The Republic of Ireland produced their best performance of the Carla Ward era to outgun Belgium in the first leg of their Nations League promotion/relegation play-off at Aviva Stadium.
Katie McCabe scored twice and made another on the occasion of her 99th cap, with Marissa Sheva lashing in a super effort as the fancied visitors slumped to a 4-2 loss, albeit those goals from Tessa Wullaert and Marie Detruyer mean this is far from done and dusted.
The frustration for Ireland is that it probably should be. The Belgians have a track record of turning on the style at home - in the Irish capital, they were made to look ordinary, finding themselves 4-1 down before Detruyer pegged one back.
It sets up Tuesday's second leg in Leuven nicely, with promotion back to League A very much in Ireland's hands.
The Girls in Green can often look uncomfortable when pressed aggressively, but that wasn't an issue early on. Belgium, strangely subdued, seemed happy to back off, inviting pressure so they could try and do damage on the break, primarily through record goalscorer Wullaert.
It allowed Ireland to assert themselves.
In a tweaked 3-5-2 shape designed to safeguard against the Belgians’ threat on the break, Ward’s side looked comfortable.
They almost punished Belgian lethargy 12 minutes in when O’Sullivan pinched the ball back and fed Kyra Carusa who squared it for Murphy to divert an awkward left-footed effort on the stretch half a yard wide. The Newcastle United attacker should have done better.
The visitors were passive, their threat flickering like a broken light bulb. Laura Deloose fizzed a daisy-cutter inches past Moloney’s left post after a bumper-car series of blocks and tackles around the Irish box. But that was as close as they got in the opening period.
It was pretty scrappy fare in the first half. Rhythm was often punctured by petulant fouls, neither side really going for the jugular.
Still, Ireland always carried more intent and as half-time approached, they got the breakthrough. Elena Dhont went in the book for clipping McCabe’s Achilles with an awkward sliding tackle, the Dubliner eventually dusting herself down to bend in a free that caused panic.
Hayes’ header looped towards Stapleton who prodded a volley goalward that hit Mariam Toloba’s hand. German referee Franziska Wildfeuer awarded Ireland a very generous penalty against Greece in Tallaght last April and didn’t hesitate to point to the spot here. If VAR was in place, it likely would have been overturned.
That was none of McCabe’s business however, and she duly sent Nicky Evrard the wrong way to score her 30th international goal.
Clearly unhappy, Belgium boss Elisabet Gunnarsdottit made two changes at the break, introducing Detruyer and Zenia Mertens. They were searching for a spark; and as the floodlights illuminated misty Dublin rain, they got it.
In the 52nd minute, Detruyer popped a clever ball in behind an Irish defence guilty of a crooked line, and after Moloney made a bad judgement call by racing from her line, Wullaert lobbed a calm finish into the net.
It was harsh, but typically clinical of a player who now has 95 international goals under her belt.
Republic of Ireland 3-1 Belgium
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 24, 2025
Katie McCabe drills home Ireland's third, unquestionably the best of the night after great passing from O'Sullivan and Murphy
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Ward urged her players to pick themselves up as Belgium raced to celebrate with their captain. She’d get a response she wouldn't have even dreamed of.
First, McCabe’s 54th-minute cross from the left caught out Evrard, who backpedalled in a panic as the ball dropped over her head, crashed off the post and bounced in via the goalkeeper’s back.
Murphy spurned a great chance to extend the lead just after the hour mark, screwing miles wide following industrious play from the excellent Carusa. Seconds later, Murphy made up for it.
Carusa was involved again, winning dirty ball 40 yards from goal to earn O'Sullivan the time and space to thread a great ball through for Murphy to chase. Once she got there, Murphy had the composure to pick out McCabe just inside the area, the Arsenal star steadying herself with a touch before lashing home a low drive.
Republic of Ireland 4-1 Belgium
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 24, 2025
Turning into a wonderful night for Carla Ward's side as Marissa Sheva rattles home the fourth to the roof of the net
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Belgium were rattled. Ireland were on a roll.
In the 66th minute, the hosts got their fourth - and what a hit it was. An Irish corner spun out towards Sheva who blasted in a superb rising drive that soared into the roof of the net. It was a technically impressive strike from a player who's improved massively in Irish colours over the last 12 months.
Ward withdrew O'Sullivan and Carusa in the last 15 minutes, with an eye on Tuesday's return leg. On came Saoirse Noonan and Jamie Finn, making a long-awaited return after enduring a dreadful ACL injury.
Ireland's shape and dilligence was unaffected; they looked safe. Then Detruyer steered home a quality controlled finish from 20 yards out to throw Belgium a lifeline.
That was a kick in the teeth, but Ireland will head for Belgium believing they can complete what would be an impressive and significant triumph.
Republic of Ireland: Grace Moloney; Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe (Capt); Ruesha Littlejohn (Tyler Toland 60), Denise O'Sullivan (Jamie Finn 75), Marissa Sheva; Emily Murphy, Kyra Carusa (Saoirse Noonan 75)
Belgium: Nicky Evrard; Sari Kees, Amber Tysiak, Janice Cayman, Laura Deloose; Elena Dhont (Zenia Mertens HT), Tine De Caigny (Marie Detruyer HT), Mariam Toloba (Lisa Petry 82); Tessa Wullaert (Capt), Jarne Teulings, Feli Delacauw (Aurelie Reynders 63)
Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer (Ger)
Attendance: 14,180
