The Republic of Ireland endured a painful 1-0 loss to Sweden at the Friends Arena near Stockholm on Tuesday evening, as a late Magdalena Eriksson goal denied them a first point in Euro 2025 qualification.
Eileeen Gleeson's side had been foot perfect for most of the contest, frustrating a team ranked sixth in the world with performance full of grit and discipline. But they just couldn't hold on.
With six minutes to go, Eriksson forced home an inswinging corner with her back to finally shatter the Irish resistance and keep Sweden on track to earn automatic qualification for the Euros by finishing in the top two.
Ireland remain pointless in Group A3 of League A and have yet to score a goal. Life among the elite is proving unforgivingly difficult. They next face England in Norwich on 12 July before hosting France in the final group game, destined to finish bottom, but with a place in the play-offs guaranteed thanks to their strong showing in the UEFA Nations League.
In balmy conditions, Gleeson tweaked her lineup, and her approach, following Friday's 3-0 defeat to the Swedes.
In came Aoife Mannion, Ruesha Littlejohn and Leanne Kiernan to complement a 4-2-3-1 formation that looked both secure and fluid in the opening stages.
The Swedes picked up five yellows in Dublin last Friday and they were lucky not to get another inside the first 60 seconds when Eriksson cynically hauled down the marauding Jess Ziu on the left flank.
Pace is a precious commodity and that early tangle served as encouragement for the Girls in Green, who were also able to utilise the jet-heeled Kiernan on the right. The Liverpool attacker was a ball of energy, though she did have the wind taken out of her sails when Julia Zigotti Olme clattered into her as they were contesting a high ball, and Kiernan was left with a busted nose.
Sweden, as anticipated, bossed possession, but Ireland's altered approach meant they they found it much harder to find space between the lines.
Johann Rytting Kaneryd - who'd been so impressive in Dublin - and Madelen Janogy kept looking to exploit Ireland's left side, the pair combining in the 20th minute for Rytting Kaneryd to ping in a sweet cross towards Fridolina Rolfo, who sent a thumping header over the bar.
In response, Kyra Carusa twirled into space before freeing Kiernan on the right side of the box, her overhit cross evading a couple of Irish bodies in the box.
Soon after, a McCabe corner was fisted away by home keeper Zecira Musovic, allowing Megan Connolly to lash in a clean volley that skittled off some shins as it spun wide.
Bright moments, but Sweden's quality always shimmered under the surface of this contest.
Filippa Angeldal lofted a pass towards Rolfo who turned Louise Quinn one way then the other before stinging the palms of Brosnan. Then Janogy floated away from Agg and Hayes to drill in a goalbound shot that was blocked by the well-placed Ziu.
Peter Gerhardsson's side pushed and probed, waiting for a creak in the Irish rearguard that was shorn of the injured Quinn four minutes before the break. Quinn felt a muscle tightness significant enough for Gleeson to replace her with Anna Patten. Immediately, the superb Hayes took full control of the back line.
Scoreless at half-time, Sweden re-emerged seemingly intent on moving through the gears. But Ireland kept on trucking.
Janogy drew a super save from Brosnan when she guided a free header towards the left corner, though the flag was subsequently raised for offside, and the hosts tried to turned the screw.
On 54 minutes, Mannion almost gift-wrapped Sweden the breakthrough when she dallied on the ball six yards in front of her goal, with Rolfo charging down the eventual clearance which cannoned into the grateful arms of Brosnan.
The pressure continued, but it was never incessant and Ireland rarely looked overly stretched.
It was really disciplined, gutsy stuff, scuffed somewhat by McCabe picking up an avoidable yellow card after she scythed down Rytting Kaneryd on the halfway line. That booking means the captain is out of July's clash with the English.
The graft began to take a toll. Kiernan cramped up; McCabe looked heavy-legged; and Sweden kept asking questions.
🇸🇪 1-0 🇮🇪
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Sweden take the lead with seven minutes to go, Eriksson getting a touch from Andersson's corner
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In the 84th minute, Ireland were guilty of a major lapse in concentration. A Jonna Andersson corner bent into the six-yard box and Eriksson managed to divert it beyond Brosnan as the ball glanced off her back. It was such a soft way for the resistance to be broken; a switch-off that proved agonisingly costly.
They tried to rally in the last few minutes, with Hayes' header failing to trouble Musovic. Substitute Amber Barrett did have one last sighter after good work in the area, but her low effort was dealt with.
And that was that. A commendable performance, but the wait for a positive result in qualification will continue deep into the summer.
Sweden: Zecira Musovic; Hanna Lundkvist, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Filippa Angeldal (Hanna Bennison 68), Kosovare Asllani (capt, Sofia Jakobsson 68), Julia Zigotti Olme; Johann Rytting Kaneryd (Pauline Hammarlund 85), Madelen Janogy (Rosa Kafaji 68), Fridolina Rolfo
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jess Ziu (Lucy Quinn 79), Anna Patten, Louise Quinn (Anna Patten 41), Caitlin Hayes, Katie McCabe (capt); Megan Connolly, Ruesha Littlejohn (Jessie Stapleton 58), Lily Agg (Abbie Larkin 58); Leanne Kiernan (Amber Barrett 79), Kyra Carusa
Referee: Alina Pesu (Romania)
