Ireland and Wales leave it all to play for as history awaits on Tuesday at the Aviva Stadium
Wales 1
Ireland 1
Ireland and Wales have played out a tense 1-1 draw at Cardiff City Stadium tonight, leaving everything to play for in the second leg at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.
Although both teams entered the fixture eager to gain an advantage, neither side could pull ahead in front of a crowd of 16,845.
The atmosphere was charged, and the pressure was palpable from the opening whistle as both sides adopted a cautious approach in the early exchanges.
The opening minutes were scrappy, with the ball spending more time out of play than in. Ireland came close to taking the lead when Russell attempted an audacious chip over the keeper, but the shot sailed narrowly over. Wales, however, capitalised on their first chance to strike. Jess Fishlock exploited space on the left flank and whipped in a dangerous cross. A mis-hit clearance from Niamh Fahey fell perfectly to Lily Woodham, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner, putting Wales 1-0 ahead.
Ireland responded well, dominating possession but struggling to carve out clear opportunities. Their equaliser came in the 35th minute through a combination of fortune and brilliance. Ruesha Littlejohn unleashed a shot from outside the box, which Olivia Clark managed to tip onto the crossbar. Unfortunately for Clark, the ball rebounded off her and into the net, levelling the score.
The second half saw Wales take control, pressing Ireland high and creating early chances. Ffion Morgan’s powerful drive at the Irish defence just minutes after the restart was a signal of intent, but her effort went wide. Ireland found themselves pinned back for much of the half, with Wales dominating possession and looking the likelier side to score.
Ruesha Littlejohn was Ireland’s standout performer, not only scoring their crucial goal but also disrupting numerous Welsh attacks. Her tireless work across the pitch provided a rare bright spot in an otherwise subdued Irish display.
Tensions boiled over in the second half following a contentious foul by Ruesha Littlejohn on Rachel Rowe. The incident sparked a heated confrontation, with players from both sides crowding around the referee in protest. Amid the chaos, Littlejohn pushed Jess Fishlock, escalating the situation further. The referee intervened, issuing yellow cards to both Littlejohn and Fishlock to restore order in what was becoming an increasingly fiery contest.
Wales continued to threaten through set pieces, with Lily Woodham and Jess Fishlock orchestrating much of their play. A close-range header from Rachel Rowe and a long-range strike from Carrie Jones kept Ireland’s goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan on high alert. Despite their aggression, Wales struggled to convert dominance into a decisive second goal.
Ireland’s best chance of the game came in the 75th minute. A pinpoint cross from Katie McCabe found Anna Patten, who headed the ball to Caitlyn Hayes. Hayes unleashed a powerful shot that forced an outstanding save from Clark, keeping the game level.
Manager Eileen Gleeson delayed making substitutions until the 78th minute, despite Ireland being under sustained pressure. The late changes did little to shift the momentum, but Ireland held firm to secure a draw.
Heading into the second leg, Ireland will likely be the happier of the two sides. With over 20,000 tickets already sold for the Aviva Stadium clash, Gleeson expressed optimism about the home advantage.
“Playing in front of our fans really helps the girls,” she said post-match.
Tuesday promises to be a thrilling decider as both teams are playing to create history and qualify for their first ever European Championship.
Wales: Olivia Clark; Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Rhiannon Roberts; Lily Woodham (88’), Angharad James-Turner (capt), Alice Griffiths (46’), Ceri Holland; Jess Fishlock, Rachel Rowe, Ffion Morgan (70’)
Subs: Laura O Sullivan-Jones, Safia Middleton-Patel, Mayzee Davies, Josephine Green, Kayleigh Barton (70’), Hannah Cain, Lois Joel, Charlotte Estcourt (88’), Mary McAteer, Mared Griffiths, Ella Powell, Carrie Jones (46’)
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten, Niamh Fahey, Caitlin Hayes; Heather Payne, Ruesha Littlejohn (78’), Lily Agg (46’), Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe (capt); Julie Ann Russell (78’), Kyra Carusa(88’)
Subs: Grace Moloney, Sophie Whitehouse, Jessie Stapleton (78’), Megan Campbell, Megan Connolly, Diane Caldwell, Amber Barrett (88’), Tyler Toland, Marissa Sheva (46’), Abbie Larkin, Leanne Kiernan(78’), Isibeal Atkinson
Referee: Maria Caputi (Italy)