing play from Sternad had created the opportunity.
Sternad was once again in a position to cause some damage, played through by Makovec but Brosnan made a fantastic save to stop Ireland going further behind. Slovenia, a nation famed for its beautiful alps had given their visitors a mountain to climb in the second half.
At the break Ward made her move, introducing Sheva and Tyler Toland off the bench in place of Littlejohn and Payne. With McCabe returned to left back she was able to have more of an impact on the match, her cross just before the 50 minute mark found the head of Carusa who directed her header just wide. Ireland began to apply the pressure on the hosts with O’Sullivan once again denied by Meršnik who made a smart save down to her left after Patten had nodded the ball down for the North Carolina Courage midfielder. McCabe’s whipped ball across the box with 25 minutes to play was dangerous but ultimately missed the target of any Irish bodies. Slovenia seemed content to sit back and soak up Irish pressure, defending set-pieces impressively.
Ireland continued to push with corner after corner, McCabe’s rocket like shot from the edge of the box was parried by the Slovenian number one with time ticking away. However against the run of play in the second half Slovenia made it four, the 20 year old Kajzba found the net with a wonderful finish to beat Brosnan and condemn Ireland to a humiliating defeat. Mere moments later Lucy Quinn flew through on goal, her shot was saved by the Slovenia number one before it rebounded out to O’Sullivan who skimmed the crossbar with her effort.
Ireland will now have to wait for a double header against Greece in April to respond while Slovenia face Turkey twice at the same time.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Sara Makovec
You could make a case for any number of players in Slovenian white to be player of the match on the night. Maja Sternad was a close second but it was Makovec whose tight marking of McCabe and O’Sullivan, two of Ireland’s greatest ever players, all but numbed the creative power the two players could muster.
Kaja Korošec was an able partner in crime through the middle of the pitch with both spoilers doing a crucial job for a team relying on the counter to score. Makovec was the key player in controlling the midfield in a fantastic result for Slovenia.
