Match Report: Greece 0 - 4 Republic of Ireland

✍️Chloe Newman

After a sluggish and turgid first half, Republic of Ireland regroup to earn a crucial three points over Greece in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

📸via BBC Sport

Ireland celebrated their second win in the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League taking them to six points. While Greece is fourth and yet to pick up a point. Carla Ward makes four changes from the Slovenia humbling which includes McCabe initially having to be content with a place on the bench as Tyler Toland was drafted into midfield. Megan Campbell replaced injured Everton player Heather Payne at full-

back with Jessie Stapleton stepping in from Megan Connolly at centre-half and Leanne Kiernan coming into the attack as Barrett was dropped to the bench. Second half goals from Marissa Sheva, Kyra Carusa, Jessie Stapleton and Amber Barrett were crucial in Irelands victory.

However, the changes didn’t work in the opening half as Ireland looked sluggish and struggled with fluency in the first half and looking disjointed against Greece. Ireland were caught on the break a number of times in Slovenia and it was clear what Greece were intending to do as they were able to move the ball quickly into the opponent's half and came close on numerous occasions. During this matchup, Greece were looking the more purposeful side as they had the better chances. Anna Patten makes an important block in the box in the 20th minute as Eleni Sarch got a shot away, but Courtney Brosnan had some outstanding moments including saving this shot.

The best chance in the first half came on for Greece as Ireland’s sloppy first half was summed up by Quinn losing possession on the halfway line to Sarri in the 33rd minute with the Everton player able to run unchallenged into the edge of the box before Sarri puts it inches over the bar before the referee later blew for a goalless first-half.

However, the visitors were completely transformed by the changes at half-time in- fact they used the back-up plan which worked within four minutes. McCabe and Sheva sparkled an energetic second half that Ireland took control of, but they needed an element of luck to break the deadlock. Moments later Sheva’s deflected shot fizzled into the back of the net which completely flatfooted keeper Zoi Nasi.

McCabe was then booked for a clumsy challenge on Stamatia Ntarzanou. But then moments later McCabe set up Irelands second goal of the day as Carusa couldn’t miss after Nasi had parried Kiernan's volley following a fantastic McCabe cross. Greece suddenly looked deflated as Stapleton looped in a third goal from a header from one of McCabe's cross'. Katie McCabe's introduction at half-time proved to be

decisive, having a world class star like McCabe offered Ward an escape route from the flatness of the game.

Barrett then came on to celebrated her 50th cap then moments later she scored on her 50th cap with a lovely low driven shot, for her eighth goal at senior-international level and proved to be the clinical one . Denise O'Sullivan led the team out as captain on her 122nd international appearance which moves her up to the second highest capped Ireland player of all-time. O’sullvian came close twice in the later stages but got unlucky. Subsite, Abbie Larkin also had the ball in the back of the net in the second half, but Carusa was adjudged to be offside from a McCabe delivery during the build up.

On a couple of occasions, Courtney Brosnan was required to repel shots to keep Irelands clean sheet.

Second-half deluge goes some way to atoning for last months loss by the same score-line in Slovenia. Irelands second half dominance against Greece is imperative for Tuesday evening in Dublin at Tallaght Stadium at 7:30pm, where they hope to claim the top spot in the group and claim all three points and Greece will be hoping for a completely different score-line. This was a very important victory for the

'Girls in Green' after losing away last month in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.