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21.10.2007 at 14:00 Antalya, Turkey
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Attendance: |
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Moldova |
0 - 5
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Womens International Under 17 |
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Referee: G. Pece (Latvia) |
European Qualifier-match |
UEFA Championship Women U17 First Phase Qualifier
Republic of Ireland 5 – 0 Moldova
Eilish Ward 13, 17
Amy Ryan 20, 78
Gillian McDonnell 32
The Republic of Ireland Women’s Under-17 team continued their free-scoring run today in their UEFA Championship qualifying campaign by overcoming Moldova in the first qualifying phase, Turkey, in Antalya.
The Irish began the four-nation group with a 5-0 victory over host nation, Turkey, on Friday and they were at their brilliant best again when they faced Moldova.
Ireland took a 4-0 lead into the half-time break and netted a fifth goal shortly before full-time.
Eilish Ward scored Ireland’s first two goals, which were swiftly followed with strikes by Amy Ryan and Gillian McDonnell. Ryan capped a fantastic second half display with her second goal, and Ireland’s fifth, with two minutes remaining.
Sweden’s win over Turkey means both they and Ireland have collected six points from their two games played. The nations will meet on Wednesday in the final match to decide which of the teams wins the group and progresses automatically to the next, Elite stage.
Moldova defended from the off, making it difficult for Ireland to break them down and despite having all the possession, the Republic had to wait until the 13th minute to find the breakthrough.
Eilish Ward swept away from a defender to make room for herself and she rifled a shot low into the bottom corner to give Ireland a deserved lead.
Once that stalemate was broken, the Irish made their dominance count and Ward bagged the second four minutes later before Ryan made it 3-0 within three minutes and McDonnell slotted home the fourth eight minutes before the break.
The humid conditions were having an influence on fitness levels and two players, Emer Flatley and Kelly Nolan, were brought in at half-time to refresh the Irish team and keep everyone on their toes ahead of the vital meeting with Sweden.
Ireland could have extended their lead on several occasions and were denied by the crossbar twice. Amy Ryan made no mistake when she was presented with the chance of grabbing her second goal in the latter stages.
Sweden defeated Turkey 3-1 in the other group game played today.
The winner of each of the ten first phase pools will progress to the next stage of the qualifiers alongside the six second-placed teams with the best record against nations finishing first and third in their groups.
In the second qualifying round, scheduled for next April, these 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four. The first-placed nations will then progress to the Finals in May, with one of the four selected as hosts, where a semi-final round will be followed by a final and third-place match. The top three teams advance to the inaugural FIFA U-17 World Cup Finals in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland:
Niamh Reid Burke – Raheny United
Angela O’Mahoney – Lakeside
Emily Hanney – Stella Maris
Karen Duggan – Piltown
Yvonne Cahill – Lakewood Athletic
Gillian McDonnell – Dundalk City WFC
Anna McCormack – Cam Celtic
Stacey Nesbitt - St. Mochta’s
Maria Harrington - Westport United
Amy Ryan – Stella Maris
Eilish Ward – Finn Valley
Substitutions:
Emer Flatley – Salthill Devon for Duggan (half-time)
Kelly Nolan – Bunclody for McDonnell (half-time)
Rebecca Walsh – Salthill Devon for Hanney (65 mins)
Referee:
Fixtures and Results:
Friday, October 19th
Ireland 5-0 Turkey
Sweden 12-0 Moldova
Sunday, October 21st
Ireland 5-0 Moldova
Sweden 3-1 Turkey
Wednesday, October 24th
Ireland v Sweden
Turkey v Moldova |
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