FT: Netherlands 2-1 IrelandIt’s a first win of the campaign for the Dutch but for Ireland, it’s now zero points from their opening two games as they return from Utrecht empty handed.
Lineth Beerensteyn’s double denies Ireland a point and Carla Ward will be hugely frustrated with the manner of their two concessions, as Aoife Mannion lost the goalscorer for the first before she outmuscled Courtney Brosnan from a corner for the winner.
Ward’s side did put it up to the 2017 European Champions and will look back on Caitlin Hayes’ header off the line, and Katie McCabe’s wasted second-half chance, and think of what could have been had they found the net. While there will be some positives to take, as there were on Tuesday, that counts for nothing in the table as Ireland finish the opening window bottom of the group.
Next month’s double-header against Poland is now critical if the Girls in Green are to secure third in the group, and a better draw for the World Cup play-offs later this year.
We’ll have the latest reaction from Utrecht here shortly.