World Cup Qualifier Report: Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Finland

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Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

It was an historic night in Tallaght as the Republic of Ireland secured a play-off spot for the 2023 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Finland in front of a what was a record crowd of 6,952 for a home Ireland women’s international.

Substitute Lily Agg was the hero for the Girls in Green as her header secured the crucial three points that means Ireland will finish runners up in the group and give Pauw’s team a route into the play-offs which begin next month – the first time they have ever reached this stage of qualification.

It wasn’t exactly a nervy first half for Ireland but they were very slow to get going in the game. They seemed happy to sit off Finland who had more of the ball and the Girls in Green really only created a couple of clear cut openings in the five minutes before half time.

Vera Pauw deployed a nominal back three but it was really a back five with Megan Campbell and Jamie Finn tucking in outside the defensive trio. Ireland skipper Katie McCabe was playing further forward than her normal position for the Girls in Green but she didn’t really prove an outlet for Ireland to use.

Campbell saw a lot of the ball down the left but she was wasteful with a number of crosses that went too deep. Her long throw did however cause plenty of problems.

Courtney Brosnan had to be aware of the threat of the visitors. She caught Ria Oling’s shot cleanly and then pulled off a super save off Linda Sallstrom, particularly as the striker’s effort took a deflection on the way to goal. Brosnan, diving to her right, palmed the ball away to keep the clean sheet.

Ireland looked to seek out the head of Louise Quinn from set pieces – off the Campbell throws and corners from McCabe on the right and Megan Connolly on the left. Diane Caldwell hit the crossbar from one corner but the ball was deemed to have gone behind before Quinn flicked it back into the centre and French official Stephanie Frappart whistled for a goal kick.

Ireland finally got on top of Finland late in the half and came close after Heather Payne, who had been very isolated on her own up front, turned on the edge of the area forcing a fingertip save from Tinja-Rikka Korpela.

Ruesha Littlejohn, the sitting midfielder in front of the Irish defence, picked up an injury and was replaced by Lily Agg four minutes from the break and it was the substitute who got the opening goal nine minutes into the second period. It was her second goal for the Girls in Green in just her third international appearance.

Connolly pumped a free kick from half way into the box. Agg bravely went up to compete with the goalkeeper and, getting there first, her looping header put Ireland 1-0 up. The visitors weren’t happy as they were down to ten players with Emma Koivisto off the pitch getting treatment after a clash with the Ireland captain.

Korpela did well to save a low Payne shot with her feet as Ireland began to pile on the pressure – McCabe then went close with a drilled effort from just outside the penalty area with just over 20 minutes to go.

Finn picked up a yellow card off Frappart as the ref was unhappy with the lack of speed she was taking for a throw in front of the Ireland bench and the booking means she will miss the final group game next week.

Brosnan still needed to save from substitute Sanni Franssi as the visitors desperately tried to get back into a game they really needed  to win. Ireland went close to doubling their lead in the closing period. Ziu went close with Korpela having to claw out a cross from right under her crossbar.

The home side were disciplined as the clock ticked up to 90 minutes and looked to take the sting out of the play and keep the ball in the opposition corners when they could. Brosnan’s third clean sheet of the campaign was crucial to the victory and the cheers echoed around the ground when the final whistle went.

The team and backroom staff gathered in a circle of celebration in the middle of the pitch and they deserve all the plaudits they will get for making the play-offs.

The win means that Ireland travel to Slovakia for their final game next Tuesday secure in the knowledge that second place is theirs and now with players looking to cement their place in the team for next month’s play-offs.

The dream of a place in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand becomes closer to a reality, although the complicated play-off route means that it will be by no means straightforward.

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jamie Finn, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly (Chloe Mustaki 76), Megan Campbell; Jessica Ziu, Denise O'Sullivan, Ruesha Littlejohn (Lily Agg 41), Katie McCabe ©; Heather Payne.
Subs not used: Grace Moloney, Megan Walsh, Claire O'Riordan, Ellen Molloy, Ciara Grant, Hayley Nolan, Aine O'Gorman, Amber Barrett, Lucy Quinn, Leanne Kiernan. 
Booked: Megan Campbell (60), Jamie Finn (72). 

Finland: Tinja-Rikka Korpela (c); Elli Pikkujamsa (Jenny Danielsson 74), Anna Westerlund, Natalia Kuikka, Emma Koivisto; Olga Ahtinen, Ria Oling, Eveliina Summanen, Heidi Kollanen (Sanni Franssi 67); Jutta Rantala, Linda Sallstrom.
Subs not used: Katriina Talaslahti, Anna Tamminen, Joanna Tynnila, Eva Nystrom, Emma Peuhkurinen, Nora Heroum, Oona Siren, Amanda Rantanen. 
Booked: None. 
Sent off: None. 

Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France)
Attendance: 6,952  
extratime.com Player of the Match: Lily Agg (Republic of Ireland)

The Republic of Ireland qualify for the play-offs! Congratulations to @verapauw and all the team! https://t.co/o5nDNy6Wb4pic.twitter.com/EQJKPJPWsT

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 1, 2022