The Republic of Ireland’s women’s team followed up their 4-0 victory on Crete last week with a 2-1 result over Greece at home at the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday. The two wins over the Greeks have put Ireland in a strong position, but Slovenia, who won 1-0 away to Turkey, are still strong favorites to be promoted from League B as they have 12 points to the Republic’s 9 points. Even a win over Slovenia at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork on June 3 is unlikely to be enough, as Slovenia should pick up all three points in their penultimate game against Greece on May 30, while on the same day the Republic travel to play Turkey.
So it looks like a play-off game is likely in their campaign to qualify for League A. The Irish were without the suspended Katie McCabe for the game in Tallaght. A first-half penalty from Amber Barrett and a goal early in the second half from Anna Patten had the Irish cruising, but Veatriki Sarri halved the deficit in the 72nd minute when she beat her Everton colleague Courtney Brosnan in the Irish goal with a low drive. After the game Irish manager Carla Ward asked Greek manager Alexandros Katikaridis to do us a favor and beat Slovenia; he said he would, but after watching Greece in Tallaght I doubt that he can.
