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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Euro 2025 qualifier

Catch up on all the action as Eileen Gleeson’s side chased after a first win of the campaign at the Aviva Stadium.

We go again.

The Republic of Ireland women’s team are hoping to earn their first win of their Euro 2025 qualification campaign this evening against Sweden. So far, Ireland have lost out to France (1-0) and England (0-2) in April, while the Swedes lost to Les Bleus on the same scoreline and drew 1-1 with England.

This will be another tough assignment for Eileen Gleeson’s side. Sweden are the Olympic runners-up and World Cup bronze medallists. They’re sixth on the Fifa world rankings while Ireland are 25th.

We’ll have team news for you shortly as we head towards the 7.30pm kick-off.

IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Jess Ziu, Anna Patten, Louise Quinn, Caitlin Hayes, Katie McCabe; Jessie Stapleton, Megan Connolly, Lily Agg; Amber Barrett, Kyra Carusa.

SWEDEN: Zecira Musovic; Nathalie Bjorn, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Filippa Angeldahl, Kosovare Asllani, Julia Zigotti Olme; Johann Rytting Kaneryd, Madelen Janogy, Fridolina Rolfo.

Denise O’Sullivan and Ruesha Littlejohn have been ruled out of tonight’s game due to injury. Two huge losses against a tough opposition. 

How do you see this one going?


Poll Results:

Sweden win (76)
Ireland win (37)
Draw (22)

The teams are out on the pitch now for the national anthems.

Ireland v Sweden (kick-off)

1 min: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Early free kick for Sweden but Ireland get it out of danger through Katie McCabe. yra Carusa gets a great touch to block down a Swedish kickout to set the tone for Eileen Gleeson’s side.

3 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Free given against Lily Agg for a heavy tackle, and there’s a tiny bit of afters when the whistle goes. But again, it’s a statement of intent for Ireland who are clearly hungry to go after a result here in the Aviva.

5 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Short stop in play as Sweden’s Nathalie Bjorn receives some treatment after putting in a tackle on McCabe. She seems to be ok to continue as play resumes. 

Jess Ziu tries to feed the ball to Amber Barrett but Sweden win the ball back and Ziu eventually concedes a free to stop their momentum

7 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Barrett goes down from what looked like a heavy challenge but the referee doesn’t want to know and waves play on. Sweden move the ball down the field and try to cut the ball across the penalty area. But Louise Quinn is there to boot the ball clear.

Sweden are then punished for offside, and Ireland have a chance to build again through Courtney Brosnan.

9 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Ireland earn the first corner of the game after their first meaningful attack. Jess Ziu tries to square the ball across but it’s cut out over the endline and McCabe takes.

The ball bobbles about dangerously but it’s scrambled clear. Offside flag then goes up against Jessie Stapleton.

11 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Another offside against Ireland. Kyra Carusa is targeted this time, but Ireland are spending more time in Swedish territory which is positive.

Sweden then try a through ball but Brosnan is alert and smothers on the ball. She starts the counter-attack quickly and it comes down to Barrett who clips it across the penalty area. There’s no-one at home though and the ball trickles out for a Swedish throw.

13 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

More high press from Ireland and they’re making Sweden sweat with their workrate. McCabe gets on the ball in the box and loops the ball across but its tails out over the crossbar.

17 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Dangerous moment for Ireland!

Good move from Sweden to pull the ball across to the edge of the box for a shot at goal. The effort is wide of the target but Sweden come advancing again and get a corner which Bjorn takes.

Ireland survive the pressure and get a throw-in but Sweden win it back and have another corner to come.

18 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Brosnan palms the ball away and Ireland are safe again. Good play between McCabe and Stapleton but they squander possession and Sweden attack again. 

20 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Good work from Anna Patten to win the ball back under pressure from two Sweden players. She gets a free which McCabe chooses to swing across the field to Caitlin Hayes. The ball comes back to Brosnan but that move ends in a throw-in for Sweden in their own half.

