World Cup playoff as it happened: Ireland qualify for the World Cup after Barrett goal

Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan on RTÉ:

“We ran our socks off tonight. We’re going to the World Cup! People may not like our style of play, but we love defending. That’s our strength, it gets results. To come here, difficult place to come, we were against it tonight, but we’re underdogs and we love it and we’re going to the World Cup.”

O’Sullivan:

“All we need is one chance, I played Amber through and it was a great finish. We have a lot of fans and we want to thank them. It’s a dream come true for us.”

McCabe:

“We might not look in control but we are in control. We love defending. It’s going to change football in Ireland. We’ve been lucky enough that others have paved the way for us. It’s all about inspiring the next generation.”

Amber Barrett speaking to RTÉ:

“Tony you know I talk a lot but I have nothing to say. That was the longest 20 minutes of my life. I don’t know how we’ve done it. This is for everyone who has gone to the games, supported us, this is for you.

“Both of my grandparents were from Creeslough. I know people who died, I know people who were affected. There has been a sombreness about me. But when you put into perspective compared to Friday. I’m dedicating it for the people who died.

On her goal: “I just big toed it, that was the style.

“If she wants to win the World Cup, she better put me on the plane.”

What an interview.

Vera Pauw: “I can’t believe it. How is it possible. Preparation is everything. To save penalty was not luck, we were ready for every scenario. The way we executed it was beautiful.

“Missing so many players through injury, buying into the team and the country. It’s not that we were the better team on the pitch, but the most effective and we wanted it more.”

Pauw is then in tears: “I want to thank everyone who helped me in difficult times. I’m so proud from the FAI to our colleagues to everyone at clubs, the crowd, the little girls. It’s just amazing. I have no words.

On Amber Barrett: “She promised me, when I get on I’ll get that goal. So proud.”

FULL-TIME: SCOTLAND 0 IRELAND 1

Ireland’s first ever women’s football World Cup appearance ahead next year in Australia and New Zealand. What a performance, amazing achievement. Let’s watch that winning goal again by hero Amber Barrett. Because why not:

96 mins: Quinn clearing again and again. Corsie the captain up in the attack but the header goes wide. Brosnan clears the ball!

IRELAND HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP!

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

94 mins: The nerves. Howard into the danger zone. Quinn clears well. Weir runs through and McCabe with a great tackle. Hanging on for dear life. Quinn away again and cleared away.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

92 mins: Scotland play the ball about patiently despite the moment. But Irish bodies on the line again and again! Scotland push further. Beattie overhits a pass and breathe...

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

90 mins: Scotland pile forward. Ireland clear and Barrett wins the ball importantly. O’Gorman wins a throw-in. Graham puts the ball into the box but easily picked up by Brosnan. Six minutes stoppage time. Yikes.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

87 mins: Dangerous free-kick for Scotland. But Sophie Howard’s header after the Cuthbert ball into the box falls tamely wide of the post.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

85 mins: Jen Beattie comes on for Scotland. Cross into the box but Brosnan collects the ball, good goalkeeping. Less than 10 minutes to go.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

81 mins: Barrett almost through again, her pace causing trouble for tired Scottish legs. Jamie Finn with a great cross into the box for Scotland and there is danger but Caldwell gets it away for a corner. Ireland clear the ball.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

78 mins: Can Ireland hang on? What a moment of brilliance by Ireland and could end up a magical moment in Irish soccer. 15 minutes here or there to go.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

73 mins: GOAL FOR IRELAND! Brilliant by sub Amber Barrett! O’Sullivan plays a fantastic through ball and Barrett with a wonderful first touch with a fantastic composed finish, running past the defence at pace. Amazing by the Donegal woman, who pays tribute to the victims in the explosion in her celebration.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

74 mins: Bodies on the line for Ireland as Scotland go on the attack. But a great save by Brosnan from Emslie.

Scotland 0 Ireland 1

71 mins: Emslie makes a good run at the defence and wins a corner. Brosnan fists the ball out and Weir’s shot is well over the bar.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

67 mins: McCabe is fouled around 30 metres out. She plays the ball into the box, Quinn couldn’t get onto it then and hits Caldwell and out of play. Amber Barrett on for Ireland, Emma Mukandi and Christy Grimshaw on for Scotland off the bench.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

63 mins: Weir starting to show her class. Dribbles and plays to Thomas and the ball goes back in the box, Weir plays to Cuthbert but Ireland block the ball and it falls back to the goalkeeper.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

60 mins: Penalty save hero Courtney Brosnan down injured and receives treatment. She hobbles a bit but seems to be up and okay.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

58 mins: Great turn and powerful run by Caroline Weir but she hits it straight at Brosnan from range.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

54 mins: Lisa Evans makes a good run down the right and Thomas almost has a chance but it is knocked agaway. Cuthbert puts a good ball into the box but Emslie can’t do anything with it. Good defending by Ireland.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

48 mins: Cuthbert with a good ball to the back post for Fiona Brown who times it well but can’t get her foot around it and it goes wide. Then Scotland win the ball back high up the pitch but caught offside. Bright start to the half for the Scots.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

HALF-TIME: Scotland 0 Ireland 0

Promising half by Ireland. Brosnan’s penalty save the highlight after a strong Scotland spell but Ireland had by far the better chances after that. O’Gorman should have scored after a great McCabe cross, and Campbell’s long throws are causing absolute havoc, almost leading to a goal in the last minute of the half. Plenty of encouragement to take from that half and now they know their fate, a win would secure qualification.

