England Women took another step towards qualifying for Euro 2025 with an unconvincing 2-1 triumph over already-relegated Ireland Women at Carrow Road.
Starting the night third in League A Group 3 - level on points with Sweden and two adrift of leaders France - the reigning European champions went ahead early doors through Alessia Russo, but their visitors grew into the game as the half wore on.
A Georgia Stanway penalty early in the second half would ostensibly set England on their way to a stress-free success, but Sarina Wiegman's outfit had their clean sheet wiped out right at the end courtesy of a Julie-Ann Russell volley.
The 33-year-old's last-gasp consolation sparked some heart-warming elation for an Ireland side who arrived with zero points and will also leave with zero points, but Eileen Gleeson's side put in a performance to be proud of at Norwich City's turf.
The Lionesses' nervy victory comes two days before the men bid to emulate their run to Euro 2022 stardom, and Gareth Southgate's side will be aiming for a similar scoreline against Spain at the Olympiastadion on Sunday.
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The build-up is 𝒆𝒙𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 💫
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 12, 2024
Alessia Russo finishes a wonderful move for England 🏴@alessiarusso7 | @Lionesses pic.twitter.com/3JnlqYrdxE
Only five minutes had passed by the time that the Lionesses asserted their dominance at Carrow Road, where Sarina Wiegman had two of her Arsenal stars to thank for a well-worked opening strike.
First, it was Keira Walsh and Stanway who enjoyed a crisp one-two in the centre of the park, and the latter proceeded to storm the Ireland backline before laying off Beth Mead.
The Arsenal winger subsequently played the most nonchalant of first-time passes into the feet of fellow Gunner Russo, who beat the offside trap, skipped past Courtney Bosnan and clinically fired home into an empty net.
Clinical Stanway spot kick kills Ireland comeback
A right mess at the back for Republic of Ireland 😫
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England are awarded a penalty which is confidently dispatched by Georgia Stanway 🙌@Lionesses | @StanwayGeorgia pic.twitter.com/yJi6ANZ2Fg
Despite deservedly breaking the deadlock through Russo's well-worked goal, the Lionesses emulated their male counterparts against Serbia and Denmark at Euro 2024 - failing to build on a one-goal advantage and nearly letting their opponents back into the contest.
However, Ireland were the victims of their own downfall early in the second half, where Brosnan - well out of her goal - tried to play out from the back with a short pass into an under-pressure Niamh Fahey, who was almost immediately robbed of possession by Lauren Hemp.
As the Manchester City winger advanced into the area, a desperate Fahey grabbed a handful of her shirt and gave referee Catarina Campos no choice but to point to the penalty spot, where Stanway settled any Lionesses nerves by coolly sending Brosnan the wrong way.
Ireland wipe out clean sheet with final attack
Republic of Ireland grab their first goal of the @WEURO2025 qualifiers 🇮🇪
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 12, 2024
England won't be happy throwing their clean sheet away 😣 pic.twitter.com/GKtSs3cf5G
As well as arriving on Norwich's turf with no points on the board from their opening four matches, Ireland had not even found the back of the net in the section, a run that would seemingly continue in torrid conditions.
However, deep into second-half injury time, England failed to deal with a long Megan Campbell throw into the corridor of uncertainty, and Caitlin Mary Hayes eventually flicked the ball forwards for the lurking Russell.
The 33-year-old had evaded the attention of Millie Bright and was being played onside by Niamh Charles - who was too concerned with Leanne Kiernan - allowing her to hook a well-taken volley past Hannah Hampton and break Ireland's scoring duck, much to their delight despite the scoreline.
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As England got the job done against Ireland, group leaders France also bested Sweden by the same scoreline, allowing the Lionesses to leapfrog the Scandinavian nation into second place with 10 points to their name, two adrift of the French.
Wiegman's troops have three full days to recover before heading to Gothenburg to face Sweden, where they only need to avoid defeat to ensure direct qualification for Euro 2025 as runners-up, but a loss would bump them down to third and force them to go through the playoffs.
On the other hand, should England prevail on Tuesday and France - whom they have an identical head-to-head record with - draw with suffer a shock loss to Ireland, Wiegman's side will qualify as group winners.
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