LAST UPDATE | 18 Jan
IRELAND MISSED OUT on a chance to progress to the Olympics when they lost a penalty shootout to Spain 3-0 following a 0-0 draw at the semi-final stage of the women’s qualification tournament in Valencia.
Defeat does not mean Ireland cannot reach the Paris games. The top three teams qualify, with Ireland facing either Belgium or Great Britain in the third-fourth-place playoff.
The game’s opening quarter was very even, with Spain’s Blanca Perez having the first real chance after the restart, but her cross-cum shot whizzed across the face of the goal eluding everyone including her teammates. Ireland went on to dominate the second quarter in possession terms, having several circle entries: Katie Mullan forcing a couple of saves out of keeper Clara Perez. One effort by Sarah Hawkshaw in the 23rd minute ended up bouncing off one of the umpires but play continued uninterrupted.
The second half was scant on clear-cut chances, and with no extra-time, a scoreless draw went straight to penalties.
Spain’s Laia Vidosa missed the first effort in the shootout, but Roisin Upton failed to capitalise, and Lucia Jiminez duly put Spain 1-0 up. Sarah Hawkshaw saw her penalty saved, after which Julia Strapatto converted for Spain. Next to miss for Ireland was Hannah Mc Loughlin, and Spain sealed victory courtesy of Day Maria Lopez.
“We are really happy with how we played today. When a game goes to a shootout, it’s always a difficult way to lose a game”, said coach Sean Dancer.
“Belgium have to take on Great Britain to decide who plays in the final and who we will play against on Saturday. We just need to focus on ourselves as we prepare for Saturday.”
“We are proud of how we defended. But we also dominated possession today and in attack. We created a lot of chances today, we just need to start putting more of them away.”
IRELAND: Ayeisha McFerren, Róisín Upton, Niamh Carey, Sarah Hawkshaw, Katie Mullan (C), Hannah McLoughlin, Naomi Carroll, Ellen Curran, Charlotte Beggs, Katie McKee ,Beth Harper
SUBS USED: Sarah McAuley (4 mins), Michelle Carey (6 mins ), Sarah Torrans (7 mins ), Elena Neill (4 mins ), Chloe Watkins (5 mins ), Deirdre Duke (7 mins), Liz Murphy (GK)
SPAIN: CLara Perez (GK), Lucia Jiminez, Maria Lopez (C), Marta Segu, Constanza Amundson, Blanca Perez, Begona Garcia, Xantal Gine, Laia Vidosa, Alejandra Torres-Quevedo, Patricia Alvarez
SUBS USED: Laura Barrios (11 mins), Sara Barrios (4 mins), Belen Iglesias (4 mins), Lola Riera (7 mins), Beatriz Perez (5mins), Julia Strapatto (4 mins), Maria Tello (GK)
