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27.03.2013 at 15:00
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Attendance: |
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Womens International Under 17 |
1 - 2
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Poland
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Referee: |
European Qualifier / r-match |
Republic of Ireland 1 Poland 2
The Republic of Ireland U17 Women's team lost the opening game in their UEFA Women's European Elite Phase group to Poland this afternoon in St Poltan, Austria.
The Irish conceded goals in either half to Poland's Ewa Pajor and Paulina Dudek and although Amy O'Connor pulled a goal back it came deep into injury time and unfortunately too late to make a difference.
The match was rescheduled after being postponed yesterday when 15cm of snow fell on the Stadt Sportanlage and unfortunately for the Irish, it was the Poles who adapted best to the wet and bumpy pitch on with was an otherwise pleasant day.
Both sides had chances in the opening ten minutes with Chelsea Noonan saving from Dudek and her Polish counterpart Anna Okulewicz stopping an Amber Barrett effort. Noonan then denied Pajor as the Poles began to take control and eventually they struck the front with 22 minutes gone when Dominika Dereń set up Pajor to score.
The Poles continued to create chances after that and Noonan saved from Anna Redzia and then Ewelina Kamczyk before Barrett went close to equalising in injury-time from a Noonan corner. Barrett twice went close immediately after the break
Noonan then produced a great save to deny Pajor after 52 minuts and two minutes later turned a Dudek effort around the post. From the resultant corner, taken by Patrycja Michalczyk, Dudek scored to extend the Poles lead to two.
Manager Dave Connell introduced Shannon Carson for McNamara and Keeva Keenan for Goulding but they had hardly time to settle when Pajor rattled the Irish crossbar. Then Michalczyk missed the target while Redziza had her free-kicked saved by the excellent Noonan who was clearly Ireland's player of the match.
The Irish finished the last ten minutes strongly as they tried desperately to get back into the game and Connolly, Barrett and Keenan all went close before Ireland finally pulled a goal back four minutes into added on time when Ciara Rossiter's corner was met by Aisling Frawley and although her shot was blocked the rebound fell to Amy O'Connor who scored.
After the game manager Dave Connell conceded that the better team had won this encounter
"We were poor and unfortunately had an off-day," admitted Connell. "The occasion may have got to them but we certainly never got our passing game going. Poland were a good side and deserved to win and all we can do now is pick ourselves and look forward to Friday against Austria which is now a must-win game. Coming out here we obviously wanted to try and qualify for the finals but we definitely wanted to give a good account of ourselves and I think we will see a big improvement on Friday."
Ireland picked up one yellow card when Lauren Dwyer was cautioned for a foul on Kamczyk early in the second half.
Republic of Ireland: Chelsea Noonan (Douglas Hall) Lauren Dwyer (Wexford Ladies), Rebekah Carroll (Shamrock Rovers), Payton Goulding (Minnesota Thunder USA), Savannah McCarthy (Listowel Celtic); Ciara McNamara (St. Marys, Cork), Amy O'Connor (Cork Women's FC), Lisa Casserly (Castlebar Celtic); Amber Barrett (Lagan Harps), Megan Connolly (College Corinthians), Ciara Rossiter (Wexford Ladies). Subs: Keeva Keenan (WFTA) for Goulding (55), Shannon Carson (St Mary's Cork) for McNamara (55), Aisling Frawley (Wexford Ladies) for Carroll (74). Subs not used: Brooke Dunne (Peamount United), Rachel Doyle (Peamount United), Avril Brierley (St. Joseph's), Jessica Gargan (Peamount United).
Poland: Anna Okulewicz, Sylwia Matysik, Paulina Dudek, Anna Rędzia, Katarzyna Konat, Dominika Dereń, Patrycja Michalczyk, Katarzyna Gozdek, Ewelina Kamczyk, Urszula Wasil, Ewa Pajor. Sub: Dżesika Jaszek for Deren (80+1)
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (SUI)
Group 2 Details
Results:
Republic of Ireland 1 Poland 2
Norway 2 Austria 0
Fixtures
Friday March 30, 2013
Norway v Poland, Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 10am (Irish time).
Austria v Republic of Ireland, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 5.30pm (Irish time).
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Norway Stadium: Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 2.30pm (Irish time).
Poland v Austria Stadium, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 2.30pm (Irish time). |
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