45 mins: So close! Crazy goal-line incident as Campbell puts in the box again and Fahey hits across, Howard off the line, then a header and saved off the line again. So unlucky not to be in the back of the net.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

44 mins: McCabe pressures the Scotland player and the ball into the box almost fell for O’Sullivan. Scotland clear it out for a throw and another Campbell long throw causes trouble again but Payne puts the ball over the bar from inside the box.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

41 mins: O’Gorman turns on her left and just drags the shot wide after a decent cross by McCabe. McCabe at the heart of Ireland’s good play as expected.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

Watch Courtney Brosnan’s penalty save:

37 mins: A great cross by Katie McCabe into the danger zone and Áine O’Gorman should score! Free header from six yards out and she puts it over the bar. Missed chance.

Meanwhile, Portugal have beaten Iceland 4-1 so that means that confirmed a victory for Ireland tonight will bring them to the World Cup. Switzerland are ahead against Wales, so they will qualify for the World Cup as it stands.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

33 mins: Heather Payne gets in behind twice but she has no support with her. Ireland not committing too much forward and need to get up the pitch more if they’re going to score as she cuts a lonely figure up front.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

29 mins: Clever ball down the line by Finn and Payne wins a throw. Campbell with another long throw and it’s in the net! But nobody touched it so it’s no goal. Just shows you the weapon that it is!

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

25 mins: Denise O’Sullivan wins the ball but Cuthbert wins it back off her in midfield, good battle there. Fiona Brown with a nice dribble past Campbell but Quinn heads away.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

20 mins: What a save that was for Ireland by Brosnan and kept them in the game. Scotland are starting to dominate the ball. A bit of indecision after a through ball and Scotland have a claim for another penalty for a foul on Brosnan, but they win a corner. Well defended by Jamie Finn.

Portugal have gone 3-1 up on Iceland. So that looks like a win tonight for either team will qualify for the World Cup.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

14 mins: PENALTY SAVED BY IRELAND! Handball given against Niamh Fahey after a Martha Thomas shot hit the post after a good Scotland move. No complaints about that decision as it clearly hits her arm. Caroline Weir... is denied by Courtney Brosnan. Fantastic save to her left.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

10 mins: Cagey enough game so far, Ireland the brighter team although Scotland easing into it. Katie McCabe is fouled after a clever dribble as Ireland remain compact.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

5 mins: Good run into the channel by Payne and McCabe’s cross is knocked out for a corner. Corner is cleared but great pressing by Ireland almost wins the ball back. Scotland pegged back.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

2 mins: Megan Campbell long throw causes some trouble in the box in the opening minute but the ball is safely cleared. Ireland win the ball in Scotland’s half and Heather Payne takes a shot but straight at the goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Portugal go ahead 2-1 against Iceland, good news for the winners of this match.

Scotland 0 Ireland 0

The anthems are loudly belted out and there is a moment’s silence for the victims of the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal. The game is about to kick off.

So it turns out Switzerland’s goal against Wales has been ruled for outside by the smallest of margins. So Switzerland are back drawing with Wales, good news for Ireland. Both of those games are set for extra time.

Back to the game ahead, Scotland anticipate a tough encounter with Pauw’s Ireland. Caroline Weir, the Scotland captain says: “They’re more of a team unit with a lot of fight. Katie McCabe is probably their best palyer. I’ve played against her many times for Arsenal. She’s their captain and a leader.”

[ ‘They’re a team unit with a lot of fight’: Scotland anticipate tough encounter with Pauw’s Ireland ]

The permutations for tonight are explained below. Currently Switzerland are winning 2-1 against Wales, but Iceland are only drawing with Portugal... and have a woman sent off. Both games heading into their final five minutes. If either Switzerland or Iceland fail to win in 120 minutes, then a victory for Ireland (in 120 minutes) would qualify them for the World Cup.

[ Mary Hannigan on the scenarios facing Vera Pauw’s side as they hope to qualify for the World Cup ]

The team news for tonight:

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jamie Finn, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Diane Caldwell, Megan Campbell; Lily Agg, Denise O’Sullivan; Áine O’Gorman, Heather Payne, Katie McCabe (c).

Scotland: Lee Gibson; Lisa Evans, Sophie Howard, Rachel Corsie (c), Nichola Docherty; Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir, Samantha Kerr; Fiona Brown, Martha Thomas, Claire Emslie.

Vera Pauw’s long and winding road leads back to Glasgow, writes Mary Hannigan in a profile before the game. The Ireland coach may not be universally appreciated but has history within her grasp. While the 59-year-old has managed nations in both the European Championships and Olympic Games, she has never made it to the World Cup. So, a win over Scotland at Hampden would either break that duck or, at least, give her and her charges a strong chance of the feat in New Zealand next February.

[ Vera Pauw's long and winding road leads back to Glasgow ]

Speaking of which, Katie McCabe was feeling relaxed as the World Cup judgment day arrived, writes Malachy Clerkin. If the rest of the Ireland squad are as loose and relaxed as Vera Pauw and McCabe, then tension isn’t going to be the reason they don’t make it to the World Cup. The Arsenal player is focused but not fretting about the Scottish test ahead in the crucial playoff.

“There’s not a weight on my shoulders,” McCabe says. “I feel the support and the love the backing from the nation. I wouldn’t say it’s a weight necessarily. I think we all know what’s at stake. It’s another game of football at the end of the day.”

[ Katie McCabe feeling relaxed as World Cup judgment day arrives ]

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s crucial playoff game against Scotland. Kick-off is at Hampden Park at 8pm. In a time when the men’s team seem incapable of making that leap, captain Katie McCabe and her team can take this moment its scruff and create history, writes soccer correspondent Gavin Cummiskey in his preview.

[ McCabe and Co can create history under the spotlights of Hampden Park ]