FT: Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
That’s all from me. Thanks for joining us.
You can read Gavin Cummiskey’s full match report here:
We’ll be back here on Tuesday to do it all again.
Until then, have a lovely weekend.
Player of the match, Ireland captain Katie McCabe spoke with RTÉ after the win:
“We got the result, and that’s what matters in the end. But for us, from a performance point of view, we have to be miles better going into Tuesday. I felt we didn’t move the ball quick enough, we didn’t move Turkey quick enough, and allow them to kind of get in the game, and some sloppy mistakes, it’s just gives them that sniff to go forward.
“So for us it’s a big one for us to rest and recover, but we need a massive improvement if we’re going to beat Slovenia on Tuesday.”
On Turkey’s goal, she added: “(It was) too cheap to give away, especially at this level. If we want to be pushing for Group A in the Nations League we can’t be conceding goals like that. We gave them way too much space and we’ll be really disappointed at that. We need to review the game and see where we can be better, close those spaces a lot more and take more care of the ball.”
And of course, there had to be a mention of last weekend’s glory: “It was a massive result for us and for the club last week in Lisbon so we were absolutely ecstatic becoming champions. But for me, obviously you enjoy the celebrations, but it was full focus on these two games and I said to Carla when I came in I’m ready to play and give it all for the team.”
FT: Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
So all roads lead to Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Tuesday, where a win over Slovenia is the aim to pull level with them on 15 points.
However, the visitors have more goals in their favour, so Ireland need to win by more than four to go ahead in the table standings and take that all-important League A automatic qualification spot.
It’s a tall ask for Carla Ward’s side, but Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been a happy hunting ground for this team in the past.
FT: Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
In the day’s other Group 2 game, Slovenia took a 2-0 win over Greece, so the standings remain unchanged:
Slovenia – 15 pts
Republic of Ireland – 12 pts
Turkey – 3 pts
Greece – 0 pts
FT: Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
A positive result that hides the reality of much of the encounter.
Ireland were more assertive in the second half, presenting a much stronger challenge in front of goal, but it all turned on a mistake from Turkey.
FT: Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
All over in Istanbul and it’s a win for Ireland.
FT: Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
94 mins: Turkey still dangerous going forward. Ireland’s defence have left their attack with too much space to manoeuvre all evening.
Ireland have been lucky with two late Turkey efforts being just off the mark.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
90 mins: Six minutes added to the end of the half.
Ireland need cool heads now.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
88 mins: IRELAND GOAL!
Emily Murphy puts Ireland in front at the death!
Long shot came in over Arzu Karabulut who slipped trying to bring the ball under control, leaving room for substitute Murphy to fire it home.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 2
86 mins: A heavy challenge ends in Katie McCabe being shown a yellow card. Turkey more than happy to let the clock run down.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 1
83 mins: Referee shows Turkey’s goalkeeper Selda Akgöz a yellow card for running down the clock.
A draw would be a positive result for the hosts, not so much for Ireland.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 1
79 mins: IRELAND GOAL!
Megan Campbell’s long sideline throw is flicked in over Selda Akgöz off the head of Busem Şeker for an own goal.
Unfortunate for Turkey, but we’ll take that!
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 1
75 mins: Katie McCabe drills a shot into the box, landing at the feet of Anna Patten. She wasn’t expecting it and the ball bounces off her and out.
Frustrating stuff.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
72 mins: Silly passing from Ireland. Murphy runs the wing and cuts in to send a pass the way of Carusa, who put it directly on to a Turkey defender.
Another change from Ward – Megan Campbell comes on for Lucy Quinn. Turkey’s goalscorer Kader Hançar is replaced by Melike Öztürk.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
66 mins: Ireland are relying on their set piece to challenge Turkey’s goal. The host’s have had their number so far, Carla Ward’s side need to make more in open play.
Turkey respond to Ireland’s changes, Miray Cin and Melike Pekel making way for Elif Keskin and Arzu Karabulut.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
65 mins: Ireland threaten from the corner flag but goalkeeper Selda Akgöz is sure in the air.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
63 mins: Ward’s changes have given Ireland more of an attacking presence. Now it’s Turkey who are coming under pressure, but Ireland need to start getting away some shots.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
58 mins: Dispossessions are plaguing Ireland. They’re looking to hold the ball but the passes aren’t sure.
Carla Ward makes three changes: Abbie Larkin, Marissa Sheva and Amber Barrett make way for Saoirse Noonan, Kyra Carusa and Emily Murphy.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
53 mins: Turkey aren’t allowing Denise O’Sullivan or Lucy Quinn an inch of room up front. Carla Ward’s side could do with a bit of the same, they’re living on the edge with a loose scramble defence.
