Ireland women suffer more heartbreak as Sweden take all three points with a late winner

Sweden 1

Republic of Ireland 0

A gallant defensive performance from the Republic of Ireland ended in vain as they were beaten 1-0 by World Cup semi-finalists Sweden in Euro 2025 qualifying at the Friends Arena on Tuesday evening.

Magdalena Eriksson scored the game’s only goal in the 84th minute by flicking in a Jonna Andersson corner, and the Girls in Green’s winless run stretched to four games.

It was an evening where every second felt like a minute and every minute felt like a cause of celebration.

This isn’t because of the quality in the Sweden team, but Ireland’s recent habit of conceding early, as shown in recent Euro 2025 qualifiers against France and England.

It looked like history was going to repeat itself in the 11th minute as Kosovare Asllani blocked a Courtney Brosnan clearance on the edge of the area. 

The ball went out for a goal-kick, and Ireland responded by taking a step back and buckling down with their rigid 4-5-1 formation.

Fridolina Rolfö went closest to scoring for Sweden during this early burst of chances, and a header from the Barcelona forward went just over the intended target.

A McCabe corner created Ireland’s first chance in the 24th minute and it was Megan Connolly who tried to score on the volley, and centimetres denied the midfielder a famous goal for her country.

Sweden went long once play resumed and Filippa Angeldahl picked out Rolfö, and an off-balance attempt by the striker was pushed tipped over by Brosnan. 

A succession of corners followed, and this burst of activity ended with Jessica Zui blocking a goal-bound shot from Rolfö.

The striker was played into space by Kosovare Asllani in the final few seconds of the first half, and a heavy first touch by the striker allowed Aoife Mannion to rush in and win the ball back for Ireland.

Time dragged on. Players like Angeldahl and Kafaji went for goal and missed. Ireland made it to 70 minutes, and a close encounter became a stalemate.

Sweden looked frustrated, especially when Caitlin Hayes worked with Anna Patten to block down their attempts at scoring from distance.

Abbie Larkin and Leanne Kiernan tried running forward and creating something in the final third, and they failed to test a defence marshalled by Zećira Mušović.

Sweden shrugged off their incursions and won a corner, which was taken by Hannah Bennison in the 77th minute. 

Hayes’ got under this and got the ball away for Ireland, who reset themselves after the restart by brining on Amber Barrett and Lucy Quinn.

It came down to Eriksson poking in Andersson’s in-swinging corner. 

There was a push for an equaliser in added time, but no meaningful shot on target by the Irish forwards.

Sweden: Zećira Mušović; Hanna Lundkvist, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson, Filippa Angeldahl, Kosovare Asllani, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Madelen Janogy, Fridolina Rolfö.

Subs: Sofia Jakobsson for Asllani (68); Rosa Kafaji for Janogy (68), Hannah Bennison for Angeldal (68), Pauline Hammarlund for Rytting Kaneryd (85), Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Katie McCabe, Aoife Mannion, Louise Quinn, Caitlin Hayes, Megan Connolly, Ruesha Littlejohn, Jessica Zui, Lily Agg, Leanne Kiernan, Kyra Carisa.

Subs: Anna Patten for Louise Quinn (40); Jessie Stapleton for Littlejohn (57), Abbie Larkin for Agg (57), Amber Barrett for Kiernan (79), Lucy Quinn for Zui (79).

Referee: Alina Peşu (Romania).