Uefa Nations League A/B promotion/relegation playoff, first leg
Republic of Ireland 4
Belgium 2
ADVANTAGE IRELAND, HAVING gone some way towards extinguishing the Red Flames.
Katie McCabe heroics and another stunner from Marissa Sheva lit up Lansdowne Road, as Ireland upset Belgium to take a two-goal lead into Tuesday’s return tie in Leuven.
The Irish captain was cruelly denied a hat-trick on her 99th cap, with one chalked off as an OG. But her 30th and 31st international goals — and first for Ireland at Aviva Stadium — sent her side on their way to the best performance of Carla Ward’s reign.
They impressed against fancied Belgium, seven places higher in the world rankings and participants at Euro 2025, leading 1-0 at half time and 4-2 at the finish as 14,180 fans watched on on a chilly night.
The job is only half done, but League A status — and a 2027 World Cup playoff — is firmly in sight.
Ireland will be disappointed with the concessions from Tessa Wullaert and Marie Detruyer, however, and aware of the inevitable Belgian response.
With undisputed number one Courtney Brosnan out injured, Grace Moloney started in goal as Ireland returned to Lansdowne Road for the first time since last December’s Euros playoff heartbreak to Wales. Anna Patten was suspended, so Chloe Mustaki got the nod in defence in a fluid 5-3-2 formation. Ward was insistent Ireland wouldn’t “just park the bus” and were keen to strike a balance between her possession-based style and “the Irish way”.
The potential transitional nature of the game was apparent from early doors. Belgium tried to use the wide areas initially, while Ireland went more direct with Kyra Carusa and Emily Murphy willing runners and pressing up top.
They were both central to the first real chance in the 12th minute. Denise O’Sullivan, returning from a knee injury, won the ball, charged down the middle and found Carusa outside her. The US-born striker squared to Murphy, who flashed across the face of goal and inches wide.
While Ireland settled best, Belgium soon fired a similar warning shot. After a period of sustained pressure – and a half-hearted appeal for a penalty – Laura Deloose drove just wide after her initial shot was blocked by Aoife Mannion.
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Marissa Sheva lets fly. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Aggressive and assured, Ireland began to claw on top thereafter. O’Sullivan buzzed between the lines, while Carusa caused problems. Another half chance went abegging when Murphy knocked down Mannion’s delivery at the back post, but the ball evaded both O’Sullivan and Carusa.
McCabe’s dispatches, from open play and set pieces, began to threaten, and it was from one that the opener stemmed. Elena Dhont was booked for lunging in on the Dubliner, and as her delivery pin-balled around the box, Jessie Stapleton snapped at it and Mariam Tobola was eventually penalised for handball. Nicky Evrard had saved Mannion’s follow-up shot, and she and her teammates were outraged when referee Franziska Wildfeuer pointed to her arm and then the spot.
McCabe made no mistake, sending Evard the wrong way and finding the bottom right-hand corner of the same goal she scored a stunning free-kick into as a teenager in the 2014 FAI Cup final.
1-0 Ireland on the cusp of half-time – and a deserved lead at that.
While Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir made two changes and tweaked Belgium’s shape at the break, both goalkeepers were on their toes with punched clearances on the restart. Soon they were picking the ball out of their respective nets.
Wullaert – who Ward insisted Ireland had to nullify – struck first in the 52nd minute. Deloose played the lethal striker in, with the Irish rearguard caught out and Moloney onrushing, and her lobbed finish silenced the Aviva.
But it was soon bouncing as McCabe bagged two of her trademark bangers. ’Tis the season, eh?
Republic of Ireland 3-1 Belgium Katie McCabe drills home Ireland's third, unquestionably the best of the night after great passing from O'Sullivan and Murphy 📺 Live coverage on @rte2 and @RTEplayer 📱Updates https://t.co/BTJ0s9rh7Wpic.twitter.com/49G0JHdpC2
Two minutes after Belgium’s leveller, McCabe was central to restoring the lead from way out on the left. Her cross-cum-shot rebounded off the far post, and then Evrard’s back, to nestle in the net. She faced the crowd arms outstretched as the rain lashed down, reminiscent of her World Cup Olimpico celebration in Perth.
After Murphy scuffed another chance, she put the finishing touches on a fine team move to assist McCabe, whose smashing low drive from inside the box wrapped up what she thought to be a hat-trick just after the hour mark. (Uefa initially awarded the second, but later overruled.)
By the 66th minute, Ireland were in dreamland. Sheva wheeled away almost in disbelief after making it 4-1 with a goal that matched, if not surpassed, McCabe before her.
After Belgium failed to clear a corner from the captain, the ball fell kindly to the Sunderland midfielder and she connected with it perfectly. From the moment it left her boot, there was only one destination.
Belters Only — the prematch DJ set clearly inspired.
Republic of Ireland 4-1 Belgium Turning into a wonderful night for Carla Ward's side as Marissa Sheva rattles home the fourth to the roof of the net 📺 Live coverage on @rte2 and @RTEplayer
The fancied visitors were stunned. They pulled one back through substitute Detruyer amidst uncharacteristically sloppy Irish defending seven minutes from time, but that was ultimately as good as it got on the night.
Ireland huddled at the whistle — saluting the returning Jamie Finn, in particular — and undoubtedly stressed this is only half time in a crucial playoff.
Onto Tuesday, their own flame burning bright once more.