O’Sullivan back on the attack, her shot pulls just left beyond the upright.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
51 mins: Katie McCabe sends a long shot in from a free but again Ireland can’t get anyone up to challenge in the box.
Down the other end, Turkey are making the most of Ireland’s disjointedness, piling on the pressure.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
48 mins: GOAL TURKEY.
The hosts back themselves to play the ball out of defence and there’s a long run up the wing by İlayda Civelek to find Kader Hançar who drills past Courtney Brosnan.
Trouble for Ireland. They need a quick reply.
Turkey 1 Republic of Ireland 0
Just about to get back under way.
One change for Ireland, Caitlin Hayes comes in for Aoife Mannion.
Denise O’Sullivan gets the second half started.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
HALF-TIME: Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
Nervy times for Carla Ward. Ireland were the stronger side to start but as Turkey grew into the game Ireland’s defence was found wanting at times.
Big second half needed from Ireland.
45 mins: Amber Barrett is left with too tight an angle to let off her shot after finding herself on the end of a perfect pass from Abbie Larkin.
Ireland are starting to pile on some pressure in front of goal but the half-time goal puts an end to that for now.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
41 mins: Denise O’Sullivan pulls a pass back for Katie McCabe who lets the pass fly. Selda Akgöz does well to get her fingers to it and send it out.
From the corner McCabe puts in another dangous cross, but Turkey again manage to clear their lines.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
39 mins: Messy in front of Ireland’s goal. Miray Cin gets a shot off from the left and Courtney Brosnan manages the save. The rebound finds Ebru Topçu, but her shot is blocked by Aoife Mannion. A let off for the visitors.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
36 mins: Clever pass from Amber Barrett for Denise O’Sullivan but it’s just beyond her.
Civelek is shown a yellow for fouling O’Sullivan, who’s none too impressed.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
35 mins: McCabe’s corner is easily dealt with and Turkey play the ball out.
Marissa Sheva and Melike Pekel have a coming together and the Turkey player stays down giving us a quick breather.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
32 mins: Lucy Quinn sent an impressive shot in long that Turkey’s goalkeeper Selda Akgöz is forced to send over the crossbar.
McCabe steps up for the corner.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
29 mins: O’Sullivan finding herself isolated with little by way of support as she’s swamped by three Turkey players as she tries to run the ball out of defence.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
26 mins: Amber Barrett will be hoping to add to her goal tally, but her run is called offside.
Down the other end, Turkey treathen with a dangerous cross in front of Courtney Brosnan’s goal, but luckily for Ireland there’s no receiver and Lucy Quinn does well to cover back.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
25 mins: Another attacking free-kick comes to nothing for Ireland as they struggle to make some headway up front.
Denise O’Sullivan’s been strong in the midfield for Ireland, but she’s under the close watch of İlayda Civelek.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
18 mins: Katie McCabe steps up to take a free and she hangs a ball into the box for Jessie Stapleton who gets to it but is under pressure and doesn’t manage to draw it down.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
16 mins: Soft free called against Abbie Larkin as Turkey look to inject some tempo into the game.
Turkey’s Kader Hançar gets a little overzealous to get to an oncoming high ball and her push in the back on Jessie Stapleton brings a free and Ireland get the chance to clear.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
13 mins: Good cover from Mannion as Turkey mount their attack.
The home side are starting to find their rhythm going forward.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
11 mins: McCabe spots a nice pass to Sheva on the left wing but the return pass isn’t accurate. Turkey bring it back up the field and draw a free at midway.
Courtney Brosnan called in to early action to stop a dangerous long shot. She takes it to the body and it’s under control.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
7 mins: First corner for Ireland and Megan Connolly steps up. Floats the ball in but there’s no receiver and Turkey play it out with minimal effort.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
5 mins: O’Sullivan unlucky to be awarded a free kick after she’s tripped on the attack.
Ireland sitting back and really slowing play trying to draw Turkey out of shape.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
4 mins: Stead start from Ireland, looking comfortable to hold possession in the opening minutes.
Denise O’Sullivan nearly threads it through the Turkey defence but they’re ready for her and she’s disposed on the run.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
0 mins: And we’re under way.
Turkey 0 Republic of Ireland 0
Anthems are done and dusted and we’re ready to get under way in Istanbul.
Just a quick word on how the Nations League promotion/relegation works before the teams hits the turf.
There are four groups in League B, the four group winners will gain automatic promotion to the top-flight League A for next season.
