USA 2-0 Ireland
Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
Vera Pauw’s side go into this encounter unbeaten in nine games, however, coming up against the number-one-ranked side in the world is likely to prove their biggest test yet.
The US will be many people’s favourites to win the World Cup this summer, while Ireland will use the encounter as invaluable preparation, as they prepare to face similarly high-calibre opposition at the upcoming tournament in the form of hosts Australia, the number-six-ranked side in the world Canada and Nigeria.
Confirmation of the Irish team below…
STARTING XI | USA v Ireland
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) April 8, 2023
Denise O’Sullivan leads us out on her 100th cap, while Sinead Farrelly makes her debut 🤩
Let’s GO 🙌☘️#COYGIG | #USAIRL pic.twitter.com/y2YThPpKTG
And here’s how USA line up…
- Becky ©️ earns Cap No. 215
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 8, 2023
- Mal's scored in six straight matches
- Soph makes her 2023 debut
More Lineup Notes » https://t.co/O0Kw7rbm69#USWNT x @trulyseltzer pic.twitter.com/64Ap3VXijv
We’re underway…
A positive start from Ireland as they win a corner early on.
Katie McCabe delivers but Louise Quinn can’t quite steer her header on target from a difficult angle.
USA are coming more into this game now.
Grima plays a ball over the top and Smith gets behind the Irish defence but can’t get a proper connection on a volley that goes harmlessly wide.
Shortly thereafter, Lavelle’s free-kick is met by Horan, but her effort goes wide.
With nearly 20 minutes gone, it’s been a fairly solid start from Ireland.
As expected, the hosts have dominated possession and controlled the game, but have had to rely on half-chances at best against a stubborn, well-organised Irish defence.
Close!
Ireland have the best chance of the game so far!
McCabe’s looping corner finds Quinn, but the Birmingham star’s header is cleared off the line by Morgan.
Ireland go very close again!
Payne does well down the right to get a cross in, which Carusa gets a touch on but Naeher keeps out.
It then falls to O’Sullivan whose goalbound shot is blocked and the hosts eventually clear.
The US then threaten on the counter-attack but Brosnan is out swiftly to gather the through ball ahead of Swanson.
The attacker then falls awkwardly and comes off worse in a collision with the Irish goalkeeper and is currently down receiving treatment.
Swanson looks okay to continue and is back on the field.
That’s good to see as it looked like a nasty collision.
Another well-worked move from Ireland ends with a McCabe cross being headed clear.
Mannion is booked moments later for cynically stopping a threatening US counter-attack.
Another lofted ball from Girma finds Smith.
The attacker turns in the area, but Quinn does well to get a block in and the shot deflects out for a corner.
Moments later, Horan gets on the end of a deep corner, but her header goes a few inches wide.
USA 1-0 IRELAND (FOX 37)
That’s been coming, as USA have ramped up the pressure in recent minutes.
Emily Fox, teammate of Denise O’Sullivan at club level, scores a first goal for her country.
The defender is afforded far too much space on the edge of the area, and her powerful low shot finds the corner of the net.
Worry for USA!
Swanson falls awkwardly following a tackle from Mannion — she looks to have suffered a knee injury and is set to be stretchered off.
To confirm, the US have been forced into a change.
Swanson has been replaced by Trinity Rodman.
Ireland have the ball in the net, but it’s ruled out for offside correctly as replays reveal.
It’s still a lovely finish, as Carusa glances home Payne’s well-executed cross.
For those wondering — yes, Trinity Rodman is the daughter of US basketball legend Dennis.
The 20-year-old recently became the highest-paid player in the NWSL.
HALF-TIME: USA 1-0 IRELAND
So that was an interesting 45 minutes.
Ireland didn’t disgrace themselves by any means and looked at home against the world’s number-one-ranked side for the most part.
The hosts probably just about deserve it on the balance of play — they upped the tempo midway through the first half and Ireland struggled to cope.
However, Vera Pauw’s side have had a couple of decent chances on the rare opportunities they’ve had to attack.
