news-engine

Ireland show 'fight and character' but lose five-goal opener with Spain It took a breathless second-half for Ireland women’s World Cup to come alive in Wavre, but an opening 3-2 defeat to Spain now leaves them with an uphill task to make it out of the group stages. Twice Ireland came back against the Spanish thanks to penalty corner strikes by Hannah McLoughlin and Niamh Carey in an end-to-end five-minute spell in the third quarter. However, a 55th-minute penalty corner goal by captain Xantal Gine means Ireland, the lowest-ranked team in their pool, must beat New Zealand in their second match tomorrow morning. “It was a battle of tactics as we know each other very well,” said a dejected Katie Mullan. “We did well to come back twice and show a really good account of ourselves with our penalty corner attack. “We fought hard and showed a lot of character and we would have been fighting if there was a fifth quarter as we had it in terms of our stamina.” Until this summer, the last time Ireland had beaten Spain came in their 2018 World Cup semi-final clash. In June, Ireland had boosted their World Cup hopes with victory and a normal time draw in a brace of Pro League games. On the outskirts of Brussels, both sides played out a tepid first quarter littered with gifted turnover balls. Spain had the better circle penetration, with Ireland’s defensive lines working well. The game came alive in the second quarter, but Spanish skill was dominating. Spain also thought they had the opening goal from a retaken penalty, however Ireland successfully referred a stick foul in the build-up. With seven minutes left of the half, a central move into the circle saw Laia Vidosa turn and place her shot perfectly past Lizzy Murphy. Less than 60 seconds later, Spain countered once more and, in a packed circle, the ball was pushed home. Again Ireland asked for a video referral and, for a second time, a dangerous swing in the lead-up saw the goal ruled out. Gareth Grundie’s side came out full of running after the break. Their first real sighting on goal came in the 36th minute as Carey won a timely penalty corner. Mullan trapped at the top and McLoughlin let loose with a piercing hit which deflected off a Spanish runner. Moments later, Spain went upfield and forced a fine double from Murphy. Spanish attacks continued and Sofia Keenan pushed home from a penalty corner rebound. Ireland then responded in an absorbing quarter three minutes later as Roisin Upton’s well-worked corner was deflected in by the impressive Carey. The deadlock in a tight final quarter was broken five minutes from time when Gine hit the ball into the ground first from her corner effort, but it still found a route to goal. McLoughlin said: “We know Spain very well but unfortunately I don’t think we got our penalty corners quite right and conceded PCs and it was very small margins. “We have some incredible support here in a new stadium and we need to bring that with us.” Earlier, co-hosts Belgium beat New Zealand 5-2 in the other match in Ireland’s pool.