Ireland ladies defeat Ukraine 3-2 in front of record crowd!

On a cold windy night in the Dublin suburbs, 5,328 people came out to watch Vera Pauw’s first game as manager of the Ireland ladies team as they took on Ukraine.

The atmosphere was great from the start at the Tallaght stadium with a tough competitive Ukraine team playing five at the back after conceding 16 goals in their previous two games against Germany.

The first decent chance of the game came in the 23rd minute – it was a close call for Ukraine as a long Ireland throw was headed in by Louise Quinn, but it was somehow cleared off the line. A minute later, Ukraine where not so lucky with some slick play from the ladies in green that was fired home from close range by Katie McCabe after a great cross from Jarrett to make it 1-0.

In the 28th minute the Tallaght stadium erupted again as Ireland took a 2-0 lead. This time, it was a close range Jarrett header from a long throw in. Ukraine did not lie down and in the 33rd minute the Irish goalkeeper spilled a free kick and it was game on again as Ukraine reduced the deficit to one goal. In the 42nd minute the comeback was complete as Ukraine equalised when Quinn failed to clear a cross and the ball was fired home past Hourihan.

After a rip-roaring first half the second half got under way with a free kick to Ireland. Connolly’s cross was headed in by Quinn but the keeper turned it around the post. Then in the 54th minute, Ireland re-took the lead as Jarrett’s cross was fired goal wards by O’Sullivan but the ball was turned into the net by Pantsulaya. That third goal for Ireland in the end was the winner on this historic night for the Irish women’s team.

Usually around 200-300 people watch the Irish women’s home matches. However 5,328 watched this exciting match – a record attendance for an Irish women’s soccer international! There is something special happening in women’s sport and something tells me when the Germans arrive in the Tallaght stadium next year there won’t be a seat to be got.