Ireland 0-3 Sweden
The Republic of Ireland's hopes of automatic qualification for next summer's European Championships have been dealt a massive blow at the Aviva Stadium as they were beaten 3-0 by Sweden.
The Girls in Green came into the game off back-to-back defeats against France and England and knew that another reversal wasn't an option in order to maintain a top-two spot in the group as a realistic ambition.
But goals either side of half time by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, either side of an effort by Fridolina Rolfo, were enough to give the visitors a deserved victory ahead of the return fixture in Stockholm on Tuesday, a game which is now must win for Ireland ahead of games against England and France next month.
Ireland came into the game without a goal so far this year in three defeats and a scoreless friendly draw against Italy. Manager Eileen Gleeson decided on five changes, some of which were forced. Denise O'Sullivan and Ruesha Littlejohn had been ruled out earlier in the day.
And it was across the midfield that the Ireland manager mixed things up with Jessie Stapleton, Megan Connolly, Jess Ziu and Lily Agg all coming in, with Katie McCabe also in the mix there across a midfield five.
The other change was up front, with Amber Barrett coming in to partner Ciara Carusa.
After an encouraging opening quarter Sweden go in front with Rytting Kaneryd goal.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 31, 2024
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Agg did her best 'Keane on Overmars' impression in the second minute, leaving one one Rolfo in the middle of the park.
And the hosts had an encouraging start as a McCabe corner on 10 minutes created some worry in the Swedish box. Agg headed the ball back across goal but Louise Quinn couldn't quite get a head on it.
Next up Barrett chased down a long ball over the top. Her cross from the right took a touch off Sembrant, falling perfectly into the path of Agg, who failed to make clean contact, agonisingly dragging her effort wide of the left post from all of five yards.
Sweden are sixth in the FIFA World Rankings - some 19 places ahead of Eileen Gleeson's side - and they gradually began to find holes in the Irish cover.
Angeldal had a chance of 15 minutes as Quinn deflected a cross into her path. The Man City midfielder deftly flicked up the ball, but her volley from just inside the box flew wide of the left post.
Their next chance would see them take the lead.
Rytting Kaneryd had the simplest of finishes as Janogy and Asllani combined in midfield, and the latter played a through ball into the box. The Chelsea woman had space to take her time and finished left past Brosnan.
And it might have been two moments later as Rytting Kaneryd cut in from the right. Quinn committed to the tackle, but was rounded, but the shot was blocked off the line by Hayes.
Ireland were capable of causing the visitors problems though, with any semblance of a top-two finish in the group depending on the hosts taking something from the game.
Classy finish for Rolfo to put Sweden two in front. Fine margins between the teams with Sweden proving strong on the counter-attack.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 31, 2024
64min: 🇮🇪 0-2 🇸🇪
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And they should have been level just after the half-hour mark.
Jess Ziu did well down the right before putting it on a plate for Barrett five yards from goal. Under pressure from Bjorn, the Donegal woman headed over the bar before with the goal at her mercy.
There was very nearly a disastrous start to the second half for Ireland as Brosnan allowed Angeldal's low cross to squirm under her body. Janogy was ready to pounce, but Ziu put in a goal-saving slide tackle to put the ball out for a corner.
Brosnan kept Ireland in the match two minutes later as Rolfo latched onto a splendid pass from midfield. The Irish keeper made herself big, pushing the Barcelona forward's effort away.
But the Swedes weren't to be denied just after the hour mark. Rolfo finished cooly into the far right corner after good build up play by Sweden out right.
Megan Campbell and the in-form Leanne Kiernan were brought on with 20 minutes to go but despite no lack of endeavour, Ireland didn't properly threaten to break their 2024 goal-scoring duck.
Instead, it was the visitors who added to their tally as Rytting Kaneryd finished from close range after Matilda Vinberg's initial effort was well saved by Brosnan.
On to Stockholm on Tuesday where finding the back of the net will be a must.
Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten (Megan Campbell 72), Louise Quinn, Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton (Tyler Toland 59), Megan Connolly, Jess Ziu, Lily Agg (Leanne Kiernan 72), Katie McCabe, Kyra Carusa (Aoife Mannion 72), Amber Barrett (Emily Murphy 84).
Subs not used: Grace Moloney, Sophie Whitehouse, Diane Caldwell, Erin McLaughlin, Lucy Quinn, Abbie Larkin, Izzy Atkinson.
Yellow card: Agg 43
Sweden: Zecira, Musovic; Jonna Andersson, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson, Madelen Jony (Pauline Hammarlund 66), Kosovare Asllani (c) (Matilda Vinberg 66), Nathalie Bjorn (Hanna Lundkvist 46), Julia Zigotti Olme, Filippa Angeldal, Fridolina Rolfo, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sofia Jakobsson 86).
Subs not used: Jennifer Falkf, Tove Enblom, Anna Sandberg, Rosa Kafaji, Emma Kullberg, My Cato, Hanna Bennison, Ellen Wangerheim.
Yellow cards: Asllani 31, Sembrant 43, Lundkvist 81, Andersson 90 (+4), Kafaji 90 (+5)
Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hun)
Attendance: 22,868