22 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

SO CLOSE!!

Massive chance for Ireland as Barrett gets on the end of a brilliant pass and slips the ball across to Agg who tries to feed it into the corner with a slight touch. But the ball fizzes past the wide side of the post and it’s out for a goal kick.

24 mins: Ireland 0-0 Sweden

Hayes well positioned in the Ireland box to head the ball away from a Swedish cross. Quinn then steps up with a good block on the edge of the area, and the move eventually ends at Brosnan’s feet.

Ireland are definitely matching up to Sweden.

GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Sweden (Johanna Rytting Kaneryd ’26)

28 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden 

And just like that, Sweden take the lead. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd gets in to poke it past Brosnan. And that’s such a cruel blow after such an encouraging start for Ireland. 

Sweden are smelling blood now as they get a corner shortly after.

32 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Another Ireland chance!!

Barrett comes so close to getting the equaliser as her header rises over the bar. McCabe did brilliantly there to get the ball across to Agg who in turn slipped it out wide. The ball was placed beautifully for Barrett to apply the finish but there was too much under the header.

35 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Carusa wins a free which Megan Connolly comes over to take. Lovely floating ball in but Ireland don’t manage to get a shot at goal and the play eventually stops when Barrett is called for offside.

38 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Ireland get a free after Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani goes in for an over zealous challenge on Connolly. Connolly feels the sting of it for a few seconds after but she’s good to continue. Asslani lucky not to get a card for that.

41 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Ireland’s third big chance!

Sweden almost gift a goal to Ireland after a defensive error while trying to deal with a long ball in. Barrett thought she was in but goalkeeper Zecira Musovi gets down before the Donegal woman can punish the visitors.

42 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Sweden have a corner which they have been instructed to take again due to some pushing and shoving. Linda Sembrant and Lily Agg end up receiving yellow cards.

45 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Ireland do well to defend a good delivery from the corner but the danger isn’t over yet as Sweden put some pressure on from a throw-in.

There’s a brief break in play as Jonna Andersson gets a knock and needs a moment to gather herself. The ball is dropped for Ireland and Hayes clears it out for a Sweden throw-in.

Three minutes of added time have been announced.

46 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Ireland seem to be slowing the game down to just get in for the half-time break and reset. But they’ve given the ball away and Sweden don’t threaten with the counter as the ball goes wide.

Half-Time! Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Plenty of positives there for Ireland. Three clear goal chances which Barrett and Agg will be furious that they didn’t convert but there’s plenty of intent and up front for Ireland.

The goal was unfortunate but Sweden were just more efficient when they got their chance. Gleeson’s side have it all to do to turn it around in the second half.

Lily Agg’s reaction to her missed chance sums up the misfortune Ireland have had in the first half

lily-agg-reacts-after-missing-a-chance Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Second-Half: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

46 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Sweden make a change at half-time. Hanna Lundqvist is on Nathalie Bjorn in defence. An attendance 26,628 has also just been announced.

48 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Ireland create an early chance through Agg who gets a bang to the face in the process. The hosts then get throw which Ziu takes and she shows some skills to keep the ball but the ball ends up rolling out for a goal kick.

49 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

McCabe does well to pick out Barrett but she gets caught between two minds on the ball and Sweden intervene to get the ball away. Patten then gets herself in the way of a Sweden throw and Ireland clear the danger briefly but the Swedes come back again.

52 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Sweden chance!

Brosnan misjudges the flight of the ball as it bounces under her gloves and Ziu reacts well to tap the ball away for a corner. That would have been a horror goal to give away but the danger is averted as Sweden fail to capitalise from the corner.

53 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

It looks like Tyler Toland and Lucy Quinn are warming up so Ireland may be preparing to make some changes.

54 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

GREAT SAVE!

Brosnan makes up for that previous error with a point blank save in a dangerous one-on-one after a swift counter-attack which put Fridolina Rolfo in for the shot. Excellent goalkeeping.

