Will the luck of the Irish be with these fair Colleens as they take on the powerhouse that is the USWNT?
At 1’ Ireland gets the first decent look, a cross floated in was then mishit 10 yards out. Smith takes the first corner at 2’, Smith to Sauerbrunn, celebrating cap 200 and it is pushed against the bar by the ‘keeper as she struck it from the penalty mark. Far off the line was the GK to take it out of the path of Alex Morgan, deadly at that distance. O’Sullivan, the Capt. of the NC Courage in the NWSL, gets her first mention, she has a cousin we know who also plays soccer at a high level in Europe. Ireland has a corner a 6’. Passing right through the area. Thompson the injury replacement for Mal, has her effort blocked out for a throw. O’Hara, now of local NWSL team Gotham, lets one rip from 25 yards, just wide, and they say all the Irish are related! The pressure of Sanchez does not allow the ball out, but off her for a deep throw in their own third for the Irish. O’Hara and Horan combine on a nice takeover. Horan with a 30 yard ball, too strong for Sanchez as it goes well beyond her. Pressure in the area almost causes the visitors to cough it up. Great ball movement after a strong blocked clear by Sanchez, Morgan then finds Smith and from 15 yards out she is a good 10 yards over the goal. Murphy grabs a high ball out of the air, going to ground. A 2v2 for Ireland becomes a 2v4 as the defense gets back, a ball played into the 6 with nobody home is covered up by Murphy. O’Hara stands Payne up following a good possession by the Irish. Murphy is nonplussed by a ball played in that she pushes over the bar for a corner at 25’. Sauerbrunn is out at 29’ for Davidson and her hometown gives her a great cheer. Horan holds off O’Sullivan and her ball into the area is knocked away by the GK. Morgan lets the ball drop in the area, allowing the GK to smother it. Thompson avoids a few, gets it to Morgan who has it defended over the end line for another US corner. On a bang bang play with a save by the GK, Horan, off by a good bit. Morgan tries spin on the ball but is stripped of it. Cook from 40 yards?, beats the GK high at 44’.
Second stanza begins. Ertz, Kruger and Rodman are in. Looking for Thompson over the top, she fouls Payne. At the hour mark, It is getting a bit sloppy. Ireland with some good possession on short passes goes long, it goes out. Hatch does not take the shot and it goes over the end line harmlessly. Ertz, way wide from way out is all smiles. Mewis far too long for Sanchez as it floats to the GK. 75’ a corner for Ireland. Quinn from the outside of the 6 sends it back in and it is cleared. Huerta with a low center, gets the nutmeg but the next defender gets the ball. Hatch with a spinning go on goal from 15 yards puts it atop the goal, a far better result than I expected. Krueger hits Hatch on the foot, in the center of the area she was unable to do anything with it. O’Sullivan beats Ertz to it, lays it off to her player who takes too long to get the shot off and it goes just wide. Thompson, in pain grasping her right calf, seems high for an achillies, a few minutes and she is up. Cook with great defense not giving way to the forward and gets it clear from well in the area. O’Sullivan from 20 yards has it blocked. Quinn wins a corner at 91’. Halfway through the 6’ of extra time and Ireland keeps knocking on the door. 96’ Rodman dragged to the floor with 2 to beat.
Ireland acquitted themselves well possibly exposing many things with the USA as they close in on the World Cup. He press was fairly effective, holding the ball delays the US but did not frustrate them. Getting many behind the ball and waiting on a counter may just work.