China PR 0
Republic of Ireland 0
Emma Duffy reports from Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Algeciras, Cadiz
THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland women’s national football team have officially opened a monumental 2023 with a 0-0 draw against China PR in Spain.
A stalemates go, this wasn’t the dullest. In terms of events anyway, as World Cup preparation ramps up.
From an Ireland perspective, it was rather encouraging way to start the year and end a 10-day training camp in Marbella. The result extended their nine-game unbeaten run, and brought their clean sheet count to seven in-a-row.
It really should have been 1-0 to Vera Pauw’s side, but a second-half goal was questionably chalked off. Aoife Mannion was among the brightest sparks, the English-born Manchester United defender making an impressive debut. Fellow defender Louise Quinn took the official player-of-the-match award.
Mannion’s fellow new caps, Deborah-Anne De La Harpe and Marissa Sheva, also showed glimpses in their respective 45-minute cameos.
Overall, China were the better team, but this was a good workout against the Asian Cup winners and team placed 14th in Fifa’s world rankings. Ireland are at an all-time high of 23rd after their historic achievements in 2022
Former Dublin football manager Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffery was among a handful of spectators in Cadiz, mostly locals and Irish families watching on in the stadium, this the first meeting of the sides.
Ireland assumed control early on, China more so growing into the game. Shui Qingxia’s side are extremely technical and Ireland got to know that as they hunted down intricate passers.
Mannion caught the eye from the get-go, most of Ireland’s action down their right-hand side as Courtney Brosnan and co. often opted to play out from the back. ‘Pressure,’ Pauw continually shouted. Barring some sloppiness, they looked confident on the ball.
Megan Campbell’s long throws typically caused problems for the opposition and drew admiration for first-time spectators, one Quinn header rattled the crossbar, but in truth, Ireland failed to create much in the final third.
In the first half, Shamrock Rovers teenager Abbie Larkin worked hard but struggled in play at times, while roadrunner Heather Payne lacked that clinical edge.
Denise O’Sullivan, in midfield alongside Lily Agg, suffered a crunching challenge but shook it off, while Katie McCabe, who cut a frustrated figure as she switched between the left and right flanks, blazed the subsequent free-kick over.
The captain went down for treatment at one stage, Quinn later doing so, but it appeared a boot or strapping problem in the finish.
Wang Shanshan was China’s main threat but there were few other chances for either side in the opening period: Brosnan managed a tame Yao Lingwei effort, while Quinn again went close from a Campbell cross just before the break.
Sheva was among the changes on the restart, Áine O’Gorman and Ruesha Littlejohn also coming in for Larkin, De La Harpe and Agg respectively as World Cup squad competition intensifies.
China turned the screw on the restart, Zhang Lin Yang’s teasing header just about kept out.
Both sides were irritated by questionable referring decisions at times. None more so than just after the hour-mark when an Ireland goal was controversially ruled out.
Shortly after the ball was righty taken out of Brosnan’s net for offside, a McCabe free-kick from the right found its way into Xu Huan’s goal. The ‘keeper appeared the last to touch it, challenged by Mannion, but there didn’t look to be an Irish foul as was adjudged:
Ireland have had a goal disallowed against China with Vera Pauw's players mystified as to why it was ruled out #COYGIG #RTESoccer #CHNIRL
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 22, 2023
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Ireland’s attacking game improved somewhat in the second half, Sheva a lively addition and Quinn again causing problems from set-pieces. At the other end, Brosnan recovered from a nervy punch to expertly deny Lu Juiahui.
Arsenal star McCabe threw her weight around in the closing stages, both sides had untroublesome frees on target and Campbell’s throw-in caused further late havoc, but there was very little else to write home about.
Until ‘Football’s Coming Home’ rang out around the stadium at the final whistle.
Onwards. Brighter days ahead.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Deborah-Anne De La Harpe (Áine O’Gorman, HT), Aoife Mannion (Diane Caldwell, 69), Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly, Megan Campbell; Lily Agg (Ruesha Littlejohn HT), Denise O’Sullivan; Abbie Larkin (Marissa Sheva HT), Katie McCabe; Heather Payne (Kyra Carusa, 73)
China PR: Xu Huan; Chen Qiaozhu, Wang Linlin, Wang Xiaoxue, Li Mengwen (Gao Chen 90); Zhang Xin (Wu Haiyan 71), Zhang Rui, Yao Lingwei, Xiao Yuyi (Maidinai Shadike 71),Wang Shanshan, Lou Jiahui.
