A CHASTENING NIGHT for Ireland, Carla Ward’s side stunned by Slovenia in Koper.
This was the Girls In Green’s heaviest defeat since 2018 and worst competitive loss in over 12 years.
By the 34th minute, Ireland trailed 3-0. Lara Prašnikar bagged a brilliant brace, with Zara Kramžar adding the third amidst some dismal Irish defending.
Substitute Nina Kajzba made it 4-0 late on as Slovenia — ranked 14 places below Ireland at 39th — claimed a famous Nations League win and rubber-stamped top spot in Group B4.
It’s a first defeat for Ward as manager, her reign opening with a scrappy 1-0 win over Turkiye at on Friday. Another victory was expected here, but a disastrous evening unfolded at Bonifika Stadion as flaws in Ireland’s new possession-based, attacking plan were exposed.
This was a humiliating first half, one which went from bad to worse and resulted in Ireland conceding three goals in the opening period for the first time since a 3-0 Euro 2021 qualifier defeat away to Germany in September 2020.
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Before kick-off, Ward was forced into a late change, with Megan Campbell picking up a hamstring knock in the warm-up. It was the first of many things not going to plan. Megan Connolly got the nod, coming into central defence ahead of Caitlin Hayes and Jessie Stapleton, as Amber Barrett made her first start since last May. Ireland reshuffled in their new, fluid 4-3-3 — and attempted to move Katie McCabe higher up the pitch — but this backfired spectacularly.
Slovenia boss Saša Kolman, meanwhile, stuck with the same starting team from Friday’s 2-1 win away to Greece.
Any signs of a front-footed Irish start were undone before the clock hit three minutes.
Prašnikar made no mistake firing home, despite Courtney Brosnan getting hands to the ball, as Slovenia capitalised on an Irish defensive nightmare. An Anna Patten clearance cannoned off Connolly, and Maja Sternad’s ball over the top sent the prolific Eintracht Frankfurt goalscorer on her way:
🇸🇮 1-0 🇮🇪 It was a disastrous start for Ireland as Slovenia pounced on an error at the back for Prasnikar to give the hosts an early lead 📱Updates: https://t.co/ICWh22CU1C 📺 Watch RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player 📻 Listen RTÉ Radio 1 Extra#UWNLpic.twitter.com/pYtBvReu38
Rattled by the early concession, Ireland lacked urgency as they tried to muster a response. Denise O’Sullivan saw a strike brilliantly saved by Zala Meršnik, while Slovenia threatened on the counter-attack after two misplaced Ruesha Littlejohn passes.
This became a common theme in an open half; Ireland overrun in midfield and slopppy in possession, and Slovenia dangerous on the break.
While the visitors took the wrong options in attack — Lucy Quinn blazing over was as close as they came early on — Slovenia were clinical with two goals from two shots on target.
Prašnikar bagged her second in the 28th minute, this one a superb front-post finish from Kaja Korošec’s corner.
Five minutes later, it was three. Ireland were torn apart on the transition once again, completely at sea. After Payne lost the ball, Slovenia moved from left to right and back again, an unmarked Kramžar tucking home Sternad’s squared pass from close range after more poor defending:
Ireland were reeling, a tame penalty call waved on, and in dire need of half time. The deficit could have been greater but for Brosnan stopping Sternad one-on-one before the break, and Kramžar fluffing a golden chance just after.
Ward turned to the dropped Marissa Sheva and Tyler Toland, as McCabe reverted to left-back. Ireland continued to dominate the ball, but they toiled, and Slovenia nullified their threats.
Kyra Carusa — operating in a new role on the right — almost pulled one back when she headed just wide from a McCabe delivery, while O’Sullivan scuffed a good opportunity shortly afterwards.
Patten joined O’Sullivan in the book as frustrations grew. Abbie Larkin tried to bring spark from the bench, while Meršnik denied a decent McCabe strike. Nothing was going right.
And the final blow arrived in the 82nd minute, Ireland the architects of their own downfall again as Kajzba’s curled finish punished some more dreadful errors.
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That’s not to take anything away from Slovenia though, who were excellent and fully deserving of the convincing win.
A truly chastening night for Ireland in Koper, the heaviest defeat since a 4-0 reversal to Poland in October 2018.
Much to ponder before a double-header against Greece in April. Turkiye beat them 1-0 this evening.
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Chastening night for Ireland as Carla Ward's side stunned in Slovenia
Slovenia 4
Republic of Ireland 0
A CHASTENING NIGHT for Ireland, Carla Ward’s side stunned by Slovenia in Koper.
