Russia 3 Republic of Ireland 0:THE REPUBLIC of Ireland senior women's team's hopes of qualification to the Fifa World Cup 2011 finals suffered a blow in Krasnoarmeysk yesterday with a 3-0 defeat to a powerful Russian side with goals from Elena Morozova, Valentina Savchenkova and Olga Petrova at the Rossiyanka Stadium.
Russia, currently ranked 17th place in the Fifa world rankings, almost scored the game’s opening goal seconds after the kick-off but to the relief of Irish goalkeeper Emma Byrne the ball went over the bar for a goal-kick.
The home team settled quickly and opened the scoring after 12 minutes when midfielder Elena Morozova powerfully whipped in a cross-cum-shot from the right side of the penalty area which hit the top corner of the net, giving Emma Byrne no chance of keeping it out.
Ireland’s Aine O’Gorman almost grabbed a stunning goal against the run of play when Katie Taylor picked up the ball in midfield and the Bray native played a pin-point pass to O’Gorman on the right wing but as she chased down on goal, her angle narrowed and her shot was just inches over the Russian bar. Russia doubled their advantage in the 51st minute when Savchenkova made no mistake from eight yards. Russia ended the contest in the 91st minute after Olga Petrova ran at the Irish defence and slotted past Byrne.
Noel King’s side will be keen to get their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track and they now travel to Taldykorgan where they will face Kazakhstan on Thursday.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Byrne, De Burca (McDonnell 73 mins), McDonnell, Fahey, Tracy (Curtin 81 mins), Connor (O’Brien 83 mins), Grant, O’Gorman, Taylor, O’Sullivan, Curtis. Subs not used: Bradley, Hughes, Stephanie Roche, Julie Ann Russell.
Keane settles for point
ROY KEANE’S Ipswich remain at the bottom of the Championship table and without a league win following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle.
Argyle took the lead through captain Carl Fletcher’s rising drive past Ipswich’s on-loan Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Ipswich drew level in the 68th minute after Gary Sawyer’s poor back pass allowed substitute Jon Stead to round goalkeeper Romain Larrieu and slot the ball home.
Darcy Blake, who had made a vital off the line clearance from Alan Quinn in the 73rd minute, was dismissed for a challenge on the same player late on.
Afterwards, Keane praised the defending of the home side.
He said: “I have maybe been quick to have a go at our players for not hitting the target.
“I think it’s important I give Plymouth credit today, to be fair, their defenders defended really well, you only have to look at Quinn’s chance and the defender running back and clearing off the line.
“I guess when you go one down away from home, particularly with the ball taking ages to come back in when it goes out of play, I suppose we have got to be contented with a draw.
“The encouraging thing for me as a manager is that we are creating chances.”
