Cara Conboy, Columnist
In the end the Republic of Ireland delivered a ruthless and professional performance in Astana on Friday, one that saw them take a huge step towards the World Cup play-off final with a dominant victory over Kazakhstan even before tonight’s second leg in Cork.
It was a statement win from Carla Ward’s side so much so that a lot of today’s attention will switch to the other semi-final when Belgium take a 1-0 lead to Poland.
Going into the Astana match without key players Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan and Marissa Sheva, Ward made three changes to the team that narrowly missed out against France in the final group-stage match.
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Heads we win…
Jessie Stapleton, Jamie Finn and Abbie Larkin came into the starting XI, replacing the absent trio. Emily Murphy and Kyra Carusa led the line while goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was handed the armband in the absence of McCabe and O’Sullivan.
The Girls in Green wasted no time, taking the lead after just seven minutes through a Kyra Carusa header. They would go on to score two more goals in the following 20 minutes, with Chloe Mustaki netting her first international while Carusa doubled her tally.
Ireland were firmly in control before a controversial decision by the referee to send off Yulia Myasnikova, the Kazakhstan captain, following a VAR review. This decision ultimately changed the face of the game, causing an already defense-minded Kazakhstan team to drop even deeper into their own half.
Ireland capitalised, with Emily Murphy and Abbie Larkin finding the net in quick succession before the break to give the Girls in Green a commanding 5-0 lead going into half-time.
With the tie seemingly beyond Kazakhstan, Carla Ward made three half-time substitutions, introducing Tyler Toland, Amber Barrett and Leanne Kiernan in place of Murphy, Carusa and Connolly.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening came when Jamie Finn scored Ireland’s sixth goal. After several injury-disrupted years, Finn finally opened her senior international account with a well-timed header.
Debutant Shanade Hopcroft also got involved, netting her first goal for Ireland just three minutes after her introduction. Jessie Stapleton struck in the 90th minute to give Ireland an emphatic 8-0 lead going into the second leg in Cork.
While the scoreline will inevitably attract the headlines, Ireland’s attacking variety was arguably the most encouraging aspect of the performance.
Seven different players found the net, underlining the depth of attacking options available to Ward, even with several key players absent.
Chloe Mustaki filled in superbly for McCabe at left wing-back, grabbing her first senior international goal as well as three assists as she continued to trouble Kazakhstan down the left flank.
Abbie Larkin also impressed, netting the fifth goal while also displaying composure in possession and creating several opportunities throughout the match.
The dismissal of Myasnikova undoubtedly made Kazakhstan’s task more difficult; however, Ireland had already established a three-goal advantage by that stage, having started the match with the intensity and attacking intent required to take control of the tie.
The other semi-final proved a far tighter affair, with Belgium taking a narrow 1-0 advantage into the second leg in Gdansk. Both sides failed to convert from the penalty spot, with Belgium captain Tessa Wullaert and Poland’s Ewa Pajor seeing their efforts saved.
Elena Dhont’s strike in first-half stoppage time ultimately proved decisive, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of today’s fixture which kicks-off at 5pm - the result will be known ahead of the game on Leeside.
With an eight-goal cushion ahead of that return leg in Cork, Ireland are firmly positioned to reach the World Cup play-off final.
The second leg could provide Ward with an opportunity to rotate her squad and assess further options ahead of the decisive November window, although maintaining the standards shown in Astana will remain important and she has said she will start with her strongest team, including both McCabe and O’Sullivan.
Ireland may have one foot in the final but their potential opponents still have everything to play for. Who wins that one is the biggest question on play-off Tuesday.
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