In front of a crowd of 18,267 at the Aviva Stadium Ireland beat Poland 1-0 thanks to a first half strike from Marissa Sheva.
Ireland had welcomed Poland to Dublin having defeated the same opponent 3-2 just five days earlier in Gdańsk. Four Irish players would walk a suspension tightrope, with Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan, Marissa Sheva and Emily Murphy all a booking away from suspension.
Ireland made one change with Kyra Carusa returning to the starting XI after missing Tuesday’s match with illness. Abbie Larkin dropped to the bench. For the visitors Aleksandra Zaremba and Natalia Padilla-Bidas dropped out with Wiktoria Zieniewicz and Nadia Krezyman returning to the starting side following suspension in Gdańsk.
The Lineups
IRL: Brosnan; McCabe, Mustaki, Patten, Hayes, Mannion; O’Sullivan, Connolly, Sheva; Murphy, Carusa
POL: Szemik; Zieniewicz, Dudek, Woś, Wiankowska; Achcińska, Kamczyk, Pawollek; Tomasiak, Krezyman, Pajor
The Action
The home side made a nervous start adapting to Nina Patalon’s side’s two changes, losing the ball in positions they shouldn’t. The duo up front helped Ireland through that early rough patch, Emily Murphy chased every loose ball while Carusa won a couple free kicks far up the pitch, just reward for her hold up play. Poland had the first guilt edged chance of the match as Djion winger Krezyman looked to take on Aoife Mannion one on one. Krezyman beat Mannion for pace before cutting it back to Ewa Pajor, the Polish captain took it first time and caught Courtney Brosnan rooted to the spot, but her effort could only graze the side netting.
Ireland were quick to reply with a threat of their own, after excellent never say die centre forward play, Carusa won the ball back in the Polish box. Denise O’Sullivan picked it up, thinking quickly her chipped ball fell to the feet of Murphy. The Newcastle striker connected beautifully but her effort rattled the bar. O’Sullivan was at the heart of the action again shortly after but this time it was in halting a swift counter attack, fouling Krezyman. The referee, who had been relaxed about bookings up to that point showed O’Sullivan a yellow card.
Ireland would break the deadlock with minutes remaining in the first half. Excellent movement from Carusa once again saw her completely outfox her marker, she was found by a delicious ball in behind by Mannion. Carusa fired at goal on the turn, and while Kinga Szemik got a palm to it she could only deflect the ball into the path of Marissa Sheva who was following in to sweep it home. Ireland had a crucial lead.
Ireland started the second half on the front foot with Megan Connolly’s effort stinging the palms of Szemik in the Polish goal. O’Sullivan came close to achieving the exceptional ten minutes into the second half. As she was marked in touch tight fashion by Martyna Wiankowska, O’Sullivan flicked the ball over her markers head not once, but twice. The second of which found O’Sullivan through on goal, leathering her effort on the half volley she rattled the crossbar.
Poland introduced Weronika Zawistowska off the bench and the winger had a swift impact brought down in the box by Mannion. The referee waved away Polish appeals on what looked a certain penalty. Poland pushed for a leveller with Pajor spurning another chance late on but Ireland would hold on and climb five points ahead of Poland with two matches to play in the league phase of qualifying.
Ireland Player Ratings
GK: Courtney Brosnan – 7/10 – The Ireland number one confidently dealt with whatever Poland threw Ireland’s way.
RWB: Aoife Mannion– 5.5/10 – Made a couple of loose touches early on and struggled to deal with the threat of Krezyman at first, did much better as the match wore on. Almost scored with a brilliant header in the first half from which she created most of the power herself. Was lucky to get away without conceding a penalty in the second period.
RCB: Anna Patten – 8/10 – Made a number of important interceptions and is forming a solid partnership with Mustaki and Hayes.
CB: Caitlin Hayes – 8/10 –Good early defending halted a promising Polish attack more than once. Helped her side to a first clean sheet of the campaign.
LCB: Chloe Mustaki – 8/10 – Showed great awareness in her defensive positioning to ensure defensive solidity, her no nonsense defending from Mustaki was well received at the Aviva.
LWB: Katie McCabe– 7.5/10 – Was aware of her defensive duties and carried them out brilliantly especially in the first half. A quieter than usual afternoon for McCabe.
CM: Denise O’Sullivan – 8/10 – Identified for an intensive press by Poland when on the ball, lost the ball just outside the Irish box early on, was lucky it was not punished. Created Ireland’s first big chance of the match and was unlucky not to get an assist and a goal. Picked up a yellow card and will miss the next qualifer.
CM: Megan Connolly – 7.5/10 – Had a dangerous effort from distance repelled by Szemik, kept things moving in midfield for Ireland.
CM: Marissa Sheva – 8.5/10 – Sheva broke up early spells of Polish possession in the midfield. The Sunderland midfielder followed in to score an excellent goal, her fifth goal in 24 matches for Ireland.
ST: Emily Murphy – 8/10 – Murphy’s physicality and hold up play is so impressive, she should have scored early in the first half. Picked up a yellow card and will miss Ireland’s next match.
ST: Kyra Carusa – 9/10 – Carusa showed no sign of nerves and fought to get her side a foothold in the match. Her excellent centre forward play gave Ireland a deserved lead in the first half to set up Murphy. Had to come off with a head injury.
SUBS
Abbie Larkin– 7/10 – (Carusa 72′) – Won a few free kicks and looked lively after coming on, tracked back brilliantly late in the second half.
Poland Player Ratings
GK: Kinga Szemik – 6.5/10 – The West Ham number one made a couple of smart stops but could not prevent the opening goal.
LB: Martyna Wiankowska – 5.5/10 – The defender had a tough time handling O’Sullivan’s skill and creativity, picked up a yellow card and looked frustrated at times.
LCB: Paulina Dudek – 6/10 – Used her body well in defence, completely lost Carusa for the goal.
RCB: Oliwia Woś – 7/10 – The defender made an fantastic off the line clearance from an great Mannion header. Had an enteratining tussle with Carusa that she came out on the wrong side of.
RB: Wiktoria Zieniewicz – 6/10 – Came into the starting side for Zaremba but saw much of the match play out on the opposite side of the pitch.
CM: Adrianna Achcińska – 7/10 – The player who made her debut for Poland at 17-years-old took a couple of knocks in the first half. Had to come off at half time.
CM: Ewelina Kamczyk – 7/10 – Linked up the Polish play well in midfield had an early effort on goal that did little to trouble Brosnan.
CM: Tanja Pawollek – 6/10 – Pawollek struggled to get involved in the match away from home.
LW: Nadia Krezyman – 7/10 – Krezyman caused issues for Ireland and was happy to take Mannion on one on one for Poland but she faded as the match wore on.
RW: Paulina Tomasiak – 6/10 – Tomasiak, Poland’s best player in the first leg was quiet in this encounter.
ST: Ewa Pajor – 5.5/10 – Uncharacteristically Pajor missed an excellent early chance she should have scored, had another late chance she should have scored.
SUBS
Gabriela Grzybowska (46′ Achcińska) – 6/10 – Poland did not come out in the second half with the required urgency, and the substitiution of Grzybowska did little to effect the momentum of the match.
Weronika Zawistowska (64′ Krezyman) – 7/10 – Made an instant impact outsmarting Mannion and should have won a penalty for her side.
Patrycja Sarapata (80′ Kamczyk) – 6/10 – Sarapata was lucky to get away without a booking after an cynical foul on Larkin.
Weronika Araśniewicz (90′ Tomasiak) – N/A –
