Republic of Ireland - 0 Scotland - 2: The Irish women's international team's hopes of securing third spot in Group Four of the Fifa World Cup qualifiers suffered a setback at the weekend, thanks to two key interventions from a talented Scottish number 10.

Julie Fleeting of Arsenal was frustrated in her first-half attempts to prise open a stubborn Irish defence, marshalled by Marie Curtin and Alisha Moran, but produced two glimpses of quality in the second period that consigned Noel King's side to a disappointing home defeat.

Ireland now face a daunting trip to World Champions Germany on Wednesday, but King is still optimistic the experience will stand to his young side. "If we want to learn, we couldn't have a better group."

After 16 minutes on Saturday Diane Caldwell stung the palms of Gemma Fay in the Scottish goal with a shot from the right hand side of the box.

And Fay was made work again minutes later when Edel Malone set up Sonya Hughes on the edge of the box, but the Leeds United goalkeeper was equal to the shot.

Ireland were asleep at the restart and at the end of a sweeping Scottish move, Fleeting fed Joanne Love who slid a 15-yard shot past Emma Byrne.

Malone responded by forcing Fay into a save from a short corner, but in the 80th-minute Fleeting was again the one to punish Ireland.

Suzanne Grant chipped over the top and Fleeting rounded her Arsenal team-mate in the Irish net to wrap up the points.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Byrne, O'Connor, Boyle, Curtin, Moran, Hughes, Grant (capt), Caldwell (Scanlon 60), O'Brien, Taylor (O'Toole 71), Malone.

SCOTLAND: Fay, Smith, McDonald, Dieke, Ross (Jones 32), Love, Grant, Malone (Burns 54), Fleeting (capt), Hamill (McBride 79), Grant.

Referee: R Cohen (Israel)