THIS WAS THE furthest thing from Turkish delight, but Ireland escaped Istanbul with all three points.
Emily Murphy’s 89th-minute winner completed the comeback and kept alive Irish Nations League promotion hopes on a difficult night at Esenler Erokspor Stadium.
Türkiye hit the front early in the second half, but Ireland’s substitutes rescued the win as Megan Campbell’s long throw caused havoc for an own goal, and Murphy opened her international account in style.
Champions League winner Katie McCabe was also instrumental as Ireland’s blushes were spared against a team ranked 32 places inferior.
Carla Ward’s side now face Slovenia in a Páirc Uí Chaoimh shootout for top spot in Group B2 next Tuesday, Ireland needing to win by five goals or more to secure automatic promotion to League A. The runners-up head for the play-offs in October.
McCabe was one of three changes to the Ireland XI, the captain shaking off concerns around a calf issue to be stationed at left-back as her whirlwind week continued. Megan Connolly returned in midfield, while Abbie Larkin was handed a rare starting opportunity out wide. Ward, meanwhile, stuck with her 4-3-3 and expansive, possession-based plans.
Ireland dominated the early exchanges, but struggled to settle in front of a small but lively crowd of 1,000 or so. 21 of them were travelling fans. While Türkiye started deep and carried a threat on the counter, the visitors were sloppy in possession, often overplaying and inviting trouble upon themselves in a muddled midfield and defence.
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Courtney Brosnan comfortably claimed the first shot of note from Sejde Abrahamsson in the 12th minute, but Türkiye grew into the game and moved into the ascendency for a period. They had a penalty call waved on, and their best chance came towards the end of the half: Aoife Mannion stepped up with a last-ditch block on the electric Ebru Topçu after Brosnan had denied Miray Cin on the transition.
Ireland, so pedestrian to that point, looked to respond. Having had a shot from the edge of the box brilliantly stopped by Selda Akgöz, McCabe saw her next effort cleared off the line by Busem Seker. That came after a deep Connolly corner, Jessie Stapleton the target for several unsuccessful set-pieces in an even, physical opening half. Ireland’s only other chance of note was a Lucy Quinn long-ranger, which was tipped over the crossbar.
Having upped the tempo and found more rhythm, any signs of Irish improvements were undone three minutes after the restart.
They were caught again on the break, Kader Hançar starting and finishing a fine move as Türkiye scored just their second goal in this group. Hançar provided a deft touch for Ilayda Civelek on halfway as the Turks played out; Civelek surged forward before squaring it back in the box amidst abysmal Irish defending, and Hançar fired home:
Ireland were shell-shocked. Again. Scrambling. At sixes and sevens after their sixth concession of the campaign.
Ward made an attacking triple change on the hour-mark. Caitlin Hayes had gotten the nod for Mannion at half time — Anna Patten moved to right-back and was among those exposed for the goal — and Kyra Carusa, Saoirse Noonan and Murphy soon entered the fray.
Generally the first-choice centre-forward, Carusa quickly tested Akgöz. Ireland’s grand possession-based plans soon went out the window, as they opted to go more direct. McCabe drove forward and sent in crosses, while one shot in anger was stalled by an unexpectant Patten.
The direct approach ramped up when Campbell was called for in the 74th minute.
Just over five minutes later, it was 1-1. The Guinness world record holder launched her set-piece missile into the box, and the unfortunate Seker sent a looping header beyond Akgöz in a poor attempt to clear:
Ireland piled on the pressure, but Türkiye dug deep and Noonan went closest until a dramatic endgame.
Campbell had released McCabe on the left flank, and the winner came from there. Maria Kapnisi slipped as she tried to clear a delivery from the Arsenal star, and Murphy was on hand to capitalise with a superb, composed finish on her eighth cap.
A massive sigh of relief was breathed. And another, as Topçu whistled a shot past the post in the dying seconds.
Ireland escaped with all three points. Just about.
All roads lead to Cork, the tallest of orders ahead on tonight’s evidence.
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Ireland come from behind to rescue last-gasp win in Türkiye
Türkiye 1
Republic of Ireland 2
THIS WAS THE furthest thing from Turkish delight, but Ireland escaped Istanbul with all three points.
Emily Murphy’s 89th-minute winner completed the comeback and kept alive Irish Nations League promotion hopes on a difficult night at Esenler Erokspor Stadium.
