Ireland secured a massive 3-2 victory in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying against Poland in Gdańsk on Tuesday night.
Ireland and Poland came into this one both having targeted this as perhaps their best opportunity to get points on the board. The pitch was in poor condition at Polsat Plus Arena and that effected the night’s play, leading to more direct approaches from both sides.
Poland lined up largely as expected against Ireland, Bayern Munich’s Natalia Padilla-Bidas got the nod to start in the absence of the suspended Nadia Krezyman. Nina Patalon also made a change at full back as Aleksandra Zaremba came in for Milena Kokosz. Zaremba, a natural midfielder who was not part of the UEFA EURO 2025 squad filled in at right back. Also returning to the starting eleven for Poland against Ireland was PSG centre back Paulina Dudek who missed the defeat to France.
As for the visitors, Abbie Larkin started for Ireland away in Gdańsk. Kyra Carusa was not in the match day squad due to illness while Ruesha Littlejohn had already been ruled out of featuring on the night. Denise O’Sullivan returned to the starting eleven after missing the Netherlands match through injury, while Lucy Quinn returned to the bench.
Prior to kick off, Poland paid tribute to the men’s national team’s assistant coach Jacek Magiera who died suddenly on Friday morning. A minutes silence in his memory before kick off was impeccably observed.
The Lineups
POL: Szemik; Zaremba, Dudek, Woś, Wiankowska; Achcińska, Kamczyk, Pawollek; Tomasiak, Padilla-Bidas, Pajor
IRL: Brosnan; McCabe, Mustaki, Patten, Hayes, Mannion; O’Sullivan, Connolly, Sheva; Murphy, Larkin
The Action
Ireland created the first chance of the match, the ball bounced in behind to Abbie Larkin. The Crystal Palace striker connected with it, attempting to find the far corner but could only direct her shot wide. Both sides seemed content to let each others back lines hold possession in their own half early on as each struggled with passes on the bobbling pitch early on.
If Ireland had fired a shot across the bows early on, in the 15th minute came a direct hit. Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan and Marisa Sheva all combined brilliantly on the left side. That precise play in close quarters created space that Emily Murphy found in the box, cutting inside onto her right boot, Murphy rattled the ball inside the near post. The ball slipped agonisingly through the fingers of Kinga Szemik between the posts for Poland.
Before the twenty minute mark Ireland had their second. Megan Connolly whipped the ball into the box from a corner and while was nodded clear by Oliwia Woś that was only as far as Ireland captain McCabe on the edge of the box. The Arsenal star connected sweetly with it on the volley, her dipping shot left Szemik stunned and the back of the net rustling. With 15 minutes remaining in the first half Poland showed their teeth for the first time. Paulina Tomasiak did well to find space on the right side, she played the ball to Ewelina Kamczyk who played a delicious ball across the front of goal. Aoife Mannion threw her body at the ball to successfully block it before the follow up dropped for Ewa Pajor who was exceptionally denied by Anna Patten.
Poland were beginning to find their feet in the match and after dispossessing Chloe Mustaki in the middle of the pitch Kamczyk bore down on goal. She had the option of playing Padilla-Bidas clean through on goal who had made a bright run but went for goal herself instead and missed the target. Poland got themselves back into the match before half time. An excellent cross from Paulina Tomasiak found the head of Tanja Pawollek who made an perfect connection with the ball, heading in off the post to make it 2-1.
The second half began in transitional fashion with both sides opting to be more direct, likely due to the playing surface. Before the hour mark Ireland would restore their two goal advantage. Tanja Pawollek, pushed into her own corner tried to clear the ball off O’Sullivan for a throw in but the Liverpool midfielder was wise to it. The clearance fell to Mannion who played it to Emily Murphy. Murphy drilled the ball to the feet of Marissa Sheva who stopped the ball dead before firing across the goalkeeper into the back of the net.
Ireland enjoyed a measure of control over the next 20 minutes as Poland struggled initially to deal with the restoration of their opponents cushion. However with just under 15 minutes to play, they responded. An excellent ball over the top from Kamczyk found Pajor in behind, ready to pounce. Courtney Brosnan was caught in two minds and Pajor took full advantage with an inventive lobbed finish that bouncing into the net with unerring accuracy. Poland shot themselves in the foot only minutes later after Oliwia Woś impetuously fouled Murphy in the box. McCabe stepped up but blasted wildly over the bar, a reprieve that Poland failed to take advantage of. Nina Patalon’s side pushed in the final ten minutes to try to level the scores but their fruitless search ensured Ireland climbed off the bottom of League A Group 2 table.
Poland Player Ratings
GK: Kinga Szemik – 6/10 – The West Ham goalkeeper will feel she could have done more to stop Murphy’s opener. Did not move for either of the next two goals.
