Ireland hold on for draw against Sweden after Katie McCabe strike

Sweden 1 Republic of Ireland 1
Asllani 79', McCabe 44'

Old and new memories rolled into one. Next door to Sonia O’Sullivan’s eternal moment on the Ullevi asphalt, Katie McCabe’s goal took hold of the Gamla Ullevi stadium and almost refused to let Sweden go.

Almost.

Eleven minutes from the end Filippa Angeldal picked out Olivia Schough in the box and her first-time volley found the sensational Kosovre Asllani, who sneaked between Niamh Fahey and Louise Quinn, before the Real Madrid striker controlled and buried the ball into the bottom right corner.

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It was cruel, but fair. Sweden had devoured Ireland possession-wise, but this remains a tactical masterclass that surges Vera Pauw’s side up the Fifa rankings.

McCabe and Co are fully justified in believing they will join their lofty opponents at next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“It is just amazing,” said Pauw, “second in the world and we could have won!”

No turning back now. Finland and Slovakia would be filleted in September by a repeat of this gutsy, unbreakable showing.

Heroes all, Courtney Brosnan had the game of her life in Ireland’s goal while the old reliables – Louise Quinn, Denise O’Sullivan and McCabe – went deep down into their souls to nearly ruin the party for 12,123 very relieved Swedish fans.

The rules of engagement in this Group A qualifier were set from the off. Ireland would go long, forcing Heather Payne to contest with three hardy defenders for 74 minutes – displaying the sort of athleticism Sonia would admire – as Caroline Seger was left all alone as the holding midfielder.

Ireland dared the second ranked team on the planet to break them down. Do your worst.

Setting up two deep defensive lines of five and four, they invited Seger, the 225 times capped veteran, to pick them apart. Payne would run her heart out and hope that McCabe and O’Sullivan could summon the energy to join her in the final third.

Both Irish superstars rose to the challenge with unforgettable levels of aggression and industry.

Something special almost happened after just five minutes when McCabe spun a tempting cross into the Swedish box. The late arriving O’Sullivan got a touch only for it to dribble wide.

Most of the first half was a study in Irish discipline in the face of multiple Swedish threats, particularly when Asllani, understandably nicknamed “The Queen”, got her head up.

Hands on deck

Romanian referee Luliana Demetrescu erred on the side of caution when Hanna Bennison hurtled into O’Sullivan on 11 minutes. The teenager’s studs clearly caught the shin bone of Ireland’s most important player. Demetrescu felt a yellow card was punishment enough. O’Sullivan got up to play like a woman possessed.

It was all hands on deck as Sweden probed for weaknesses down both flanks. The powerful Lina Hurtig was causing all sorts of hassle through the middle, heading over a Jonna Andersson delivery on 25 minutes. Megan Connolly, to her eternal credit, while operating in the alien centre-half slot, did just enough to force the Juventus striker to head high and wide.

The Blågult’s intricate triangles gained them plenty of joy down the Irish left, where Connolly and Chloe Mustaki on her second cap, were under enormous pressure, yet somehow Quinn’s defensive line held.

Asllani must still be wondering how she didn’t score in the 32nd minute when Bennison neatly turned Seger’s pass to find the Real Madrid striker, who flashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Ireland went deeper into their shell as Stina Blackstenis strode regally into the game. The pressure was suffocating with Irish players visibly wilting from the half hour mark.

Except for McCabe who looked like she was only getting into her groove, even sauntering forward to hit a tame shot straight at Hedvig Lindahl.

These barely half chances fell to the right Irish players but the spectacular is almost impossible to summon when being run ragged by the best team on the planet.

Impossible is nothing, right Adidas?

Frustration

Slowly the Swedes began to feel the frustration of multiple miscues. Seeker also entered the referee’s book for a petulant – dare it be said arrogant? – foul as O’Sullivan attempted a rapid counter attack. It was a costly tug of the Irish midfielder’s shirt (sponsored by the less overt Sky marketing machine).

That’s when it happened. From the free kick near halfway, McCabe rolled the ball to an unmarked Connolly on the right. After taking a settling touch she curled to the front post where Heather Payne connected only for the ball to spill away from goal for O’Sullivan to control and tee up McCabe.

A wild deflection beat Lindahl, stunning the Gamla Ullevi into the sound of silence.

All changed, utterly changed, the terror that is McCabe had another look before half-time but the Irish skipper skied the shot.

The locals mood was positively miserable as the Irish players trotted off at half-time, all bar the bloodied Lucy Quinn who walked among bewildered Swedes.

It took Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson 55 minutes to call on the cavalry. Just a pair of Manchester City and Barcelona magicians, Filippa Angeldal and Fridolina Rolfo had been ruled out pre-match with non Covid-related illness.

On they came as Ireland began to abandon a vital need to find accuracy in their clearances. This must have enraged Brosnan as the New Jersey born goalkeeper justified her questionable selection ahead of Brighton’s Megan Walsh.

Brosnan made two stunning saves when Rolfo picked out Angeldal for a clear sight of goal on the hour mark – the Everton goalie expertly palmed the ball onto the other crossbar – and again from Rolfo as the Swedes went for the kill.

But Ireland refused to buckle. McCabe burst out laughing when rattled Swedish players began moaning about Brosnan’s slow kick outs. Demetrescu eventually gave a dramatic warning.

More grinning from the Irish girls followed Asllani’s petty foul on O’Sullivan. And Hanna Glas inexplicably rolling possession out of play.

Still, it never seemed like Ireland would hold on. Sweden, so technically superior, were piling into them.

How Brosnan’s net remained untouched for so long is the true mystery. Especially down the home straight as Blackstenis and Hurtig soared for headers that missed the target.

Eventually their bench told. It took 79 near miraculous minutes before Schough squared for Asllani to equalise. The Gamla Ullevi understandably came alive as the draw secured their place at the World Cup.

Asllani was crunched by Niamh Fahey in the final seconds but Roflo’s strike clipped the green wall, clearing Brosnan’s watchful gaze.

Next, Sweden will go to win the Euros in England this summer. All their opponents have been gifted a blueprint in how to keep them in check. How to actually beat them is a different matter entirely.

Sweden: Lindahl (Atletico Madrid); Llestedt (Paris Saint-Germain), Sembrant (Juventus), Eriksson (Chelsea); Glas (Bayern Munich), Bennison (Everton), Seger (FC Rosengard, c), Andersson (Chelsea); Asllani (Real Madrid), Hurtig (Juventus), Blackstenius (Arsenal).

Subs: Rolfo (Barcelona) for Sembrant, Angeldal (Manchester City) for Bennison (both 56), Curmark (BK Hacken) for Glas, Schough (FC Rosengard) for Hurtig, Bjorn (Everton) for Glas (both 77).

Republic of Ireland: Brosnan (Everton); Finn (Birmingham City), Fahey (Liverpool), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Mustaki (Shelbourne); Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Littlejohn (Aston Villa), McCabe (Arsenal, c); Payne (Florida State Seminoles).

Subs: Kiernan (Liverpool) for Payne (74).

Referee: Luliana Demetrescu (Romania).