Ireland confirmed promotion to League A on Tuesday night despite a 2-1 defeat away to Belgium on the night. The Girls in Green‘s 4-2 lead from the first leg proved vital to ensure victory over the two legs.
In an ill tempered encounter on the outskirts of Brussels, Leuven played host to an Irish side looking to hold onto a two goal advantage against their hosts to secure promotion to League A.
Carla Ward unsurprisingly made no changes from the side that defeated Belgium 4-2 at the AVIVA Stadium last Friday night. For Ireland, Grace Moloney made back to back international starts for the first time in her career while Katie McCabe captained the side on her 100th cap for her country. Anna Patten was available after suspension but Chloe Mustaki was preferred after impressing in the first leg.
Belgium head coach Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir said after that defeat she “did not recognise her team.” And she made four changes, Justine Vanhaevermaet and Jill Janssens returned from suspension which ruled them out on Friday and both started in Leuven. Alongside them both Zenia Mertens and Marie Detruyer, who came off the bench at half time in the first leg with the latter scoring late on, came in from the start.
The Line ups:
BEL: Evrard; Tysiak, Kees, Mertens, Deloose; Janssen, Cayman, Vanhaevermaet; Detruyer, Teulings, Wullaert
IRE: Moloney; McCabe, Mustaki, Hayes, Stapleton, Mannion; O’Sullivan, Littlejohn, Sheva; Murphy, Carusa
The Action:
Belgium began pushing Ireland high up the pitch early on but it was the Irish who had the first chance. A free kick well won in the Belgian half by Kyra Carusa was whipped into the box by Katie McCabe. The delivery went all the way through to Caitlin Hayes who mistimed her header and sent her effort wide.
Belgium looked to counter Ireland and Tessa Wullaert found space in behind but was not able to find a team mate in the box shortly after. Belgium were looking to take the physicality to Ireland, before the tenth minute Belgium had already committed three fouls. With 21 minutes gone Ireland came close to taking the lead on the night. McCabe’s ball into the box was fumbled by Nicky Evrard in goal for the Red Flames. The ball fell to the feet of Mannion in the box, the Newcastle defender put her foot through it but for a good block on the line it would have been 1-0.
Caitlin Hayes was impressing at the back, repelling every ball into the Irish box. However just after the half an hour mark it was wonderful football from Belgium that unlocked the Irish defence. Lovely interplay outside the box, she Belgium combine to find Laura Deloose inside the box, the cut back found Wullaert who found the far corner with unerring accuracy. Wullaert’s class was beginning to tell, and she found the net just seven minutes after her opener.
After Hayes failed to deal with a bouncing ball on the edge of the box and Moloney was advancing off her line, Wullaert lofted the ball from outside the box over Moloney’s head. And just like that Belgium were level on aggregate. Wullaert played a magnificent ball into the box shortly after towards Janice Cayman who just could not connect with it.
Ruesha Littlejohn had a free kick from outside the box sail over as Ireland looked to regain a foothold in the match. After half time it was Littlejohn who was subbed off for Anna Patten, who started the second half in midfield. Ireland absorbed early pressure in the second half. Before long they were back in the groove, fashioning chances of their own. Good hold up play from Carusa saw her flick the ball through to Marissa Sheva who sprinted through on goal. Sheva played the ball to Emily Murphy whose shot was well stopped by Evrard. With 54 minutes on the clock Carusa broke into the box finding Murphy, who elected to backheel to the edge of the box to no one when she really should have had an effort on goal herself.
Carusa and Sheva linked up again after great hold up play from Carusa and Sheva making smart runs from midfield. This time with Carusa found Sheva who fired at goal with Evrard smothering the ball down to her left. Evrard was forced into action again only minutes later when a wonderful ball into the box from McCabe found the head of Hayes, Evrard parried the ball out wide. Abbie Larkin, introduced off the bench, saw her effort on the follow up stopped again by Evrard.
Tensions threatened to boil over after a foul on McCabe from Wullaert saw the Belgian captain and Caitlin Hayes square up with both receiving yellow cards. Ireland were seemingly getting closer to a goal with 25 minutes to play. A long ball from Moloney was flicked on by Carusa and Larkin found the ball in behind and through on goal. Composing herself Larkin dragged her effort wide of the post. The Crystal Palace winger was once again involved shortly after with a shot from outside the box well palmed over from Evrard.
Ireland had an excellent chance with three minutes left to play of normal time. Jessie Stapleton played a direct ball to the feet of O’Sullivan, who, probing, played a wonderful ball in behind the defence. Carusa ran onto it but her effort from a tight angle was once again stopped by the Anderlecht number one.
With the clock ticking down McCabe played a ball forward, Carusa attempted to play a ball back into the centre of the box. Deloose had to deal with it but her interception only went as far as Larkin, who flicked a beautiful lob over the head of Evrard sending the away fans at the Den Dreef into raptures and Ireland to League A.
Ireland Player Ratings
GK: Grace Moloney – 5/10 – Was unable to prevent two magnificent finishes from Wullaert but even so, four shots on target and four goals for Belgium over the two legs does not make for good reading. Poor communication with Hayes for the second goal.
RWB: Aoife Mannion– 6/10 – Mannion came close to assisting and scoring in the first 20 minutes, lost Deloose for the first goal which almost proved costly. Mannion’s delivery is underrated.
RCB: Jessie Stapleton – 7/10 – Made a couple of vital interceptions within the first 15 minutes of the match. A combative performance.
CB: Caitlin Hayes – 7/10 – Hayes made a vital clearance early in the match as Deloose had found space in behind. Exceptionally good at defending the near post. Was partially at fault for the opening goal.
LCB: Chloe Mustaki – 7/10 – Another solid performance from Mustaki, who has slotted into this backline over these two matches with impressive ease.
LWB: Katie McCabe– 7/10 – Her delivery into the box was excellent from the dead ball but Belgium did well to limit her influence this time in the first half. They struggled to do so in the second and McCabe’s influence grew on the game.
CM: Denise O’Sullivan – 8/10 – Before the 30 minute mark O’Sullivan had already won six duels. Won free kicks in great areas for Ireland throughout. Was exceptional tonight.
CM: Ruesha Littlejohn – 6/10 – Misplaced a couple of passes in the middle of the park early on, was substituted at half time.
CM: Marissa Sheva – 7/10 – Struggled to have any meaningful impact on proceedings in the first half. However she found space in the second half more than once.
ST: Emily Murphy – 5/10 – Murphy is struggling in front of goal, needs to be more clinical when the opportunity presents itself.
ST: Kyra Carusa – 7/10 – Held up the ball extremely well, she was strong and physical and won many free kicks in great positions. Her linking the play in advanced areas was extremely impressive.
SUBS
Anna Patten – 6/10 – (Subbed on for Ruesha Littlejohn 46′)
Abbie Larkin – 8/10 – (Subbed on for Emily Murphy 60′)
Lucy Quinn – N/A – (Subbed on for Denise O’Sullivan 90′)
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Tessa Wullaert
The Belgian captain put in an excellent performance, two excellent finishes put her team back on level terms. Only two goals off her century of goals for her nation now.