LB: Martyna Wiankowska – 7/10 – Earning her 102nd camp, Wiankowska saw much of the match unfold on the other side of the pitch, with Ireland targeting the full back with 93 less caps.
LCB: Paulina Dudek – 6/10 – Used all her experience to manage the threat of Abbie Larkin, however could not marshal her defence to close down Ireland’s threats.
RCB: Oliwia Woś – 5.5/10 – The Bristol City centre back tried to be inventive looking to play long balls from the back which was encouraging. Gave away a sloppy penalty that she was blessed not to be punished for.
RB: Aleksandra Zaremba – 6/10 – Zaremba had a tough night and her side was clearly targeted by Ireland, the pitch did not help.
CM: Adrianna Achcińska – 7/10 – Struggled to exercise control in the midfield from that deep lying position. Kept on working hard until the end, and has a great passing range, not her nor her nation’s night however.
CM: Ewelina Kamczyk – 7/10 – Should have played in her team mate Padilla-Bidas rather than going for a shot in the first half. Her ball into Pajor in the second half was nothing short of sublime.
CM: Tanja Pawollek – 7/10 – Pawollek was quiet in the opening exchanges but her performance burst into life with sumptuous header to pull one back for Poland. Made a naive mistake for Ireland’s third and was hooked shortly after.
LW: Natalia Padilla-Bidas – 5.5/10 – Padilla-Bidas seemed a little tentative on the night, made encouraging runs but looked like a player not used to starting.
RW: Paulina Tomasiak – 8/10 – A battling performance from Tomasiak, she was a major thorn in Irish sides throughout, whipped in an excellent cross to set up Poland’s opening goal.
ST: Ewa Pajor – 7.5/10 – As anonymous a first 75 minutes you’re likely ever to see from the striker, that was until her exceptional goal gave Poland a lifeline against Ireland and lifted the stadium.
SUBS
Patrycja Sarapata (66′ Pawollek) – 6/10 – Sarapata struggled to have an impact on the match.
Gabriela Grzybowska (66′ Padilla-Bidas) – 6/10 – Like Sarapata she was unable to have the desired effect on the match.
Wiktoria Zieniewicz (84′ Wiankowska) – N/A –
Milena Kokosz (87′ Achcińska) – N/A –
Klaudia Jedlińska (87′ Tomasiak ) – N/A –
Ireland Player Ratings
GK: Courtney Brosnan – 6.5/10 – Was alert to the condition of the pitch and acted decisively in goal when called upon. Could have done little to stop Poland’s excellent opener but would be disappointed with their second.
RWB: Aoife Mannion– 9/10 – Made two tackles in a row midway through the first half that epitomised her endeavour on the night. Mannion also made a goal saving challenge before Patten’s heroics. Made a couple of exceptional tackles and had Padilla-Bidas’ number so much so the Bayern player switched sides, her delivery into the box was also good.
RCB: Anna Patten – 8.5/10 – Made a goal saving challenge to prevent Pajor pulling one back in the first half. Made a number of exceptional interceptions especially in the second half.
CB: Caitlin Hayes – 7.5/10 –A little tentative in dealing with early speculative balls into the Irish half. As the match progressed, she grew into it.
LCB: Chloe Mustaki – 7/10 – Lost possession in the Irish half late in the first half but was given a reprieve by poor decision making from Poland. Alongside Hayes Mustaki grew into the match.
LWB: Katie McCabe– 7.5/10 – Within 20 seconds McCabe had already been fouled, the fouls continued on McCabe but she answered in the best possible fashion. Heavily involved in the opener and scored a screamer in the first half. Missed a penalty with a wild effort from the spot that would have ended the match as a contest.
CM: Denise O’Sullivan – 8/10 – On her 130th cap she had a couple of physical altercations with Pallowek, it was an intriguing battle. O’Sullivan helped keep Ireland ticking in the middle of the park.
CM: Megan Connolly – 7.5/10 – Helped break up Polish attacks and ensure that Ireland kept a measure of control in a transitional match.
CM: Marissa Sheva – 8.5/10 – Sheva was lucky to get a way with a loose early pass in midfield, which almost set Poland away on the counter. Combined exceptionally well with O’Sullivan and McCabe and scored a magnificent goal, not her first magnificent goal in an Irish shirt.
ST: Emily Murphy – 9/10 – Murphy combined well with Larkin in the press up field. Scored a fantastic goal and set up Marissa Sheva for her stunning goal. Her defensive covering against Poland helped her to a complete performance up front for Ireland.
ST: Abbie Larkin – 6.5/10 – Might have hoped to have more of an impact when given the chance to start.
SUBS
Amber Barrett – 7/10 – (Larkin 69′) – Hustled and harried and kept on running giving the Polish defence no time on the board.
Jess Ziu – N/A – (Sheva 87′) – It was a wonderful moment to see Ziu return to the Ireland side.
