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Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
USA v Ireland: Carla Ward left with limited options for tough second friendly
Friendly: United States v Republic of Ireland Sunday, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, 8pm Irish time (Live on RTÉ 2) Much as she might like to freshen up her team for the second of their friendlies against the United States, following their 4-0 defeat in the first, Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has limited enough options ahead of Sunday evening's meeting in Cincinnati. Both Denise O'Sullivan and Megan Campbell have been ruled out of the game having missed the Denver defeat with injuries, and there are doubts too over a number of other players. Ruesha Littlejohn's long-standing Achilles problem saw her limited to one half on Friday, while Ward revealed that Ellen Molloy, Izzy Atkinson and debutante Erin Healy were able for no more than 15 minutes in the game. Erin McLaughlin, who was recently released by Portsmouth, has been called up, the 22-year-old having been capped three times before. And Philadelphia-born Dee Bradley, who plays her football with Durham in the English Championship, has been invited to train with the squad, the midfielder qualifying to play for Ireland through her Donegal-born father and Cork-born mother. READ MORE The quick turnaround after an energy-sapping contest for the Irish side – the heat, high altitude and quality of the opposition leaving them drained at the end – simply adds to Ward's woes. 'Sunday is going to be difficult,' she said to RTÉ, 'but we have to dig deep into that performance to see what we can change and tweak, and, being honest, see who we have fit and available.' She was insistent, though, that despite being outclassed by the Americans, her players will benefit from the experience. 'I said to the girls that we're going to learn more out of tonight than we will have in all our Nations League games. And that's what this is about. 'We've faced the best team in the world. They have unbelievable quality, they really have. They're all in season, fit. We know where we're at, we're out of season. We've done what we could have done with what we had available. I take my hat off to the group.' 'We asked them to leave everything out there and they did,' she said, referring to the conditions. 'There has to be some optimism given who we're playing against and all the contributing factors. They've done pretty well considering.' With Sunday's game kicking off at 3pm local time, it could be hotter still in Cincinnati, the temperatures forecast to surpass 30 degrees. United States head coach Emma Hayes during Friday's game against Ireland. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Asked by ESPN if she would 'take it easy' on Sunday against her old friend Ward, US head coach Emma Hayes replied with an emphatic 'no'. 'I won't change who I am, definitely not, not for anyone – even if I like you. The US women's team has such a high bar that it's up to me to keep pace with that and deliver teams that pursue excellence every time. So, we will absolutely be looking to do that again. There will be changes, though, I want to see the whole squad.' The Irish defence would, no doubt, like to see left-winger Alyssa Thompson rested after she gave them a torrid time on Friday, while Rose Lavelle was outstanding in midfield on her first appearance in six months after ankle surgery. Seeing as Cincinnati is her hometown, it's likely that Lavelle will appear again. It could be a long 90 minutes.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Republic of Ireland well beaten by USA in friendly
A depleted Republic of Ireland proved no match for the United States as they succumbed to the hosts in Friday's friendly in the high altitude of Denver. Shorn of a host of regulars including rested captain Katie McCabe, and the injured Megan Campbell and Denise O'Sullivan, it was always going to be a tough task against the world's number one team and so it proved. Advertisement Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Thompson were all on target for Emma Hayes' hosts. Despite the USA resting all of their European-based stars aside from Chelsea's Naomi Girma, they were quick to assert themselves. They threatened from the off with Thompson denied by Courtney Brosnan from point-blank range, before the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper - captaining the team on her 50th cap - turned a low Claire Hutton effort around the post. However, the opener was coming and in the 18th minute, Lavelle picked up possession from a short corner and swung a teasing ball into the box for Patterson to nod home. Advertisement Despite some stout Irish defending, the USA doubled their lead when Coffey cut through the defence and produced a composed finish. There was no reprieve in the second period as the USA continued to press for goals and they were rewarded just seven minutes in when Lavelle finished off a crisp move. Number four came in the 63rd minute as Thompson managed to get past Jessie Stapleton and head for goal before curling home a fine shot to wrap up a comfortable win. While the woodwork denied Olivia Moultrie late on, the USA laid down a marker before they play again in Cincinnati on Sunday (20:00 BST).
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Republic of Ireland well beaten by USA in friendly
A depleted Republic of Ireland proved no match for the United States as they succumbed to the hosts in Friday's friendly in the high altitude of Denver. Shorn of a host of regulars including rested captain Katie McCabe, and the injured Megan Campbell and Denise O'Sullivan, it was always going to be a tough task against the world's number one team and so it proved. Advertisement Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Thompson were all on target for Emma Hayes' hosts. Despite the USA resting all of their European-based stars aside from Chelsea's Naomi Girma, they were quick to assert themselves. They threatened from the off with Thompson denied by Courtney Brosnan from point-blank range, before the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper - captaining the team on her 50th cap - turned a low Claire Hutton effort around the post. However, the opener was coming and in the 18th minute, Lavelle picked up possession from a short corner and swung a teasing ball into the box for Patterson to nod home. Advertisement Despite some stout Irish defending, the USA doubled their lead when Coffey cut through the defence and produced a composed finish. There was no reprieve in the second period as the USA continued to press for goals and they were rewarded just seven minutes in when Lavelle finished off a crisp move. Number four came in the 63rd minute as Thompson managed to get past Jessie Stapleton and head for goal before curling home a fine shot to wrap up a comfortable win. While the woodwork denied Olivia Moultrie late on, the USA laid down a marker before they play again in Cincinnati on Sunday (20:00 BST).
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
USA too strong for Ireland in friendly clash
Two goals in each half condemned the Republic of Ireland to a 4-0 defeat against the USA in the first of two friendly meetings. The US, ranked number one in the world, dominated throughout with the 25th-ranked Irish side managing just one shot during the 90 minutes. Advertisement Avery Patterson's first international goal put the hosts in front after 18 minutes in Colorado, Sam Coffey doubling the advantage deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Rose Lavelle added a third early in the second half with Alyssa Thompson completing the scoring with a spectacular solo goal just after the hour. Ireland's Emily Murphy did force a sharp save from debutant goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, but the offside flag would have ruled out her half volley. The two sides meet again on Sunday in Cincinnati.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
USWNT cruise past Ireland in friendly clash
The United States Women's National Team defeated the Republic of Ireland 4-0 in a routine friendly on Thursday. Scorers: Patterson 18', Coffey 45+4', Lavelle 53', Thompson 63' Advertisement It was one-way traffic from the start at DSG Park as Emma Hayes' side ran rampant. Avery Patterson opened the scoring with her first international goal, scoring a back-post header off a cross from Rose Lavelle. The USWNT doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time after Sam Coffey dribbled into the box. She took a left-footed shot which slid through Courtney Brosnan's arms and into the back of the net. In the second half, the Americans continued to increase their advantage as Lavelle finished off a series of clever one-touch passes. Ten minutes later, Alyssa Thompson made it four as she made a bursting run down the left, cut inside and scored with a lovely curling finish. Ultimately, the United States cruised past a vastly inferior opponent, taking 26 shots to Ireland's one. Advertisement They will face Ireland again on Sunday before another friendly matchup against Canada. 📸 Dustin Bradford - 2025 Getty Images
