You suspected it was never going to be straightforward, but Ireland have ultimately gained promotion to League A.
Carla Ward’s side probably just about deserved it after a much-improved second-half display.
The visitors were hesitant at times in the first half, and Belgium capitalised on some sloppy defending to score twice in a calamitous six-minute spell for Ireland.
But the Irish team showed admirable resilience and grit to get over the line when this tie looked in danger of getting away from them at one stage.
It was a great night too for 20-year-old Crystal Palace forward Abbie Larkin, who made a big impact after her introduction on the hour mark and took her goal really well, demonstrating electric pace to boot.
FULL-TIME: BELGIUM 2-1 IRELAND – IRELAND WIN 5-4 ON AGGREGATE.
28 Oct
9:25PM
A corner by Wullaert falls to Kees, who hooks a shot over the bar.
It looks like Ireland are going to get over the line.
28 Oct
9:23PM
There will be two minutes of stoppage time…
28 Oct
9:23PM
Carusa crosses it into the box.
Belgium fail to clear their lines.
Larkin initially mishits an attempted shot, but she shows great pace to pounce on the loose ball after some hesitant Belgian defending and chip it over the onrushing Evrard.
Ireland's Izzy Atkinson ahead of the match. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
28 Oct
7:30PM
Who do you think will win on aggregate?
Poll Results:
Ireland (72)
Belgium (22)
28 Oct
7:18PM
Confirmation of the teams below.
Ireland are unchanged, while there are four alterations for Belgium – Justine Vanhaevermaet and Jill Janssens are back from suspension, plus Maria Detruyer and Zenia Martens, who both came off the bench in Dublin, start tonight.
Ireland will be hoping to finish the job after an emphatic 4-2 first-leg win over Belgium in Dublin.
Carla Ward and her players have promised to deliver a similarly aggressive, attacking performance for tonight’s return fixture in Leuven.
After a brace in last week’s game, captain Katie McCabe will be hoping to produce a similarly influential display this evening.
There is plenty at stake too — if Ireland prevail, they will secure promotion to League A in the Nations League and guarantee themselves one of the seeded spots in the World Cup qualification play-offs if they fail to progress automatically from the group stages.
Defeating Belgium, though, will not be easy — they are ranked seven places above Ireland by Fifa and have a couple of players returning tonight who were missing at the Aviva.
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As it happened: Belgium v Ireland, Nations League play-offs
Belgium 2-1 Ireland (Ireland win 5-4 on aggregate)
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here, and we’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
Here’s a look at the goal that meant Ireland prevailed on aggregate…
So that’s that.
You suspected it was never going to be straightforward, but Ireland have ultimately gained promotion to League A.
Carla Ward’s side probably just about deserved it after a much-improved second-half display.
The visitors were hesitant at times in the first half, and Belgium capitalised on some sloppy defending to score twice in a calamitous six-minute spell for Ireland.
But the Irish team showed admirable resilience and grit to get over the line when this tie looked in danger of getting away from them at one stage.
It was a great night too for 20-year-old Crystal Palace forward Abbie Larkin, who made a big impact after her introduction on the hour mark and took her goal really well, demonstrating electric pace to boot.
FULL-TIME: BELGIUM 2-1 IRELAND – IRELAND WIN 5-4 ON AGGREGATE.
A corner by Wullaert falls to Kees, who hooks a shot over the bar.
It looks like Ireland are going to get over the line.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time…
Carusa crosses it into the box.
Belgium fail to clear their lines.
Larkin initially mishits an attempted shot, but she shows great pace to pounce on the loose ball after some hesitant Belgian defending and chip it over the onrushing Evrard.
BELGIUM 2-1 IRELAND (LARKIN 90)
88 mins: O’Sullivan slips through Carusa.
But Evrard gets down well to keep out the striker’s low finish.
87 mins: Wullaert plays a defence-splitting pass.
Janssens then sends a low ball in for Toloba, but the substitute takes a heavy touch and the attack breaks down.
84 mins: Belgium make a second change.
Toloba has replaced Teulings.
83 mins: The two teams are playing with more caution now.
They know one mistake will lead to a probable winning goal, with extra time beginning to look likely.
77 mins: Larkin tries a shot from the edge of the area that goes narrowly over.
Before that, McCabe made an excellent recovery tackle to stop Janssens from latching on to Teulings’ probing through ball.
75 mins: Carla Ward has just been shown a yellow card for protesting too vociferously on the sidelines.
We’re set for a nervy final 15 minutes with extra time and penalties a possibility.
72 mins: Deloose picks out Detruyer with a cross.
But the attacker’s header goes harmlessly wide.
68 mins: McCabe puts in a dangerous but it narrowly misses the head of Larkin.
This game is becoming very open, with Ireland looking more threatening since half-time.
66 mins: Big chance.
