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Supersub Abbie Larkin earns Ireland dramatic play-off success

Updated / Tuesday, 28 Oct 2025 23:22
Abbie Larkin lifts home Ireland's crucial goal
Abbie Larkin lifts home Ireland's crucial goal

(Republic of Ireland win 5-4 on aggregate)

Abbie Larkin lifted home a dramatic 90th-minute goal to squeeze the Republic of Ireland past Belgium in a pulsating Nations League promotion/relegation play-off in Leuven.

Tessa Wullaert's first-half brace had the Den Dreef Stadium rocking, but Carla Ward’s team showed superb character to claw their way back into it.

For an hour it felt like this was only going one way – the Red Flames were steaming towards an emphatic victory that would overturn Ireland’s 4-2 win in Dublin last Friday.

Instead Larkin came off the bench to pinch what was a deserved goal for Ireland, the Ringsend flyer wheeling towards her family who leaped for joy in among the home fans.

Ireland saw it out to return to League A, and that means they are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs for the 2027 World Cup.

After a rocky year, they are well and truly back on track.

There was a healthy contingent of travelling fans in Leuven; over 300 of them congregated in the corner of this compact ground, with a few other Irish tricolours visible among the home supporters – including one waved proudly by the Larkins, Abbie’s image printed in the middle of it.

The atmosphere was partisan, but any sense of hostility was softened by a brass band jauntily pumping out tunes throughout.

One early Caitlin Hayes chance, off a beautiful inswinging Katie McCabe free-kick, was soundtracked by a blast of trumpets and tambourines.

Eventually the band quietened, and the crowd found their voice.

It was obvious that boss Elisabet Gunnarsdottir made a conscious effort to force McCabe to defend as much as possible. Lots of Belgium build-up came down her side, quelling the captain’s attacking influence.

The Red Flames weren’t afraid to get stuck in either. With 6’1" Crystal Palace midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet stationed in midfield, they asked real questions of Ireland’s physicality.

The Belgians feed off positive momentum so you always felt Ireland needed a goal here.

They went close on 22 minutes when a McCabe corner caused chaos. icky Evrard flapped at it, then fumbled a looping Emily Murphy header before Mannion smacked in a volley that Evrard partially blocked. Jarne Teulings booted away the loose ball.

Eleven minutes later, the pendulum swung Belgium's way. They stitched together a terrific one-touch move involving Laura Deloose and Teulings that pulled Ireland apart down the left. Deloose swung in a low cross that was steered home first time by Wullaert, who’d peeled into space off McCabe’s blind side. That was the 96th goal of her international career.

Wullaert plundered goal number 97 six minutes before the break. Hayes scuffed a clearance, and the Inter Milan attacker clipped a lob over Moloney, who’d roamed from her goal anticipating the ball might run through.

Ward introduced Anna Patten for Ruesha Littlejohn at half-time as Ireland sought to reduce Wullaert’s influence. That’s easier said than done, and the red tide kept flowing on the turnaround.

Ireland initially struggled to take the stung out of the contest with sustained possession but they began to enjoy moments of encouragement.

Sheva sprinted through a crack of space and slipped a ball into the feet of Murphy. The Newcastle forward shunted a shot goalwards – Evrard clawed it around the post.

That nourished belief. Mannion screwed a 25-yarder wide following smart approach play from McCabe and Murphy; Sheva began to pinch possession back higher up the field.

The visitors were pushing. Hayes’ header forced Evrard into another good save, with substitute Abbie Larkin lashing the rebound from a tight angle into the keeper’s chest.

There was an edge to this all night – Wullaert chopped down McCabe with a poor tackle, prompting Sheva and Hayes to square up to the hometown heroine.

Moments later Larkin went agonisingly close to restoring Ireland’s advantage in the tie when she galloped onto a Carusa flick-on and slid a right-footed attempted past the left-hand post.

The tie was on a knife edge; nerves were frayed.

Larkin – really lively upon her introduction – dropped a shoulder and banged in a sweet strike that whistled over the bar, but as the game ticked into its final ten minutes, this play-off was deadlocked.

Carusa almost nicked it in the 88th minute off the back a smashing O’Sullivan reverse pass; the Californian’s firm shot was parried away by Evrard.

And then, the decisive moment.

Initially Larkin fullfed her lines after the ball spun her way, but she instantly made amends with a clever dinked finish beyond the sprawling Evrard.

Belgium rallied; Ireland held firm. They’re up to the top tier of League A, and head for the winter knowing their hopes of making it to another World Cup have been given a significant helping hand.

Belgium: Nicky Evrard; Sari Kees, Amber Tysiak (Kassandra Missipo 67), Zenia Mertens, Laura Deloose; Jill Janssens, Justine Vanhaevermaet, Janice Cayman; Marie Detruyer, Tessa Wullaert (Capt), Jarne Teulings (Maram Toloba 84)

Republic of Ireland: Grace Moloney; Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe (Capt); Ruesha Littlejohn (Anna Patten HT), Denise O'Sullivan (Lucy Quinn 90), Marissa Sheva; Emily Murphy (Abbie Larkin 61), Kyra Carusa

Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France)

Attendance: 7,038

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