Hello and welcome along to our live coverage of this evening’s 2023 World Cup qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Finland. It’s crunch time for Vera Pauw’s side as a win tonight would see them safely through to a World Cup qualifying play-off spot. Such a result would bring Ireland one step closer to their first-ever major tournament.

The hosts suffered a blow this week when it was revealed that Niamh Fahey was unable due to injury but the squad is otherwise in good health for the 7pm kick-off at Tallaght stadium.

We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few minutes along with any late changes before the game gets underway.

Here’s the Ireland team that has been named to start.

Megan Campbell is coming in to start for the first time since October 2019 at left wing-back.

TEAM NEWS | 🇮🇪🇫🇮

🟢 First start in 3 years for @megcam10

🟢 @Hayley__Nolan makes match-day squad

🟢 @Katie_McCabe11 to lead as captain

🏆 | @FIFAWWC Qualifier
⏰ | KO 19:00
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💻 | Worldwide on RTÉ Player#IRLFIN | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/j2L6E1FJal

— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 1, 2022

And here is the Finland team

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐨 – 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐗𝐈 | 🇮🇪🆚🇫🇮 | MM2023-karsintaottelu: Irlanti-Suomi | Mitä mieltä olet, kommentoi alle! 💬

Päävalmentaja Marko Saloranta on nimennyt avauskokoonpanonsa klo 21.00 alkavaan otteluun. #Helmarit #IRLFIN #FIFAWWC #MeOlemmeSuomi pic.twitter.com/vDhqYtqs4T

— Helmarit (@HelmaritFI) September 1, 2022

Here are the teams in text

IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Jamie Finn, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly, Megan Campbell; Jess Ziu, Denise O’Sullivan, Ruesha Littlejohn, Katie McCabe; Heather Payne.

Before kick-off, have a look at what team captain Katie McCabe and manager Vera Pauw had to say about this evening’s clash.

And you should also have a look at Emma Duffy’s examination of Finland, and the struggles they’re dealing with at the moment.

The teams are making their way out onto the pitch now to the roar of the Tallaght crowd.

Kick-Off! Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

1 min: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

So, it’s game on as Denise O’Sullivan kicks us off.

4 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Vital interception from Megan Connolly to put the ball out for a corner. Finland snuck in there as Heidi Kollanen tried to cut the ball across and Connolly put her boot in front of it.

Huge scare follows from the corner as goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan got caught in the air, and Ireland do well to clear away the danger.

6 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Ireland under a bit of pressure from the visitors in the early minutes. They need to settle down and start stringing some passes together while they catch their breath.

8 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Ireland create an encouraging attack as Heather Payne attempts a cross towards the Finland goal. Nothing comes of it, but it’s important to keep the ball in Finland’s half of the pitch.

9 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Good work again from Kollanen down the wing for Finland. She whips in an inviting cross but Ireland deal with it and kill off the danger.

Ruesha Littlejohn concedes a free and this is in a dangerous position.

12 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Great header from Louise Quinn to fire the ball away from the Ireland box. Denise O’Sullivan gets on the ball but credit to Finland, they surround her and force a turnover. 

14 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Katie McCabe earns a free out for Ireland after getting a bang to the face. She briefly receives treatment before getting up to go again.

Finland try to build an attack but Connolly reads a pass and cuts it out for a throw-in to the visitors. 

15 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

McCabe gets a word from the referee after a slightly over zealous tackle but there’s not much in it. The ball comes to Payne but she gets muscled out over the line and the ball is back with Finland again.

18 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Littlejohn is down peeling off her boot. Looks like there might be a problem with her footwear or perhaps a slight foot injury. Meanwhile, the players are taking the opportunity to get water on.

18 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Littlejohn is jogging off to the endline but looks like she should be ok to continue. Brosnan continues with the kickout.

21 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Ireland try to release Payne down the middle but her path is blocked off. Ireland regain possession and a pass into the area comes to Jess Ziu who tries to cross the ball into the box but scuffs her kick and Finland comfortably get it away.

25 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Ria Öling gets the first shot on target for Finland but Brosnan easily gathers it. Ireland then get a throw-in which allows Megan Campbell to unleash her trademark long throws into the danger area.

It results in a corner which McCabe takes. Finland deflect the ball away and McCabe advances to attempt a shot from the edge of the box but she’s blocked.

26 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Another corner and this time it’s Connolly who comes up to take it. Louise Quinn meets it at the far post but she’s out over the endline and the header from Diane Caldwell comes back off the post.

That’s much better from Ireland!

28 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

SAVE!

Brosnan to the rescue after a shot takes a deflection off Campbell. The flight was tricky and was heading into the corner, but Brosnan did brilliantly to react.

32 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

McCabe tries to dance around a Finland defender but the ball is put out for a corner. Connolly is required again. She takes a short one and links up with Campbell, who tries to whip it across. But there’s too much air under the kick and it sails over the crossbar. 