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Katie McCabe heroics as Ireland stun Belgium for two-goal lead in Nations League playoff
Uefa Nations League A/B promotion/relegation playoff, first leg
Republic of Ireland 4
Belgium 2
ADVANTAGE IRELAND, HAVING gone some way towards extinguishing the Red Flames.
Katie McCabe heroics and another stunner from Marissa Sheva lit up Lansdowne Road, as Ireland upset Belgium to take a two-goal lead into Tuesday’s return tie in Leuven.
The Irish captain was cruelly denied a hat-trick on her 99th cap, with one chalked off as an OG. But her 30th and 31st international goals — and first for Ireland at Aviva Stadium — sent her side on their way to the best performance of Carla Ward’s reign.
They impressed against fancied Belgium, seven places higher in the world rankings and participants at Euro 2025, leading 1-0 at half time and 4-2 at the finish as 14,180 fans watched on on a chilly night.
The job is only half done, but League A status — and a 2027 World Cup playoff — is firmly in sight.
Ireland will be disappointed with the concessions from Tessa Wullaert and Marie Detruyer, however, and aware of the inevitable Belgian response.
With undisputed number one Courtney Brosnan out injured, Grace Moloney started in goal as Ireland returned to Lansdowne Road for the first time since last December’s Euros playoff heartbreak to Wales. Anna Patten was suspended, so Chloe Mustaki got the nod in defence in a fluid 5-3-2 formation. Ward was insistent Ireland wouldn’t “just park the bus” and were keen to strike a balance between her possession-based style and “the Irish way”.
The potential transitional nature of the game was apparent from early doors. Belgium tried to use the wide areas initially, while Ireland went more direct with Kyra Carusa and Emily Murphy willing runners and pressing up top.
They were both central to the first real chance in the 12th minute. Denise O’Sullivan, returning from a knee injury, won the ball, charged down the middle and found Carusa outside her. The US-born striker squared to Murphy, who flashed across the face of goal and inches wide.
While Ireland settled best, Belgium soon fired a similar warning shot. After a period of sustained pressure – and a half-hearted appeal for a penalty – Laura Deloose drove just wide after her initial shot was blocked by Aoife Mannion.
Aggressive and assured, Ireland began to claw on top thereafter. O’Sullivan buzzed between the lines, while Carusa caused problems. Another half chance went abegging when Murphy knocked down Mannion’s delivery at the back post, but the ball evaded both O’Sullivan and Carusa.
McCabe’s dispatches, from open play and set pieces, began to threaten, and it was from one that the opener stemmed. Elena Dhont was booked for lunging in on the Dubliner, and as her delivery pin-balled around the box, Jessie Stapleton snapped at it and Mariam Tobola was eventually penalised for handball. Nicky Evrard had saved Mannion’s follow-up shot, and she and her teammates were outraged when referee Franziska Wildfeuer pointed to her arm and then the spot.
McCabe made no mistake, sending Evard the wrong way and finding the bottom right-hand corner of the same goal she scored a stunning free-kick into as a teenager in the 2014 FAI Cup final.
1-0 Ireland on the cusp of half-time – and a deserved lead at that.
While Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir made two changes and tweaked Belgium’s shape at the break, both goalkeepers were on their toes with punched clearances on the restart. Soon they were picking the ball out of their respective nets.
Wullaert – who Ward insisted Ireland had to nullify – struck first in the 52nd minute. Deloose played the lethal striker in, with the Irish rearguard caught out and Moloney onrushing, and her lobbed finish silenced the Aviva.
But it was soon bouncing as McCabe bagged two of her trademark bangers. ’Tis the season, eh?
Two minutes after Belgium’s leveller, McCabe was central to restoring the lead from way out on the left. Her cross-cum-shot rebounded off the far post, and then Evrard’s back, to nestle in the net. She faced the crowd arms outstretched as the rain lashed down, reminiscent of her World Cup Olimpico celebration in Perth.
After Murphy scuffed another chance, she put the finishing touches on a fine team move to assist McCabe, whose smashing low drive from inside the box wrapped up what she thought to be a hat-trick just after the hour mark. (Uefa initially awarded the second, but later overruled.)
By the 66th minute, Ireland were in dreamland. Sheva wheeled away almost in disbelief after making it 4-1 with a goal that matched, if not surpassed, McCabe before her.
After Belgium failed to clear a corner from the captain, the ball fell kindly to the Sunderland midfielder and she connected with it perfectly. From the moment it left her boot, there was only one destination.
Belters Only — the prematch DJ set clearly inspired.
The fancied visitors were stunned. They pulled one back through substitute Detruyer amidst uncharacteristically sloppy Irish defending seven minutes from time, but that was ultimately as good as it got on the night.
Ireland huddled at the whistle — saluting the returning Jamie Finn, in particular — and undoubtedly stressed this is only half time in a crucial playoff.
Onto Tuesday, their own flame burning bright once more.
IRELAND: Grace Moloney; Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki; Emily Muphy, Ruesha Littlejohn (Tyler Toland 60), Denise O’Sullivan (Jamie Finn 75), Marissa Sheva, Katie McCabe; Kyra Carusa (Saoirse Noonan 75).
BELGIUM: Nicky Evrard; Sari Kees, Amber Tysiak, Janice Cayman, Laura Deloose; Elena Dhont (Zenia Martens HT), Tine De Caigney (Maria Detruyer HT), Mariam Toloba (Lisa Petry 83); Jarne Teulings, Tessa Wullaert, Féli Delacauw.
Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer (Germany).
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