Republic of Ireland 1 Russia 1:THE IRISH women's team marked Sue Ronan's first competitive game in charge by drawing with group favourites Russia in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford.
Ireland, beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture, took the lead on 59 minutes through a penalty by captain Ciara Grant after Alla Rogova was adjudged to have handled Sonya Hughes’ free-kick.
Russia hit back within five minutes as slack marking in the Irish defence allowed substitute Oleysa Kurochkina space to head Morozov’s free-kick low into the corner beyond Emma Byrne.
Ireland almost nicked the points five minutes from the end when goalkeeper Elvira Todua dropped a cross but Shmachkova scampered back to clear off the goal-line with Meabh De Burca poised to convert.
“We had a game plan to counteract their threat and it certainly worked. It was a great performance,” said Ronan, who has applied to succeed the men’s Under-21 manager Noel King on a permanent basis.
Ireland, now guaranteed to finish third in the group, complete their campaign with a home game on Wednesday against Israel at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray (7.30pm).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Byrne (Arsenal); MT McDonnell (Chicago), Fahey (Arsenal), Tracy (Arsenal), S McDonnell (Chicago); De Burca (Salthill Devon), C Grant (Arsenal), Hughes (St. Francis), Smyth (Donn Toppfotball), O'Gorman (Peamount United); O'Sullivan (San Francisco Storm), Subs: Russell (Salthill Devon) for Smyth (73 mins), Roche (Raheny United) for O'Sullivan (81 mins).
RUSSIA: Todua, Kozhnikova, Sochneva, Skotnikova, Shmachkova, Danilova (Tsydikova 63 mins), Rogova, Semenchenko, Pertseva, Mokshanova (Kurochkina 46 mins), Morozova.
Referee: Cristina Dorcioman(ROU).
