(Republic of Ireland win 5-4 on aggregate) <\/b><\/p>\n
Abbie Larkin lifted home a dramatic 90th-minute goal to squeeze the Republic of Ireland past Belgium in a pulsating Nations League promotion\/relegation play-off in Leuven.<\/p>\n
Tessa Wullaert’s first-half brace had the Den Dreef Stadium rocking, but Carla Ward\u2019s team showed superb character to claw their way back into it.<\/p>\n
For an hour it felt like this was only going one way \u2013 the Red Flames were steaming towards an emphatic victory that would overturn Ireland\u2019s 4-2 win in Dublin last Friday.<\/p>\n
Instead Larkin came off the bench to pinch what was a deserved goal for Ireland, the Ringsend flyer wheeling towards her family who leaped for joy in among the home fans.<\/p>\n
Ireland saw it out to return to League A, and that means they are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs for the 2027 World Cup.<\/p>\n
After a rocky year, they are well and truly back on track.<\/p>\n
There was a healthy contingent of travelling fans in Leuven; over 300 of them congregated in the corner of this compact ground, with a few other Irish tricolours visible among the home supporters \u2013 including one waved proudly by the Larkins, Abbie\u2019s image printed in the middle of it.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere was partisan, but any sense of hostility was softened by a brass band jauntily pumping out tunes throughout.<\/p>\n
One early Caitlin Hayes chance, off a beautiful inswinging Katie McCabe free-kick, was soundtracked by a blast of trumpets and tambourines.<\/p>\n
Eventually the band quietened, and the crowd found their voice.<\/p>\n
\n3mins: \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea 0-0 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea
Early opportunity for Ireland. McCabe whips a perfect ball into the danger zone but Hayes can’t get a head on it.
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It was obvious that boss Elisabet Gunnarsdottir made a conscious effort to force McCabe to defend as much as possible. Lots of Belgium build-up came down her side, quelling the captain\u2019s attacking influence.<\/p>\n
The Red Flames weren\u2019t afraid to get stuck in either. With 6\u20191″ Crystal Palace midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet stationed in midfield, they asked real questions of Ireland\u2019s physicality.<\/p>\n
The Belgians feed off positive momentum so you always felt Ireland needed a goal here.<\/p>\n
They went close on 22 minutes when a McCabe corner caused chaos. icky Evrard flapped at it, then fumbled a looping Emily Murphy header before Mannion smacked in a volley that Evrard partially blocked. Jarne Teulings booted away the loose ball.<\/p>\n
\n34mins: \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea 1-0 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea
Wullaert with loads of space gets a crossed ball and calmy slots into the bottom left corner for Belgium.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udcfa @rte2<\/a> & @rteplayer<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/b2OI4OoWVJ<\/a>
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Eleven minutes later, the pendulum swung Belgium’s way. They stitched together a terrific one-touch move involving Laura Deloose and Teulings that pulled Ireland apart down the left. Deloose swung in a low cross that was steered home first time by Wullaert, who\u2019d peeled into space off McCabe\u2019s blind side. That was the 96th goal of her international career.<\/p>\n
Wullaert plundered goal number 97 six minutes before the break. Hayes scuffed a clearance, and the Inter Milan attacker clipped a lob over Moloney, who\u2019d roamed from her goal anticipating the ball might run through.<\/p>\n
\n38mins: \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea 2-0 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea
Wullaert gets another, lobbing a high ball over the head of Moloney
who is off her line, she makes it all level on aggregate (4-4).
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Ward introduced Anna Patten for Ruesha Littlejohn at half-time as Ireland sought to reduce Wullaert\u2019s influence. That\u2019s easier said than done, and the red tide kept flowing on the turnaround.<\/p>\n
Ireland initially struggled to take the stung out of the contest with sustained possession but they began to enjoy moments of encouragement.<\/p>\n
Sheva sprinted through a crack of space and slipped a ball into the feet of Murphy. The Newcastle forward shunted a shot goalwards \u2013 Evrard clawed it around the post.<\/p>\n
That nourished belief. Mannion screwed a 25-yarder wide following smart approach play from McCabe and Murphy; Sheva began to pinch possession back higher up the field.<\/p>\n
The visitors were pushing. Hayes\u2019 header forced Evrard into another good save, with substitute Abbie Larkin lashing the rebound from a tight angle into the keeper\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
There was an edge to this all night \u2013 Wullaert chopped down McCabe with a poor tackle, prompting Sheva and Hayes to square up to the hometown heroine.<\/p>\n
Moments later Larkin went agonisingly close to restoring Ireland\u2019s advantage in the tie when she galloped onto a Carusa flick-on and slid a right-footed attempted past the left-hand post.<\/p>\n
\n65mins: \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea 2-0 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (4-4 agg)
Larkin has a chance from a Hayes flick on, but just drags it wide.
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The tie was on a knife edge; nerves were frayed.<\/p>\n
Larkin \u2013 really lively upon her introduction \u2013 dropped a shoulder and banged in a sweet strike that whistled over the bar, but as the game ticked into its final ten minutes, this play-off was deadlocked.<\/p>\n
Carusa almost nicked it in the 88th minute off the back a smashing O\u2019Sullivan reverse pass; the Californian\u2019s firm shot was parried away by Evrard.<\/p>\n
And then, the decisive moment.<\/p>\n
\n89mins: \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea 2-1 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (4-5 agg)
Larkin finds the net with a scrappy toe-poke finish. Looks like Ireland are heading the League A!
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