57 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden 

Toland is receiving instructions from Gleeson on the sideline. A substitution is imminent. 

59 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Louise Quinn stands tall to block the ball away for another Sweden corner. Andersson takes and there’s a few nervy bounces but Connolly sees it out for a goal kick.

Ireland make their change: Toland is in for Jess Stapleton.

61 mins: Ireland 0-1 Sweden

Some smart passing from Sweden but Brosnan is alert to an attempted pass and rushes out to clear the danger. Ireland get a throw which McCabe takes quickly to try and create an opportunity for Barrett but she’s well marked.

GOAL! Ireland 0-2 Sweden (Fridolina Rolfo ’61)

65 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Another punch in the gut for Ireland but they were more careless for this one. Some indecision in the press and a cross takes out two Irish players to find Rolfo unmarked at the edge of the area. She composes herself and lifts it past Brosnan to double Sweden’s lead.

67 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Sweden are rolling the bench now to bring in fresh legs. Asllani and Madelen Janogy both make way.

69 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Leanne Kiernan and Megan Campbell appear to be next for Ireland substitutions. Meanwhile, Barrett does well to win the ball back and she tries to put the ball on the head of Carusa in the box. But it’s just a touch too high and it’s another opportunity gone for Ireland.

72 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Ireland changes: Aoife Mannion replaces Carusa. Megan Campbell comes on for Patten while Leanne Kiernan is on for Barrett.

74 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Ireland have a throw and it’s time for a Campbell special.

75 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

That goes out for another throw and Campbell heads over to the other side to fire the ball in again. Ireland fail to engineer anything from either chance, and the sequence ends with a free against Mannion.

77 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden 

Sweden have a corner which is headed away by Hayes. The ball comes out to Andersson but her ball into the penalty area is easily gathered by Brosnan.

80 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Connolly gets dispossessed and Sweden counter quickly but the effort doesn’t trouble Brosnan. Ireland get the ball up to Kiernan but the referee halts the play for an apparent head injury as Andersson is down after clashing heads with Mannion.

McCabe is livid that the play could not be continued as Ireland were looking dangerous.

82 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Kiernan draws a free after a probing attack by Ireland. This is in an inviting position for McCabe to lob in.

84 mins: Ireland 0-2 Sweden

Hayes gets under the ball but her header doesn’t have enough power or direction to trouble the keeper.

Campbell then gets on the ball and goes at the Swedish cover and there’s a yellow card for Hanna Lundqvist’s tackle on her. Ireland make another change as Barrett is replaced by Kaneryd.

GOAL! Ireland 0-3 Sweden (Kaneryd ’84)

86 mins: Ireland 0-3 Sweden

Ireland get punished on the counter. Kaneryd cuts the ball across to Rolfo whose shot is saved by Brosnan. Kaneryd is then on hand to finish the rebound and grab her second goal of the night. It’s just such an unfortunate scoreline as it doesn’t reflect how competitive Ireland have been in this fixture.

92 mins: Ireland 0-3 Sweden

Campbell is up again for another monster throw. The ball comes back out for another throw and Campbell winds up once more.

The ball goes across the goal mouth but it doesn’t come down for Connolly. Sweden try another counter move but Ireland get bodies back and win a throw.

93 mins: Ireland 0-3 Sweden

Super save!

Brosnan does brilliantly to get down and prevent a fourth goal for Sweden.

Full-Time! Ireland 0-3 Sweden

Ireland 0-3 Sweden 

It’s a frustrating night for Ireland. 3-0 is not a fair reflection of their input but they were second best tonight. It’s another defeat in their Euro qualifier campaign but they will have to reset before their away trip to Sweden next week.

More worryingly, McCabe pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury. Hopefully she won’t be a doubt for that second game on Tuesday.

Well that’s all from us folks. Emma Duffy and Paul Fennessy will have the match report and reaction for you to comb through.

Until next time, good luck!

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