Türkiye hit the front early in the second half, but Ireland’s substitutes rescued the win as Megan Campbell’s long throw caused havoc for an own goal, and Murphy opened her international account in style.
Champions League winner Katie McCabe was also instrumental as Ireland’s blushes were spared against a team ranked 32 places inferior.
Carla Ward’s side now face Slovenia in a Páirc Uí Chaoimh shootout for top spot in Group B2 next Tuesday, Ireland needing to win by five goals or more to secure automatic promotion to League A. The runners-up head for the play-offs in October.
McCabe was one of three changes to the Ireland XI, the captain shaking off concerns around a calf issue to be stationed at left-back as her whirlwind week continued. Megan Connolly returned in midfield, while Abbie Larkin was handed a rare starting opportunity out wide. Ward, meanwhile, stuck with her 4-3-3 and expansive, possession-based plans.
Ireland dominated the early exchanges, but struggled to settle in front of a small but lively crowd of 1,000 or so. 21 of them were travelling fans. While Türkiye started deep and carried a threat on the counter, the visitors were sloppy in possession, often overplaying and inviting trouble upon themselves in a muddled midfield and defence.
Courtney Brosnan comfortably claimed the first shot of note from Sejde Abrahamsson in the 12th minute, but Türkiye grew into the game and moved into the ascendency for a period. They had a penalty call waved on, and their best chance came towards the end of the half: Aoife Mannion stepped up with a last-ditch block on the electric Ebru Topçu after Brosnan had denied Miray Cin on the transition.
Ireland, so pedestrian to that point, looked to respond. Having had a shot from the edge of the box brilliantly stopped by Selda Akgöz, McCabe saw her next effort cleared off the line by Busem Seker. That came after a deep Connolly corner, Jessie Stapleton the target for several unsuccessful set-pieces in an even, physical opening half. Ireland’s only other chance of note was a Lucy Quinn long-ranger, which was tipped over the crossbar.
Having upped the tempo and found more rhythm, any signs of Irish improvements were undone three minutes after the restart.
They were caught again on the break, Kader Hançar starting and finishing a fine move as Türkiye scored just their second goal in this group. Hançar provided a deft touch for Ilayda Civelek on halfway as the Turks played out; Civelek surged forward before squaring it back in the box amidst abysmal Irish defending, and Hançar fired home:
Ireland were shell-shocked. Again. Scrambling. At sixes and sevens after their sixth concession of the campaign.
Ward made an attacking triple change on the hour-mark. Caitlin Hayes had gotten the nod for Mannion at half time — Anna Patten moved to right-back and was among those exposed for the goal — and Kyra Carusa, Saoirse Noonan and Murphy soon entered the fray.
Generally the first-choice centre-forward, Carusa quickly tested Akgöz. Ireland’s grand possession-based plans soon went out the window, as they opted to go more direct. McCabe drove forward and sent in crosses, while one shot in anger was stalled by an unexpectant Patten.
The direct approach ramped up when Campbell was called for in the 74th minute.
Just over five minutes later, it was 1-1. The Guinness world record holder launched her set-piece missile into the box, and the unfortunate Seker sent a looping header beyond Akgöz in a poor attempt to clear:
Ireland piled on the pressure, but Türkiye dug deep and Noonan went closest until a dramatic endgame.
Campbell had released McCabe on the left flank, and the winner came from there. Maria Kapnisi slipped as she tried to clear a delivery from the Arsenal star, and Murphy was on hand to capitalise with a superb, composed finish on her eighth cap.
A massive sigh of relief was breathed. And another, as Topçu whistled a shot past the post in the dying seconds.
Ireland escaped with all three points. Just about.
All roads lead to Cork, the tallest of orders ahead on tonight’s evidence.
TÜRKİYE: Selda Akgöz; Ilayda Civelek, Busem Seker, Gülbin Hiz, Sejde Abrahamsson; Ilayda Civelek, Ebru Topçu, Meryem Çal, Ece Türkoglu; Miray Cin (Elif Keskin 68), Melike Pekel (Arzal Karabulut 68), Kader Hancar.
IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion (Caitlin Hayes HT), Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe; Megan Connolly, Denise O’Sullivan, Marissa Sheva (Kyra Carusa 60); Abbie Larkin (Saoirse Noonan 60), Amber Barrett (Emily Murphy 60), Lucy Quinn (Megan Campbell 74).
Referee: Kristina Georgieva (Bulgaria).
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