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Marissa Sheva (centre) was one of three Irish players who bagged their first senior international goals tonight
Just before the two-minute mark, Denise O’Sullivan got things going by creating space on the edge of the box, but her shot trickled ever-so-slightly past the left post.
The North Carolina Courage captain bagged a hat trick when Georgia last visited Dublin, so they were sure to keep an eye on her at all times in the early stages.
Georgia’s sole aim was clear from the start – keep the score down.
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Not just refusing to attack, they aren’t even bothering to defend wide areas, gifting Katie McCabe and Abbie Larkin ample space to create to their heart’s content on the wings.
By packing the central areas they aimed to frustrate and block shots. And for a long time, it worked.
It took 15 minutes for the minnows to register their first shot – a respectable long-range free kick that nonetheless resulted in an easy catch for deputy goalkeeper Grace Maloney.
Georgia’s goalkeeper, Tatia Gabunia, was the star of the show early on. She came out fearlessly for crosses, preferring to punch clear rather than catch. It was a dangerous game – but it worked in her favour.
It took 32 minutes for Ireland to get their first real chance of the game. Elegant build-up play from Julie-Ann Russell gifted Katie McCabe with ample space to swivel a ball in, but Emma Larkin found it difficult to slot it home from a tight angle.
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But if at first you don’t succeed, cross, cross again. Another McCabe cross met the hand of Georgian defender two minutes later, which, after a lengthy VAR break, gifted Ireland a penalty.
Despite a deafening chorus of boos and nearly minute long delay from the referee, the Arsenal star cooly slotted it in left side to bag her 27th goal in 90 caps.
From that point forward, the game finally kicked into gear.
45 minutes of non-stop defending led to Georgian fatigue – leaving their shape less defined and more spread out.
Head coach Eileen Gleeson responded by pushing McCabe into a more central position for the rest of the game – a decision that would bear fruit multiple times as the evening went on.
Georgia continued to sit back despite the deficit, but could delay the inevitable for so long.
A calm Abbie Larkin pass lead Denise O’Sullivan into space, whose cross met a cheeky Kyla Carusa flick between goalie’s legs to double the girl’s lead just after 58 minutes.
Just two minutes later, McCabe officially ended the tie with a mind-blowing 30-yard shot over a dumbfounded keeper.
Ireland’s fourth came from Jess Stapleton, bagging her first senior international goal. Another deft delivery from McCabe found the Sunderland star at the back post, whose slight touch was enough to get it over the line.
Ten minutes of injury time offered plenty of opportunities to get their fifth. And they did so in style when Marissa Sheva blasted a bullet from outside the box to open her account for the national team.
And as the clock ticked past the 100th minute, Aoife Mannion got her first Ireland goal as her header whizzed past a hapless Gabunia in the final action of the game.
They now presumably face the victor of Wales and Slovakia for a place at next year’s Euros, with the latter taking a 2-1 lead into Tuesday’s second leg in Cardiff.
SUN STAR: Katie McCa Larkin 9 (Kiernan 75, 6)
IRELAND: Moloney 6; Hayes 6, Toland 6 (Stapleton 75, 7), O’Sullivan 8, McCabe 9, Patten 6, Mannion 8, Agg 5 (Sheva 57, 8), Carusa 8, Larkin 9 (Kiernan 75, 6), Russell 8 (Atkinson 94, 5)
REFEREE: E Rusta (Albania) 5
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Publish date : 2024-10-25 13:02:00
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