Moloney plays a long ball, Carusa flicks it on for Larkin, who is through on goal but sends a shot wide.
Meanwhile, Belgium make their first change, as Missipo replaces Tysiak.
64 mins: There’s a bit of tension between the two sets of players.
Sheva and Hayes get in a pushing match with Wullaert after a late challenge is committed on McCabe.
62 mins: McCabe flights the ball into the box.
Hayes’ header is saved, and Evrard also keeps out Larkin’s shot from a tight angle on the rebound.
60 mins: Ireland make another change.
Larkin is on for Murphy.
59 mins: More good attacking play by Ireland.
Carusa sends Sheva through on goal, but the Sunderland player’s finish is too close to Evrard.
58 mins: Another good flowing attack, with McCabe and Carusa both involved.
But it ends with Mannion taking a shot from distance that goes well off target.
56 mins: O’Sullivan drives forward through midfield with the ball.
Vanhaevermaet cynically trips her and gets booked as a result.
54 mins: Carusa’s low cross finds Murphy.
But the Newcastle star attempts a backflick that goes straight to an opponent, and Belgium clear.
52 mins: A nice attacking move by Ireland.
Carusa does well to lay it off to Sheva, who squares it to Murphy.
But Evrard gets down well to parry away the attacker’s low shot to safety.
49 mins: Wullaert lofts a ball into the area after Belgium take a short corner.
Tysiak gets her head to the delivery, but can’t direct the effort on target.
The hosts are playing with real confidence now and are in the ascendancy.
Ireland have made one change at the break.
Patten has replaced Littlejohn.
The second half is underway…
So that’s the first half over and Ireland have a real battle on their hands.
Carla Ward’s side were relatively solid defensively in the first half an hour and had one or two half-chances.
But the Belgians grew into the game, and Ireland had an awful six-minute period where they conceded twice to level the tie on aggregate.
HALF-TIME: BELGIUM 2-0 IRELAND
Here’s a look at the two Belgium goals…
44 mins: Ireland try to produce an immediate response.
But McCabe curls a free kick over the bar from about 30 yards out.
39 mins: Disaster for Ireland.
Hayes makes a mess of a clearance, and it goes straight to Wullaert, who lobs Moloney expertly.
Belgium are now level on aggregate.
BELGIUM 2-0 IRELAND (WULLAERT 39)
Out of nothing, Belgium take the lead, and it’s a 96th international goal for Wullaert on her 151st appearance.
Deloose put in the cross and the striker finished clinically.
BELGIUM 1-0 IRELAND (WULLAERT 33)
30 mins: Deloose puts a dangerous ball into the area, but Hayes does well to avert the danger with a powerful header clear.
It’s been an impressive defensive display from the visitors so far.
26 mins: Cayman and Hayes collide in the penalty area with the ball in close proximity.
The home fans want a penalty, but the referee ignores Belgian appeals.
25 mins: Stapleton now goes into the book.
The defender is punished for a high challenge on Teulings.
22 mins: Nervy moments for Belgium.
Evrard twice fails to gather McCabe’s delivery, and Mannion’s goal-bound shot is blocked on the line before the hosts eventually clear.
20 mins: Teulings picks up the game’s first yellow card.
She is penalised for a late challenge on O’Sullivan.
17 mins: It’s been a tight, scrappy opening.
Neither side have really looked like scoring, with Ireland comfortable from a defensive viewpoint.
10 mins: Belgium have had a bit more of the possession and territory in recent minutes.
As I type, though, Denise O’Sullivan does well to win a free kick and relieve some of the pressure.
5 mins: It’s been an encouraging start for Ireland.
They’ve been playing on the front foot and have won a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas.
3 mins: Decent chance for Ireland.
McCabe lofts in a free kick.
The Arsenal star finds Hayes, who doesn’t get a proper connection on a header that goes a few inches wide.
We’re underway…
Who do you think will win on aggregate?
Poll Results:
Confirmation of the teams below.
Ireland are unchanged, while there are four alterations for Belgium – Justine Vanhaevermaet and Jill Janssens are back from suspension, plus Maria Detruyer and Zenia Martens, who both came off the bench in Dublin, start tonight.
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
Ireland will be hoping to finish the job after an emphatic 4-2 first-leg win over Belgium in Dublin.
Carla Ward and her players have promised to deliver a similarly aggressive, attacking performance for tonight’s return fixture in Leuven.
After a brace in last week’s game, captain Katie McCabe will be hoping to produce a similarly influential display this evening.
There is plenty at stake too — if Ireland prevail, they will secure promotion to League A in the Nations League and guarantee themselves one of the seeded spots in the World Cup qualification play-offs if they fail to progress automatically from the group stages.
Defeating Belgium, though, will not be easy — they are ranked seven places above Ireland by Fifa and have a couple of players returning tonight who were missing at the Aviva.
Kick-off for this game is at 7.30pm.
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