Soccer

Ireland come unstuck as Denmark inflict another defeat

Ninth-minute goal from Everton’s Nicoline Sorensen was the difference

Ireland’s Rianna Jarrett in action against Denmark. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

John Fallon
Thu Apr 8 2021 - 21:41

Republic of Ireland 0 Denmark 1

While content with the performance against a higher-ranked Denmark side, Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw couldn’t help but rue the nature of the goal that settled this evening friendly.

The Danes were well in command early on, racing into a ninth-minute lead through Everton winger Nicoline Sorensen, but Ireland eventually settled, with Katie McCabe coming within inches of grabbing an equaliser. Her 30-yard shot on 53 minutes rattled the underside of Lene Christensen.

If Ireland are to end their qualification drought, extracting results against the top teams in Europe is a necessity. This was their fourth loss in a row, albeit two of them were against the world’s second-best team, Germany. Next up is Belgium on Sunday in another testing friendly.

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“It’s such a shame that we’re in the phase of losing with goals like that,” lamented Pauw after the defeat in Tallaght.

“We had three or four chances and Denmark only had one or two. I wouldn’t even call their goal a chance.

“We did really well against a team ranked 14 in the world. You can see the quality they had in the squad, their dynamism and individual class and for us to put that game against them was another step up.

“Every game, we’re getting better and I said to our players that they don’t know how good they are.

“I don’t think we lack belief; it’s just experience. They have the heart and belief and I didn’t feel fear but somewhere deep inside.

“If you’ve never controlled games like this, you don’t know how to so they will learn.”

Although the visitors had a gallery of stars leading their attack, Vfl Wolfsburg’s Sofie Svava on the left and Sorensen on the right flanks caused Ireland the most problems.

The duo combined for what proved to be only goal on nine minutes. Svava was afforded too much time on the left to whip in a cross which Ireland failed to clear, allowing Sorensen at the back post the space to control the ball and fire her shot through the legs of Grace Moloney.

PSG striker Nadim Nadim fired straight at Moloney, having slipped past Louise Quinn, but Ireland finally caught the rampant Danes on the counter.

Denise O’Sullivan’s 14th minute pass for Barrett unlocked the visitors’ defence but Christensen dashed out to smother the danger.

Ireland began to grow in confidence and Heather Payne nearly embarrassed Christensen with a lob that drifted just off-target following a neat pass from Keeva Keenan.

Payne had only landed from the United States yesterday and so was replaced at the break by Emily Whelan, whose first contribution was a snapshot which flew over. Then Katie McCabe unleashed the piledriver off the crossbar before angling a free-kick just a yard wide.

Denmark remained dangerous, with Moloney called upon to deny Signe Bruun on 68 minutes and Diane Caldwell producing a last-ditch tackle to deny Pernille Harder her 65th international goal.

Republic of Ireland: G Moloney; K Keenan, N Fahey, D Caldwell, L Quinn, K McCab; D O'Sullivan, M Connolly (E Molloy 61), J Finn; A Barrett (R Jarrett 61), H Payne (E Whelan 46).

Denmark: L Christensen; R Sevecke, S Boye, K Veje (L Gevitz 72); N Sorensen, S Junge, S Troelsgaard, S Svava (F Troelsgaard 61); P Harder, S Bruun (O Muller Holdt 72), N Nadim (S Larsen 80).

Referee: Louise Thompson (NIR)

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