Elsewhere in Group B2, Slovenia are hosting Greece in Ljubljana.
It’s 1-0 at half-time after Zara Kramžar put the hosts with a goal in the 24th minute.
Speaking to RTÉ ahead of the game, Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward has described this as a “must win” fixture ahead of next Tuesday’s visit of table-toppers Slovenia to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Ward said she’s confident Katie McCabe will be able to produce a strong performance for the team after a hectic week with her club, and asked whether Louise Quinn might make an appearance of the bench, “you never know”.
Here’s how Turkey line out:
Selda Akgöz (capt); Busem Şeker, Gülbin Hız, Sejde Abrahamsson, İlayda Civelek, Ebru Topçu, Meryem Çal, Melike Pekel, Ece Türkoğlu, Miray Cin, Kader Hançar.
Substitutes: Ezgi Çağlar, Fatma Şahin, Kucukbirinci, Didem Karagenç, Eda Karataş, Arzu Karabulut, Melike Öztürk, Halle Houssein, Kezban Tağ, Başak İçinözbebek, Elif Keskin, Fatma Şakar.
And Ireland have a newly-crowned Champions League winner in their midst.
Captain fantastic Katie McCabe reached the top of European football with her club Arsenal last weekend after the Gunners snatched a 1-0 win over Barcelona in Lisbon.
After a healthy dose of celebrating – Champions League medals are hard to come by after all – the Dubliner got a warm welcome back to camp when she linked up the Irish the squad on Tuesday.
Katie abú.
Mary Hannigan took a look back over McCabe’s career so far:
[ Katie McCabe’s story: How gifted Dubliner reached top level of European soccerOpens in new window ]
Ireland hosted Turkey at Tallaght Stadium in their opening group game back in February, Kyra Carusa netting on the cusp of half time to put the home side ahead.
[ Ireland secure victory against Turkey from the jaws of inaccuracyOpens in new window ]
Next up for the Girls in Green was the defeat to Slovenia, but they bounced back to crush (an albeit poor) Greece 4-0 in Heraklion at the start of April, before coming away with a 2-1 win in the return leg.
Focusing on the game at hand, Mary Hannigan writes: “After the scare Turkey gave her side in Tallaght back in February, in what was her first game as Republic of Ireland manager, Carla Ward will be the last to take victory in Istanbul on Friday evening for granted.
“It comes close enough, though, to being a ‘must-win’ game for Ireland if they are to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion back to the Nations League’s top flight.”
Read Mary’s full Turkey v Republic of Ireland preview below:
Here’s Ireland’s starting XI to face Turkey:
C Brosnan; K McCabe (capt), A Patten, J Stapleton, A Mannion; M Sheva, M Connolly, D O’Sullivan; Lucy Quinn, A Barrett, A Larkin.
Substitutes: G Moloney, S Whitehouse, M Campbell, Louise Quinn, T Toland, R Littlejohn, E Healy, C Hayes, K Carusa, S Noonan, E Murphy, C Mustaki.
How are things looking in Group B2? That’s Nations League B, Group 2 for those of us not learned in Uefa’s bothersome naming convention.
Well, not too bad actually. Carla Ward’s team sit second on nine points, three adrift of leaders Slovenia.
Ireland have taken three wins and a loss so far in their Nations League campaign, the defeat being that painful 4-0 away trip to Slovenia in February.
Today’s opponents are third on three points, while poor old Greece are bottom of the Group 2 pile with not a point to show for themselves after four games.
No team news just yet, so let’s remind ourselves of Ireland’s squad while we wait.
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton).
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton), Louise Quinn (Unattached), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached), Katie McCabe (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne).
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Erin Healy (Adelaide United).
Nations League B, Group 2: Turkey v Republic of Ireland, Esenler Erok Stadium, Istanbul (kick-off 6pm Irish time)
Key Reads:
- Turkey v Republic of Ireland preview
- ‘I’m here to play’: Republic of Ireland defender Louise Quinn aims to go out on a high in Nations League ties
- Katie McCabe’s story: How gifted Dubliner reached top level of European soccer
Afternoon everyone. Welcome along to The Irish Times live blog for the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League game against Turkey.
Carla Ward’s side are away this time around, having previously beaten Turkey 1-0 in Tallaght back in February, when Kyra Carusa provided the match-winning goal.
The Girls in Green are in Istanbul, Esenler Erok Stadium to be exact, where they will be a 6pm (Irish time) kick-off.
Follow along here for live updates on all the action. The game is also being televised live on RTÉ2.
