- Aaron Clarke
- Tue, Oct 27 2015
Ireland were forced to fight back from a goal down as Sue Ronan’s side recorded a first victory in their quest for European Championships qualification when they defeated Portugal by two goals to one at Joaquim de Almeida on Tuesday afternoon.
In a game which Ireland knew a victory was a must, it was the home side who began brightest and Emma Byrne was called into action early on when she was forced to parry away a Claudia Nato shot.
Despite being on the back foot for the majority of the opening period, Ireland showed they were dangerous from Megan Campbell’s low throw ins and with just under ten minutes played, Karen Duggan will feel she should have done better after the FSU full-back found the Waves player inside the penalty area, but Duggan failed to find the target.
With little over quarter of an hour gone, the host found themselves in front when Ireland failed to defend a set piece correctly, a quick corner found Silvia Rebelo whose delivery found an unmarked Carole Costa who headed home past Byrne who appeared to be caught flat footed.
Moments after Costa opened the scoring, Portugal had another chance to extend their lead, but Claudia Neto failed to find the target from the edge of the box. As Ireland looked for a way back into the game, Katie McCabe earned her side a corner and it was her delivery, which lead to Ireland equalising when she picked out Louise Quinn and the Eskilstuna United defender made no mistake from close range.
After equalising, Ireland continued to create opportunities through Campbell’s long delivery’s and some good play from O’Gorman and it was the latter who fired Ireland into the lead after a neat one-two between McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan before McCabe's cross come shot was parried by Patricia Morais before O’Gorman headed home the rebound from six yards.
Deep into first half stoppage time, Julie-Ann Russell will feel she should have extended her side’s lead after Sophie Perry found the winger free in the penalty area, but her volley went the wrong side of Morais post.
With less than five minutes played in the second-half, the hosts will feel they should equalise after a free-kick from Nato was spilled by Byrne, before a Vanessa Marques shot was blocked.
Soon after, Diane Caldwell had Ireland’s best opportunity of the half when she struck a volley from the edge of the box, but unfortunately for the midfielder the keeper pulled off a fantastic save to deny the Dublin native.
With Ireland being forced to defend for the majority of the second-half, the home side had a huge shout for a penalty after the ball appeared to hit Niamh Fahey inside the Irish penalty area, but luckily for the travelling Irish referee Gyongyi Gaal waved play on.
Moments later, Byrne was forced into a great stop after a dipping free-kick from Ines Silva forced the keeper to palm possession away for a corner kick. Despite being forced to defend corner after corner in the last ten minutes, Ireland showed huge character as Sue Ronan’s side closed out the game to register their first points of the campaign.
Portugal: Patricia Morais (GK): Ines Silva, Carole Costa, Silvia Rebelo, Matilde Fidalgo (Edite Fernandes 82): Dolores Silva, Vanessa Marques (Tatiana Pinto 71), Claudia Neto (C): Jessica Silva, Ana Borges, Carolina Mendes (Laura Luis 71)
Subs Not Used: Neide Simoes (GK), Regina Pereira, Monica Mendes, Suzane Pires
Booked: Costa (51), Luis (78), J.Silva (90+3)
Ireland: Emma Byrne (GK)(C): Sophie Perry, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Megan Campbell (Stephanie Roche 45+5): Karen Duggan (Diane Caldwell 33), Denise O’Sullivan, Ruesha Littlejohn: Julie-Ann Russell, Katie McCabe (Meabh De Burca 84), Aine O’Gorman
Subs Not Used: Niamh Reid Burke (GK), Grace Murray, Clare Shine, Carol Breen
Booked: Caldwell (56)
Match Referee: Gyongyi Gaal (HUN)
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Louise Quinn (Ireland)
