My First World Cup: Momentary lapse costs full-blooded Ireland against Australia
A momentary lapse in concentration proved costly for World Cup newcomers the Republic of Ireland in a 1-0 Group B defeat to co-hosts Australia in Sydney.
Despite frustrating their fancied opponents for much of this tournament opener, a penalty conceded early in the second half was decisive.
There was still plenty for Vera Pauw and her side to take from their first experience of a major tournament though, and this display provided ample proof that they are capable of taking points from their fellow Group B opponents.
Following a desperately out of tune rendition of the national anthem and a first 15 minutes wracked with opening night nerves, Ireland found their destructive rhythm.
Gaps between defence and midfield had allowed Australia’s rampaging right-back Ellie Carpenter to race down the flank early on as the co-hosts dominated the ball, but Pauw’s side soon showed they did not need possession to control the game.
The Irish defensive lines closed ranks, with Louise Quinn and Megan Connolly always perfectly positioned to clear any balls played into their box, and captain Katie McCabe began to thrive in her role as frustrater in chief.
Always willing to create a foul when an opponent got to close whilst equally keen to leave her mark on Hayley Raso when the opportunity presented itself, her commitment to the cause was never more clear than in the 35th minute.
Having being forced from the field for treatment on a finger injury sustained in a tackle-cum-clearance, she was back on the field for just seconds before steaming into a fifty-fifty with Raso that she completely dominated.
“I enjoyed it. I think everyone enjoyed it, I think they [Australia] did as well,” said McCabe to RTE at full-time. “There was a few tough moments but we don’t shy away from that. We love the physicality of the game.”
As much as this was quintessential McCabe and typified why she is Ireland’s most high-profile individual, there can be no doubting that the performance in this unfortunate defeat was a team effort.
Marissa Sheva, Kyra Carusa and Sinead Farrelly were tireless upfront in their attempts to close down Australia’s build-up, even if they lacked quality in the rare moments they were able to attack.
It was Denise O’Sullivan, targeted by hefty challenges to such an extent that last weekend’s warm-up match against Colombia was suspended, who picked up the game’s first yellow card.
The togetherness also shone through on the stroke of half-time. As space opened up for Caitlin Foord to shoot in the box for the very first time, four green shirts descended upon her as she took a touch, denying any further forward movement let alone an effort at goal.
The way in which the Irish players sprinted down the tunnel at the interval was as clear a sign as any that they were enjoying themselves.
Perhaps it was that excitement that possessed Sheva to place two hands on the back of Raso just seven minutes into the second half, sending the midfielder to the floor in the box and giving Australia a penalty.
The absence of Sam Kerr was keenly felt for much of the evening, but stand-in Matildas captain Steph Catley confidently stroked the spot kick into the top corner to ultimately earn the co-hosts an opening night win.
“We said at half-time that this was a game that would be decided by a mistake, and that’s what happened,” Pauw told RTE post-match. “At the end you need to have a little bit of luck.”
Ireland continued to battle and McCabe continued to scrap following the goal but creating a way to get back into the game proved to be a struggle.
Australia ‘keeper Mackenzie Arnold was called into action for the first time on 70 minutes, and that was only to palm clear a swirling McCabe corner before she later did the same from a Megan Connolly dead ball in injury time.
Wing-back Heather Payne swung and missed with Ireland’s clearest opening just five minutes later, but Pauw and her side were not able to capitalise as Australia to turn a hard-fought victory into a spectacle in front of 75,000 in Sydney.
The perfect moment almost fell to McCabe in the final minute of stoppage time, but her stabbed effort did not have the power to beat Arnold.
There may well be frustration back home that full-back Izzy Atkinson was Pauw’s late attacking change to rescue a point, and as a consequence forward Amber Barrett was left on the bench, but Ireland did not look out of place and by the closing stages the co-hosts were relying on their own approach of all out defence.
“I think we showed we belong with the top nations,” was Pauw’s full-time assessment. “We can only grow from this.”
This was not the start that Ireland and their supporters had been dreaming of, but the nightmare they forced Australia to endure to earn the win was evidence that the debutants have enough about them to make an impression at this tournament.
