Sweden vs Ireland | Highlights | Women's Euro Qualifiers 04-06-2024

They haven't scored since the Nations League game at Windsor Park when they beat Northern Ireland 6-1. It seems a long time ago now doesn't it when they rounded up a 100% record in that Nations League campaign that earned them promotion to this League A but now they're in among the big teams as we know. Yeah it seems like a distant memory I think when you're watching all those goals being scored but you know it just shows I suppose that the gap between the first year and the second year in European football not only not only European this was world football as well but you know that gap is very evident but hopefully we can keep it closed tonight. Well it's Sweden who start here in Solna. First opportunity for Ireland for this set piece. Connolly confidingly played it. Louise Quinn going in just couldn't quite get there back into the danger zone from Vanyan and it's gone out as she did get a yellow Here's the first real management Swedish attack Louise Quinn. There's the run by Janneke. Aslani making ground into the middle. Aslani arriving and Kanerud is there too but the whistle has gone in Ireland's favour. Yeah it was a great run initially in behind from Janneke and just Kanerud just got away from a cave there but it didn't fall to her and Aslani just it was a good block that time from Meg Connolly just coming back. The game was stopped but Sweden forced at the back. Oh there was a fear that that might happen. Courtney Brosnan seemed to be hesitating rather a lot. Yeah we talked about calmness in that but a little bit too calm maybe that time. I think the touch was backed up by Angel Dahl. Easy ball in there. Brosnan out though confidently. Good ball in. Danger zone and over the top by Rolfo. Kanerud we talk about her enough but it was a another great delivery in. You can see it again here just on the right side. This ball slipped through to her. Whipped ball in and Rolfo we know she has a great left foot but she's also good in the air and she'll probably be slightly disappointed with that one actually not to keep it down but it was another just a reminder of the threat that Sweden do possess particularly up this right side. By Angel Dahl. Then it's Caruso and she's found Kiernan. Caruso arriving in the middle. So too Ag. Kiernan's crossed too high for Caruso. And then Caitlin Hayes ready to attack the ball as McCade plays the corner with a fist. Connolly that could have gone anywhere. Great effort by Megan Connolly back into that thick of the legs. Yeah that's the thing the space is there when they bring everyone back behind the penalty spot. There's just that split second that you needed to get the shot off and Caruso was unlucky there just not to get on the end of it. It was a firm punch out but just right to Connolly. The captain Aslani. Rolfo's got through the middle here. Rolfo against Louise Quinn. Fine save by Brosnan. Corner Sweden. Yeah first a great punch clearance by Brosnan you know came through a load of bodies but we can see here Aslani just comes inside the ball gets through ends up with Eingledal I think just plays the ball forward to Rolfo who we know can be such a threat and she manages to get a great shot off and just just manages to get away from Quinn and Brosnan with great. And the race is on it's McCade. Oh chance here created by Kaderid who had the pace to outrun McCade which is a worry. Yeah she really does. Humble off the ball and no malicious intent so the game goes on. Caruso and Zu couldn't get turned to try and turn it into a meaningful header. Yeah better play again from Ireland more positive and you can just see the ball into Caruso in the corner and she didn't have although Kiernan was coming quick she didn't have a whole lot of support initially and the cross was just blocked down by Sembrandt but she did well holding it up getting players in the box with three in the box that time but just unfortunately just the ball wasn't in it. And there's the whistle that ends the first half and it is progress but they've got to halftime against the number six team of the world and they haven't conceded Rolfo had a great chance but couldn't. Second half then in underway in Stockholm in Solna suburb and Ireland playing left to right and Jess Zu on the ball nearly standing over the ball hung up invitingly but the flag had gone up for offside a point-blank header well dealt with it wouldn't have counted had it gone in though. Yeah we can see it just floated in almost by Eslani not huge amount of pace in it and Iagini just a great header and Brosnan with a great save that obviously ultimately wouldn't have mattered but still it was a good save from Brosnan who was sharp off her line. Not so sure she was offside to be quite honest but in the absence of VAR well we can reserve judgment and be grateful that the whistle sounded. Rolfo, Lundqvist with a shot that was always rising over. Good solid block from Ireland in front of the goal you know forcing the fullback into the shot but see again Engeldahl has been central to a lot of the good Swedish play and Lundqvist just came up there on the right back spot just managed it to get a shot off. Iagini, Mannion, oh Rolfo. Mannion took her life in her hands there got away with it. Yeah she will say she was countless personified but I think it was a slightly risky there for Mannion you know she took it down the ball came in and Iagini just flicked it on Mannion took one two touches before trying to clear it and you know that could have been really really costly Rolfo was right right on her and just fortunately Brosnan was in the arm and takes the free kick. It's come out to Mannion but the shot some way off the target Lundqvist finding Rolfo, complete fresh air from Rolfo but now it's Engeldahl and that's off target. You don't see that too often from Rolfo you can just see the ball comes in here again just the edge of the box she goes to swing at it with her her weaker right foot but of course that weaker right foot scored a goal in the Aviva. Zou and they're queued up in the middle Zou and Kiernan couldn't get turned on it and it's gone for a goal kick. Abby Larkin as Bennison prepares to take the free kick hung up invitingly Caitlin Hayes with the header and the amusing side of it It'll be Iona Anderson to take the corner underneath Brosnan's crossbar and straight in and she's under Katie McCabe. Brosnan was uncertain under it Jacobsen swirled it in right into that space above the clutch of players Brosnan couldn't get at it and Sweden have got the breakthrough and the clean sheet is no more seven minutes to go and Sweden score from the corner yeah took it oh it went in. Yeah I think it was Anderson with the left foot of ball in but Ericsson off Ericsson's back was it Anderson's corner yeah yeah so just got a nick she doesn't care it went in she's definitely claiming it seemed to go off off Ericsson's back a sucker punch really after holding out for so long looked like we were in line for what would have been a great point given the caliber we're up against and just really really disappointed to concede in that matter. Bronson to take not such a good delivery this time that's Sembrott and Brosnan's there to claim it on to McCabe and McCabe to put one into the danger zone and ahead of Hayes Brosnan's gone for offside it was Jessie Stapleton who went in bravely. For a split second there I thought we might be getting a penalty but wishful thinking I think but it was a good ball in great ball in from McCabe angled in and we just see the flick on then from Hayes and Stapleton was trying to get to the second ball but free out. Jacobson, Kapadjic you saw what she was trying to do what Rolfe did to perfection at the Aviva on Friday night but didn't work out for Kapadjic. Yeah and she has that in her locker as well but like you said it just didn't come off see again Jacobson just just driving at the defense it's a combination really of the two and Kapadjic just trying to we're still on the table but like you said we are we are progressing in each game and definitely learning. This is Barrett, Barrett attempted to surprise the keeper at the near post but without success Musavic can gather it in. She did well to get on the ball in behind but she probably knows herself and mightn't have been the best option there you know given the position of Musavic to try to beat her at her near post. And that's the last action and it's another blank for Ireland sadly six in a row but surely a goal will come soon. So close but yet so far. Frustrating evening having done so well so long to concede with a little over five minutes to go a goal from a corner of a set piece Katie McCabe misses the next match through suspension after a second yellow card this evening but a night you can see the progress but it's still nothing to write home about. That's the thing frustrating to go for so long a really really solid defensive performance but like you said just just to give up the goal was disappointing in the end and to have come so far and still end up with nothing. So there we are still bottom