Ireland's Lynsey McVicker scored a marvellous individual goal to help secure fifth place in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Abbeville, France with a 2-1 win over Scotland today. Both teams had already qualified for next year's finals in Perth, Australia - although Ireland in rather more controversial circumstances.
After losing a penalty shoot-out yesterday against Lithuania and then successfully appealing the result, the Irish should have taken the rescheduled flicks this morning. However, Lituania withdrew before the competition could take place – therefore handing World Cup qualification to Ireland - and then lodged a protest of their own by refusing to leave the pitch, delaying the start of this game for more than an hour.
When the match finally began the Scots, understandably, were more tuned in and Alison Grant shot them ahead in the ninth minute when she swept the ball home from close range. But Jill Orbinson put Ireland back in the match when she flicked the ball over goalkeeper Debbie McLeod from a 54th-minute penalty corner and it was they who finished the match the stronger.
Ireland's manager Denise McCarthy said: "Scotland were definitely dominant in the first period of extra-time but we managed to hold on. McVicker's break was superb down the middle of the pitch and her fierce shot just squeezed in at the near post. Now we can celebrate - we haven't really felt we should up until now."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
