Sheva's Late Strike Secures Vital Win for Republic of Ireland Against Poland
Republic of Ireland made significant strides towards securing third place in Group A2 of their World Cup qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Poland at the Aviva Stadium. The match, attended by over 18,000 fans, saw Marissa Sheva score the decisive goal just four minutes before halftime, marking her fifth international goal. This win follows a previous hard-fought 3-2 victory against the Poles in Gdansk, and it solidifies Ireland's position with a five-point lead over Poland, as they aim to finish third and potentially secure a more favorable play-off draw for next year’s tournament in Brazil. Key moments in the match included: Poland's early chance at the 13-minute mark with Nadia Kreyzman breaking down the left, setting up Ewa Pajor, whose attempt hit the side-netting. Denise O'Sullivan nearly scored for Ireland shortly after, hitting the crossbar with a deflected cross, while Sheva missed the follow-up. The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when Kyra Carusa delivered a low cross that Kinga Szemik, the Polish goalkeeper, inadvertently assisted into Sheva's path, allowing her to slide in and score. In the second half, Megan Connolly tested Szemik with a long-range shot, and Denise O'Sullivan struck the woodwork again with a clever volley. Poland's closest chance came late in the game, but a scuffed effort from Pajor in the 87th minute was not enough to change the outcome, as Ireland held on for a crucial win.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-18