This was the Girls In Green’s heaviest defeat since 2018 and worst competitive loss in over 12 years.
By the 34th minute, Ireland trailed 3-0. Lara Prašnikar bagged a brilliant brace, with Zara Kramžar adding the third amidst some dismal Irish defending.
Substitute Nina Kajzba made it 4-0 late on as Slovenia — ranked 14 places below Ireland at 39th — claimed a famous Nations League win and rubber-stamped top spot in Group B4.
It’s a first defeat for Ward as manager, her reign opening with a scrappy 1-0 win over Turkiye at on Friday. Another victory was expected here, but a disastrous evening unfolded at Bonifika Stadion as flaws in Ireland’s new possession-based, attacking plan were exposed.
This was a humiliating first half, one which went from bad to worse and resulted in Ireland conceding three goals in the opening period for the first time since a 3-0 Euro 2021 qualifier defeat away to Germany in September 2020.
Before kick-off, Ward was forced into a late change, with Megan Campbell picking up a hamstring knock in the warm-up. It was the first of many things not going to plan. Megan Connolly got the nod, coming into central defence ahead of Caitlin Hayes and Jessie Stapleton, as Amber Barrett made her first start since last May. Ireland reshuffled in their new, fluid 4-3-3 — and attempted to move Katie McCabe higher up the pitch — but this backfired spectacularly.
Slovenia boss Saša Kolman, meanwhile, stuck with the same starting team from Friday’s 2-1 win away to Greece.
Any signs of a front-footed Irish start were undone before the clock hit three minutes.
Prašnikar made no mistake firing home, despite Courtney Brosnan getting hands to the ball, as Slovenia capitalised on an Irish defensive nightmare. An Anna Patten clearance cannoned off Connolly, and Maja Sternad’s ball over the top sent the prolific Eintracht Frankfurt goalscorer on her way:
Rattled by the early concession, Ireland lacked urgency as they tried to muster a response. Denise O’Sullivan saw a strike brilliantly saved by Zala Meršnik, while Slovenia threatened on the counter-attack after two misplaced Ruesha Littlejohn passes.
This became a common theme in an open half; Ireland overrun in midfield and slopppy in possession, and Slovenia dangerous on the break.
While the visitors took the wrong options in attack — Lucy Quinn blazing over was as close as they came early on — Slovenia were clinical with two goals from two shots on target.
Prašnikar bagged her second in the 28th minute, this one a superb front-post finish from Kaja Korošec’s corner.
Five minutes later, it was three. Ireland were torn apart on the transition once again, completely at sea. After Payne lost the ball, Slovenia moved from left to right and back again, an unmarked Kramžar tucking home Sternad’s squared pass from close range after more poor defending:
Ireland were reeling, a tame penalty call waved on, and in dire need of half time. The deficit could have been greater but for Brosnan stopping Sternad one-on-one before the break, and Kramžar fluffing a golden chance just after.
Ward turned to the dropped Marissa Sheva and Tyler Toland, as McCabe reverted to left-back. Ireland continued to dominate the ball, but they toiled, and Slovenia nullified their threats.
Kyra Carusa — operating in a new role on the right — almost pulled one back when she headed just wide from a McCabe delivery, while O’Sullivan scuffed a good opportunity shortly afterwards.
Patten joined O’Sullivan in the book as frustrations grew. Abbie Larkin tried to bring spark from the bench, while Meršnik denied a decent McCabe strike. Nothing was going right.
And the final blow arrived in the 82nd minute, Ireland the architects of their own downfall again as Kajzba’s curled finish punished some more dreadful errors.
That’s not to take anything away from Slovenia though, who were excellent and fully deserving of the convincing win.
A truly chastening night for Ireland in Koper, the heaviest defeat since a 4-0 reversal to Poland in October 2018.
Much to ponder before a double-header against Greece in April. Turkiye beat them 1-0 this evening.
IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne (Tyler Toland HT), Anna Patten, Megan Connolly, Aoife Mannion; Ruesha Littlejohn (Marissa Sheva HT), Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe; Kyra Carusa, Amber Barrett (Abbie Larkin 66), Lucy Quinn.
SLOVENIA: Zala Meršnik; Izabela Križaj (Korina Janež 71), Lana Golob, Dominika Conc, Kaja Eržen; Lara Prašnikar (Mateja Zver 81), Sara Makovec, Kaja Korošec, Zara Kramžar (Nina Kajzba 62); Maja Sternad, Špela Kolbl.
Referee: Michalina Diakow (Poland).
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