'Proper Irish performance' - Ward on Poland win
TL;DR
The Republic of Ireland women's soccer team secured a 1-0 victory over Poland, with Marissa Sheva scoring the decisive goal. This win positions Ireland favorably to finish third in Group A2 of World Cup qualifying.
Key points
- Ireland women's team beat Poland 1-0
- Marissa Sheva scored the only goal
- Ireland is in pole position for third place in Group A2
- The win could lead to a friendlier playoff route
- Match took place at Aviva Stadium
Mentioned in this story
Ward's side have beaten Poland twice in a week to move into the driving seat to finish third [Getty Images]
Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward said her side produced a "proper Irish performance" as they ground out a crucial 1-0 win over Poland in World Cup qualifying.
Marissa Sheva scored the only goal of the game in the first half at the Aviva Stadium to hand Ward's side a second win in a week over the Poles.
It leaves the Irish in pole position to finish third in Group A2 and, in theory, be rewarded with a friendlier play-off route to next year's tournament in Brazil.
"I'm incredibly proud of this group in this camp. I spoke to them this morning because it's always difficult to play the same opponent twice," she told RTE.
"This group, they are an absolute joy to work with and that was a proper Irish performance.
"The last 20 minutes, we've been conceding opportunities and we wanted to make sure that didn't happen.
"There's so much to come from them and this performance is absolutely huge."
'This group has something special' - O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan won her 131st cap for Republic of Ireland in their win over Poland in Dublin [Getty Images]
Midfielder Denise O'Sullivan, who went close to a spectacular second in the second half when she rattled the crossbar with a volley, also expressed her pride in a gritty display.
Republic of Ireland kept Barcelona and Poland captain Ewa Pajor quiet again in Dublin and after also running the Netherlands and France close, O'Sullivan believes the Irish are picking up real momentum after a difficult start to Ward's reign.
"We knew Poland would come out with something different and they were a bit more aggressive with their full-backs and were a bit more tight in midfield, their winger came in and marked me but all round, amazing performance," she told RTE.
"If you look, everyone turned up at the Aviva and stuck together. That is what we are about and I think this group has something special.
"We have a lot more to give, this team has really improved. We are improving every camp and we'll look for points against Netherlands and France."
Q&A
What was the score of the Republic of Ireland vs Poland women's soccer match?
The Republic of Ireland defeated Poland 1-0 in their recent World Cup qualifying match.
Who scored the winning goal for Ireland against Poland?
Marissa Sheva scored the only goal of the game for Ireland in the first half.
What does the win against Poland mean for Ireland's World Cup qualifying chances?
The victory puts Ireland in a strong position to finish third in Group A2, potentially leading to a more favorable playoff route for the World Cup.
