Ireland’s women draw 1-1 with Croatia

Croatia 1 Republic of Ireland 1: The Republic of Ireland snatched a vital point with an injury time equaliser from Diane Caldwell against Croatia in the second game of their Fifa Women's World Cup qualifying campaign this afternoon at the Gradski Staidum in Sinj.

Croatia took the lead after 11 minutes through Katarina Kolar and even though the Irish had the bulk of the possession after that the closest they came to scoring was when Megan Campbell’s 80th minute free-kick came off the underside of Doris Bacic’s crossbar.

But four minutes into injury time, a long throw from Campbell was met by Caldwell who sent a glancing header to the net for an equaliser that the Irish side fully deserved.

Captain and goalkeeper Emma Byrne made her 100th appearance for Ireland to become only the second woman and seventh player to win 100 senior caps for Ireland.

Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne (GK) (C); Sophie Perry, Yvonne Tracy, Diane Caldwell, Megan Campbell; Meabh De Burca (Aine O'Gorman 58), Shannon Smyth, Ruesha Littlejohn, Julie Ann Russell; Sara Lawlor (Dora Gorman 46), Denise O'Sullivan.

Croatia: Doris Bacic (GK), Kristina Nevrkla, Vanesa Zlosa (Helenna Hercigonja Moulton) , Allison Lee Scurich, Maja Jošcak, Violeta Baban, Katarina Kolar (Kristina Šundov 67), Iva Landeka (C), Izabela Lojna (Ana Marija Kalamiza 83), Gabrijela Gaiser, Sandra Žigic.

Referee: Knarik Grigoryan (Armenia)