The US have dominated possession but Ireland have put together some nice counter-attacks sporadically and will feel they can get something from this game in the second half on the basis of what has transpired so far.
Here’s a look at the goal that separates the sides…
GOAL USA
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) April 8, 2023
🇺🇸 1-0 🇮🇪
The hosts take the lead in Austin with a long-range effort from Emily Fox in front of a retreating Irish defence
📷 Updates: https://t.co/cYr2cviCmm
📺 Watch: https://t.co/nT5wNoxR91 pic.twitter.com/zhebAKfduy
And here’s Ireland’s disallowed goal…
🇺🇸 1-0 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) April 8, 2023
So close from Ireland! Kya Carusa has the ball in the back of the net with a cushioned header, but she had strayed fractionally offside as Heather Payne whipped in the cross pic.twitter.com/6lBLUZm0oD
The second half is underway…
Farrelly crosses for O’Sullivan whose goalbound volley is blocked.
Good bright start to the second half by Ireland.
Smith and Rodman combine, but Mannion does well to clear the latter’s low cross out for a corner.
Ireland continue to impress defensively, though will hope to start carrying more of a threat going forward.
Dunn’s cross finds Rodman, who can’t quite get a proper connection on a header that goes harmlessly wide.
USA remain in control without putting Ireland under undue pressure.
Big chance for USA!
Lavelle plays an incisive ball through for Rodman, who balloons a shot over with the goal at her mercy — Caldwell was behind her but did enough to put the attacker off.
Rodman again is involved moments later, as Brosnan gets down well to keep out her header, after a good cross from the left by the increasingly influential Dunn.
Changes for the USA now.
Hatch, Ertz and Sonnett replace Morgan, Dunn and Sullivan.
Another scare for Ireland.
Lavelle’s low shot takes a deflection and bobbles over the hand of Brosnan but goes just wide.
More pressure on the Ireland goal.
Lavelle’s shot is blocked near the goalline by McCabe.
The hosts are well on top now and look by far the likeliest team to score.
Substitute Ertz gets booked for cynically taking down the onrushing McCabe.
McCabe’s ensuing free kick is headed unwittingly into the goalkeeper’s arms by Girma.
Rodman gets a free kick on the edge of the area after being pulled back by Littlejohn.
Horan’s subsequent set piece is deflected out for a corner.
Penalty to USA!
Caldwell is penalised for appearing to pull back Horan, after a probing ball into the area by Ertz.
USA 2-0 IRELAND (HORAN 80)
Horan steps up to take the spot kick and it’s not the best of penalties, as Brosnan gets a hand to it but can’t keep it out.
That’s the 28-year-old Olympique Lyonnais Féminin player’s 27th goal in 127 internationals.
The scoreline is probably a fair reflection on how the game has panned out.
Ireland put a lot into the first half and spent a considerable amount of time chasing the ball.
They haven’t been able to offer the same threat in the second period, with the US increasingly dominant.
Moreover, while the Irish changes have been relatively ineffectual, the likes of Ertz and Rodman have definitely added another dimension to the US attack.
Another change for Ireland.
18-year-old Tara O’Hanlon is on for a debut in place of Sheva.
As I type, Brosnan does well to tip away another long-range effort from Fox.
RTÉ have lost the pictures, unfortunately, so I can’t describe what’s happening at the moment.
There was only about a minute of normal time left anyway.
FULL-TIME: USA 2-0 IRELAND
So it’s all over.
There were moments of encouragement from Ireland, particularly in the first half, as they defended well and sporadically threatened against the number-one-ranked side in the world.
Vera Pauw might be a bit disappointed by how little the side offered going forward after the break, as they tired and were ultimately beaten by a better team.
Nonetheless, Pauw will consider the match a useful exercise that gave some much-needed game time to unfamiliar faces like Sheva, Farrelly and O’Hanlon.
There was also a rustiness and lack of cohesion to Ireland’s play at times, probably partially on account of the introduction of new players.
They will likely be better prepared, however, by the time the World Cup rolls around in July.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
