Republic of Ireland 0 Sweden 5IRELAND WERE no match for their distinguished opponents at the Carlisle Grounds as Sweden confirmed their qualification for next year's European Championships with a comfortable win.
A point would have sufficed for the Irish to clinch a play-off spot in the finals last night, to be staged in Finland, but they now face the daunting task of keeping the Swedes scoreless away from home on October 1st in their final game to do so.
Karolina Westberg found the net on 19 minutes with a free header before further strikes by Victoria Svensson four minutes later and Josefine Ogvist after 28 minutes opened up a three-goal lead for the visitors at the break.
Aside from Katie Taylor's header which was saved by Hedvig Lindahl just past the hour mark, Ireland were on the back foot and conceded a fourth goal through Westberg's second on 73 minutes.Substitute Lotta Schelin made it 5-0 with four minutes remaining.
IRELAND (4-3-3): Emma Byrne (Arsenal); Marie Curtin (Hofstra Univ), Niamh Fahy (Salthill Devon), Yvonne Treacy (Arsenal), Alisha Moran (New York Ath Club); Ciara Grant (Arsenal), Katie Taylor (Peamount Utd), Edel Malone (Hofstra Univ); Aine OGorman (Stella Maris), Michele O'Brien (Long Island Lady Riders), Stefanie Curtis (Bristol Academy). Sub: Olivia O'Toole (Raheny United) for Curtis (73 mins).
SWEDEN (4-2-2): H Lindhal; F Ostberg, S Segerstrom, K Westberg, S Thundero; J Ogvist, L Dahlkvist, N Fischer, T Suogran; V Svensson, J Landstrom. Subs: L Schelin for Landstrom (61 mins); L Forsberg for Dahlkvist (72); J Almgren for Ogvist (80).
Attendance: 1450.
Referee: C Brohet (Belgium).
