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25.06.2008 at 19:45 Carlisle Grounds,Bray
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Attendance: 1450 |
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Referee: Claudine Brohet (Belgium) |
European Qualifier-match |
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None. |
Karolina Westberg 19 mins;
Victoria Svensson 23 mins;
Josefine Ogvist 28 mins;
Karolina Westberg 73 mins;
Lotta Schelin 86 mins; |
Olivia O Toole -> Stefanie Curtis (73)
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Lotta Schelin for Landstrom (61 mins),
Linda Forsberg for Dahlkvist (72 mins),
Johanna Almgren for Ogvist (80 mins. |
Women’s UEFA Championship Group Two Qualifier
Republic of Ireland 0-5 Sweden
The Republic of Ireland Women’s team can still qualify for the 2009 European Championships despite tonight’s 5-0 defeat by group leaders Sweden at the Carlisle Grounds.
Noel King’s team started the game brightly but the visitors demonstrated their supremacy with a comfortable victory in the end.
Sweden sealed their place at the finals in Finland with the win and they stand in the way of Ireland clinching a play-off place.
The nations meet again on October 1st when the Irish will require a draw to achieve their mission of setting up a shot at reaching the finals later that month.
An encouraging opening quarter of an hour of possession failed to yield any chances for Ireland and they fell behind on 19 minutes when Karolina Westberg was given the freedom to head home an in-swinging free-kick delivered by Sara Thundero from the right.
Sweden made it two-nil merely four minutes later after their captain Victoria Svensson ran onto a long pass down the right by Frida Ostberg and lobbed the ball past the advancing Irish goalkeeper Emma Byrne.
The visitors were in total control for the remainder of the half and extended their lead on 28 minutes after Thundero’s left-wing cross found Josefine Ogvist unmarked and she headed the ball through the legs of the luckless Byrne.
Stephanie Curtis tested Hedvig Lindhal with a long-range shot twelve minutes after the interval as Ireland went in search of a goal and Kate Taylor was also foiled by the custodian when her header was well gathered on 64 minutes.
Sweden pushed forward and continued to stretch the Irish defence with their flowing passing moves.
Westberg ghosted in at the back post to stab home the fourth goal on 73 minutes and the scoring was concluded four minutes from full-time by substitute Lotta Schelin who beat Byrne to the ball and rolled the ball into the empty net.
Ireland can feel proud of their efforts on the night they come up against the country ranked third in the world.
A strong turnout at the Carlisle Grounds was treated to an exhibition by the visitors who next year will be looking to go further than the semi-final stage they reached at the 2005 European Championships.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-3-3): Emma Byrne (Arsenal); Marie Curtin (Hofstra Univ), Niamh Fahy (Salthill Devon), Yvonne Treacy (Arsenal), Alisha Moran (New York Ath Club); Ciara Grant (Arsenal), Katie Taylor (Peamount Utd), Edel Malone (Hofstra Univ); Aine O’Gorman (Stella Maris), Michele O’Brien (Long Island Lady Riders), Stefanie Curtis (Bristol Academy).
Sub: Olivia O’Toole (Raheny United) for Curtis (73 mins)
SWEDEN (4-4-2): Hedvig Lindhal; Frida Ostberg, Stina Segerstrom, Karolina Westberg, Sara Thundero; Josefine Ogvist, Lisa Dahlkvist, Nilla Fischer, Therese Suogran; Victoria Svensson, Jessica Landstrom.
Subs: Lotta Schelin for Landstrom (61 mins), Linda Forsberg for Dahlkvist (72 mins), Johanna Almgren for Ogvist (80 mins)
REFEREE: Claudine Brohet (Belgium).
ATTENDANCE: 1450. |
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