DENISE O’SULLIVAN SIGNED off from club duty in style with a simply stunning goal as her focus now switches to the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
The Cork midfield maestro missed the Girls In Green’s friendly win over the Philippines yesterday due to her North Carolina Courage side’s National Women’s Soccer League [NWSL] meeting with Houston Dash.
Courage fell to a 4-3 defeat on home soil, but O’Sullivan opened the scoring in sublime fashion and turned in a Player of the Match performance against her former club.
GOODNESS @OSullivanDenise 🚀#CourageUnitesUs | @theNCCourage pic.twitter.com/o1V3jJm1kE
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 19, 2022
The 28-year-old is due to report into Ireland camp today, with the international break officially underway and Vera Pauw’s side ramping up preparations in Antalya, Turkey.
They will remain there until Saturday, before flying to Tbilisi ahead of next Monday’s World Cup qualifying clash with Group A minnows Georgia.
We've had a lot of first regular-season goals lately and @OSullivanDenise's was WORLD CLASS! A perfect @budweiserusa Player of the Match.#NCvHOU pic.twitter.com/Ylmff2UAa0
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) June 20, 2022
Speaking after yesterday’s 1-0 win over the Philippines, in which debutant Lily Agg scored the decisive goal, Pauw explained:
“It’s fantastic that we played today. With the help of all the clubs involved, we could start a few days earlier and have a game before the Fifa window starts.
“Denise O’Sullivan will come in tomorrow after her game today. Here, it was of course about winning, but getting rhythm and getting our game plan right.”
So a technical director whose previous experience in the role was in Australia and a manager whose previous experience was mostly in Norway. Hmmm…
@Keith McCarthy: it’s getting better by the day.
@Keith McCarthy: funny Kevin but they have 33 years of Manchester Utd experience between them so Hmmmmm
@David Weston: how’s that worked out for them the last while? Apologising for performances last I seen
@Keith McCarthy: most sporting directors/directors of football have zero experience in that role when they assume it.
@themansam: Sam so not the man ! They are only in the job 4mths as you know
@David Weston: utd need a football director to help the manager. So its a step in the right direction thats all
@Chris Tobin: of course it is , a decent appointment.
@themansam: well at least they take responsibility for a poor showing an don’t blame the wind etc …
@David Weston: but what about the 33 years blah blah?
@David Weston: Ole should be given a life time contract. To lose 6 in 8 games is some achievement at a club like United and with City and Chelsea next up, it doesn’t look like getting better anytime soon. What a mess that club is in. More of a chance of Brighton taking points off City on the final day than United Wednesday night. They haven’t a hope in hell.
@Flaming Mo: Off you fk Luke.
@David Weston: hahaha is that honestly the best you can come up with? You support one of the biggest clubs in the world & that’s all you can say. Thanks for the compliment bud
@Chris Tobin: but wasn’t phelan doing exactly that Chris ? Helping the gaffer . I think they should have left that partnership be as it is , employ a director like for e.g. Muelenstein etc
@Flaming Mo: Liverpool were in worse shape…for the last 25 years lol
Unusual appointments really , united have a manager (ole) who relegated Cardiff , and an assistant( phelan) who was sacked by hull city after 3 months in charge , after steve Bruce left after getting them promoted , . Sometimes sentiment is the last thing a club needs when the club is not going well . Surely they could come up with better appointments in these crucial decisions .
It’s a brilliant appointment. A man who knows the type of player that will come with the Utd DNA.
No more Fellainis, No more Di Maria’s, No more Matic’s and Alexis Sanchez’s.
It will be Fergie type signings – Declan Rice, Jadon Sancho, Zaha etc
@Stanley Baggins:
I had completely forgot about Sanchez until you just mentioned him in your post. Just goes to show how good he’s been. Hopefully he’ll be on the same flight as Pogba in the summer.
@Stanley Baggins: Zaha? The same Zaha Ferguson bought and ended up leaving the club after getting little to no game time
@Craig O’Dwyer: fergie bought him, Moyes sold him