Katie McCabe: ‘Sometimes you create you own luck and we did that tonight’

Macdara Ferris reports from Gothenburg

In Gothenburg on Tuesday evening Katie McCabe scored her 14^th international goal and the fourth of this campaign as the Ireland captain led from the front in a famous result against the world number two side.

Her goal could well turn out crucial as the girls in green look to claim second spot in the group and a route in the World Cup play-offs. 

It was the first points Sweden had dropped in a home qualifier in a dozen years.

The goal came from a well worked freekick which Ireland played wide to Megan Connolly. Lucy Quinn’s knock down came to Denise O’Sullivan who laid it back, after some encouragement from McCabe, into the path of her skipper who let fly to score – with the help of a deflection - just before the break.

“We put it out to Meg who has a fantastic delivery,” said McCabe speaking directly after the match about the free kick move. “I was screaming the head off Denise to set it back (to me). If you don’t shoot, you don't score so I’m delighted it went in.

“Sometimes you create your own luck and we did that today. We didn't get into their final third often but when we did we made it count.”

The girls in green had to dig in against a Swedish onslaught in the second half. McCabe said the pre-qualification preparations that saw them play teams ranked well above them in friendlies paid dividends.

“Playing the high ranked opposition teams last year, that really prepared us for those moments,” said the Arsenal player.

“Credit to the girls at the back, the blocks and headers the three put in tonight. They were fantastic but it was a real team effort.

“We'll take the point today, but now the full focus will be on Georgia (on 27 June) and getting the three points out there. It's going to be a difficult game, it's not easy. 

“We can look at the scorelines (Georgia lost 6-0 away to Finland on Tuesday) but Georgia are going to put up a real big fight against us and make it really difficult. 

“We've got three massive games now (away to Georgia and Slovakia either side of home game with Finland), but we'll be taking it game by game.”

The Georgia match will come a good bit after the end of the season for most players but McCabe insists they will be ready.

“We're professional athletes. I think we're quite used to having those June fixtures - probably not as late. Usually it's the first or second week of June - we had a double-header against Iceland last year.

"As professionals, we're used to it. We'll be 100% focused going into that game.”

 

Pauw full of praise after Ireland survive Swedish storm to earn point to keep play-off shot in sight https://t.co/7vHYwvnNZQpic.twitter.com/T97mJx6wIR

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