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Emily Murphy's late cracker rescues Ireland in Istanbul

Updated / Saturday, 31 May 2025 10:35

Emily Murphy walloped home an 89th-minute winner to get a below-par Republic of Ireland out of jail in Turkey on Friday evening.

The Girls in Green toiled for the vast majority of this Nations League clash at Esenler Stadium in Istanbul. Kader Hancar's well-taken effort in the 49th minute looked like it would settle it, but a Busem Seker own goal followed by Murphy's excellent strike saw the Girls in Green snatch victory.

They must beat Slovenia by four goals or more at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday to win the group and gain promotion to League A; otherwise they'll head for a promotion/relegation play-off against one the League A third-placed teams in the autumn. Either way, a significant improvement on this showing will be required.

A good surface allowed for the ball to zip along nicely in a high-tempo opening. But Irish decision-making was frazzled as they tried to unsettle a red block of home defenders, every tackle cheered by noisy natives whose chants were soundtracked by a rhythmic drum.

It was uninspiring fare, with any flash of positive Irish play undermined by sloppiness in the final third.

Turkish defender Sejde Abrahamson offered a reminder that the hosts packed a counter-punch too, surging forward and stinging Courtney Brosnan's palms with a low drive. And generally this contest followed the pattern we witnessed when the countries met in Dublin: physical and organised, Turkey comfortably stifled the odd flicker of Irish creativity.

30 May 2025; Busem Şeker of Türkiye, 19, under pressure from Caitlin Hayes of Republic of Ireland, heads the ball towards her own goal and over her goalkeeper, not pictured, resulting in an equalising goal for Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Women's Nations League, League B match between Türkiye

Ebru Topcu and Meryem Cal - a tough, streetwise midfield pair - nullified the influence of Denise O'Sullivan, and without the Corkwoman's guile, Ireland were predictable. As their frustration increased, Turkish confidence grew.

In the 28th minute Miray Cin slipped a lovely pass down Aoife Mannion's blind side to release Ilayda Civelek, who swung in an inviting cross. Hancar hit the deck, protesting she'd been clipped by Jessie Stapleton as she called for a penalty. Her appeals fell on deaf ears.

Soon after that Lucy Quinn cut inside and unleashed a dipping long-ranger that Akgoz tipped over the bar. That moment of adventure was not in keeping with a dour opening period, summed up by Abrahamson and Civelek taking turns to hack O'Sullivan out of her stride as she escaped down the right wing.

Ireland almost got stung in the 40th minute when Melike Pekel led a break, feeding Cin in acres of space on the left side of the box. Her effort was parried away by Brosnan, sparking a scramble that ended with Mannion bravely blocking Topcu's shot from eight yards out.

Ireland finally woke up.

McCabe drew a fine save from Akgoz on 40 minutes when she tried to bend one into the left corner from the edge of the box - and the skipper went agonisingly close a couple of minutes later. After Akgoz flapped at a Connolly corner, McCabe's fierce shot was cleared off the line by Seker.

It was a bright ending to a disappointing half for Ireland. Things were about to get significantly worse.

Four minutes into the second half, the visitors were caught rotten when Hancar's lovely flick released Civelek. She burst into the box, checked inside and returned a pass to Hancar who guided a low finish past Brosnan.

Hancar was causing chaos. Her aerial prowess led to more panic in the Irish box, with Ward's charges looking increasingly ragged.

The boss had seen enough. In the 59th minute she made a triple change: Murphy, Kyra Carusa and Saoirse Noonan came on for Marissa Sheva, Amber Barrett and Abbie Larkin.

Carusa instantly made her presence felt, rising to meet Anna Patten's cross and glance in a header that Akgoz saved. Her physicality gave Ireland a focal point they craved. Turkey began to sink deeper; pressure started to build.

Megan Campbell's introduction meant Ireland had a Guinness world record holder on the pitch for the last 15 minutes - at this stage, her huge throw-ins are no secret. But knowing what's coming, and stopping what's coming, are two very different things.

In the 79th minute, Campbell's huge delivery was nodded by a backpedalling Seker towards her own goal, and over the marooned Akgoz. All square - and now momentum was with the favourites. They peppered Turkey with crosses and throws, desperately hoping to prise open a crack in an exhausted rearguard.

They got it in the last minute of regulation time. Abrahamson looked in control as she prepared to clear McCabe's hopeful punt forward, until a little slip caused her to lose her balance and nod the ball into the path of Murphy. It sat up perfectly for the Newcastle United forward to belt home a super finish.

Topcu was inches away from equalising in the sixth minute of injury time, her curler going just wide, and Ireland survived.

Undeserved, concerningly disjointed, but a victory for the Girls in Green. They will not be spared on Tuesday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh if they replicate this performance against Slovenia, who've won all five of their group games to date.

Turkey: Selda Akgoz (capt); Busem Seker, Gulbin Hiz, Sejde Abrahamson, Ilayda Civelek; Ebru Topcu, Meryem Cal; Ece Turkoglu, Miray Cin (Elif Keskin 68), Melike Pekel (Arzal Karabulut 68); Kader Hancar

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion (Caitlin Hayes HT), Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe (capt); Megan Connolly, Denise O'Sullivan (capt), Marissa Sheva (Emily Murphy 60); Lucy Quinn (Megan Campbell 74), Amber Barrett (Kyra Carusa 60), Abbie Larkin (Saoirse Noonan 60)

Referee: Kristina Georgieva (Bulgaria)

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