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Ireland 0-0 Finland - Ireland think they have the lead from a corner-kick routine but the ball appeared to just drift out of play at the far post.

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— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 1, 2022

37 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Kollanen sends a dangerous ball across the Ireland box again but there’s no-one there to get on the end of it, as Ireland get a lucky escape. Finland have brought the pace of the game down slightly after a good patch from Ireland.

41 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Brosnan comes forward to gather the ball again but there wasn’t much danger there. Littlejohn is down again holding her foot, so it looks like she will be making way. 

Lilly Agg comes to replace her.

45 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Great play by Ireland. Jamie Finn unleashes a promising cross and the ball spills to Agg who plays it out to Campbell. Her attempted cross ends up in the goalkeeper’s hands but Ireland come forward again from the next attack.

Campbell sends in a throw which comes back out. Another delivery into the Finland goal follows where Denise O’Sullivan gets her head under it. But there’s not enough power in her effort as the goalkeeper bends down to catch it.

46 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Unlucky for Payne! Connolly fires the ball in from a great free-kick which sends Payne through from the edge of the area, but her shot doesn’t have enough zip on it.

Ireland have really grown into the game after those early wobbles. 

Half-Time! Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Ireland heading in for a well-earned breather after a much better second period of their first half. Finland took control in the early phases but Pauw’s side survived that storm to grow into the tie. 

They even thought they had the lead from a corner, but Louise Quinn’s header was from over the endline and Diane Caldwell’s resultant header came back off the post. 

Ireland more of that in the second half if they are to get the vital win and secure a World Cup qualifying play-off spot.

Second Half! Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

A record attendance at Tallaght Stadium tonight…

6,952 👏👏👏

Thank you for your amazing support tonight 🤩#IRLFIN | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/bn7RjKUMx9

— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 1, 2022

50 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

SAVE!

Emma Koivisto and Campbell get tangled up as Ireland earn a free out. And now there’s a throw-in for Campbell to take and send the ball in. It comes off a Finland head and fizzes towards the goal but the goalie knocks it away for a corner.

McCabe drops it into the box but it gets deflected away. Possession spills to McCabe who puts Finland under pressure again and the ball spills around in the box, but there’s no-one there to get a boot on it.

52 mins: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Finland

McCabe and Emma Koivisto of Finland are down receiving treatment after a clash. McCabe was looking a bit shook but she’s back on her feet and is ready to continue.

GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland (Agg ’53)

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland 

What a substitute Lily Agg has proven to be. She made her presence felt as soon as she was introduced in the first half, and now she has put the hosts in front with a really brave header. 

She judged the flight of Megan Connolly’s free-kick perfectly and put her head behind it to send the ball into the net as the Finland keeper Tinja-Riika Korpela came crashing into her.

59 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Ireland 1-0 Finland - The breakthrough comes for Ireland as Finland fall asleep while defending a free-kick and Lily Agg has a free header to put her side in front.

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— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 1, 2022

68 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland 

Campbell puts her head in the way of a Finland long ball in. The ball hits the referee who gives a drop ball.

There’s a huge chance for Payne up the other end but she just doesn’t catch it right with her left-footed effort. The ball eventually goes out for Ireland’s sixth corner which Connolly takes.

There’s a scramble in front of the goal line and the ball comes out to McCabe who tries to unleash a piledriver but she fires it over the crossbar.

76 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Finland starting to put the press on but nothing too incisive and Ireland are dealing with all of it easily. A slight moment of indecision from Jamie Finn but she wins a free out.

Ireland now making a change as Megan Campbell makes way for Chloe Mustaki. 

80 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Yellow card for Ziu for kicking the ball away after a free-kick was awarded. It’s a time for cool heads coming into the final 10 minutes as Brosnan is sharp to a shot from Koivisto and gathers the ball into her chest.

85 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Lucy Quinn comes on for Jess Ziu to bring in some fresh legs.

88 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Lily Agg has been named as the Player of the Match as Ireland begin playing a bit of keep ball to kill off the clock.

90 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Four minutes of added time to play in Tallaght. 

92 mins: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

The tension is a killer as Ireland continue to hold on, and keep Finland out. A long ball comes in and ends in a header but it’s well wide.

Full-Time! Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

What a result!

Ireland are one step closer to a first-ever major tournament after an incredible night in their fortress at Tallaght Stadium. This is a massive moment in history and the emotion is beaming out across the country. 

It was scrappy, it was gritty and it required a lot of patience but Ireland won out the game of chess after a brilliant goal from Player of the Match Lily Agg.

This is what it means

Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Finland

That’s a result to savour. Before you go, have a look at Emma Duffy’s match report live from Tallaght Stadium.

Thanks for joining us and we hope to have you with us again soon.

Bye for now!