Match Centre: England 2-1 Republic of Ireland

Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway boosted England chances of automatic EURO 2025 qualification with a vital 2-1 win over Republic of Ireland at a sold-out Carrow Road.

Stanway’s second-half penalty proved decisive but it was a night of collective effort that secured the Lionesses’ first home win of the qualifying campaign. 

Russo gave England the lead inside five minutes, firing in from Beth Mead’s defence-splitting pass down the inside right channel.

Ireland scored a consolation in the 94th minute through Julie-Ann Russell, with what proved to be the last kick of the game.

England made a bright start and piled on the pressure from the first whistle and Russo’s strike meant the Lionesses have opened the scoring in eight successive matches.

However, neither team settled after Russo’s goal, and the scoreline remained 1-0 until the half-time whistle sounded.

Wiegman made a double defensive change after the break, as Millie Bright and Niamh Charles replaced Jess Carter and Leah Williamson, but England struggled to find their usual tempo in wet conditions.

Jess Park, who had a superb game, set up a big chance for Russo in the 50th minute, nutmegging Ruesha Littejohn but Russo was unable to finish.

But England soon had a penalty when Ireland’s Niamh Fahey who, dispossessed by Lauren Hemp in front of the goal, had no choice but to pull her down.

England’s designated penalty-taker Stanway was composed when she stepped up to the mark and wrong-footed Courntey Barnes to find the net.

The absence of goalkeeper Mary Earps saw 23-year-old Hannah Hampton step up to the mark and she saved a crucial cross-cum-shot from Aofie Mannion just moments after England’s penalty.

The reigning European champions managed to hold off a late Irish comeback as 33-year-old Russell swivelled on the edge of six-yard box to hook home against the flow of play.

England have now won nine of their 13 matches since losing to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, while the Girls in Green prop up the bottom of the table of Group A3 without a point.

England sit second in the table just behind France, with a total of 10 points to Les Bleues’ 12, and will now prepare for a trip to Sweden on Tuesday.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), 2 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 5 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 6 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), 3 Jess Carter (Chelsea), 8 Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), 4 Kiera Walsh (Barcelona), 10 Jess Park (Manchester City), 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), 9 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 7 Bethany Mead (Arsenal)

Substitutes: 13 Mary Earps (PSG), 21 Khiara Keating (Manchester City), 12 Lucy Bronze, 14 Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), 15 Millie Bright (Chelsea), 16 Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), 17 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), 18 Grace Clinton (Manchester United), 19 Niamh Charles (Chelsea), 20 Jess Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 22 Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), 23 Millie Turner (Manchester Unietd)

Goals: Russo 5’, Stanway 57’ (pen)

Coach: Sarina Wiegman

Republic of Ireland: 1 Courtney Brosnan, 14 Caitlin Hayes, 5 Niamh Fahey, 12 Anna Patten, 13 Aofie Mannion, 8 Ruesha Littlejohn, 10 Denise O’Sullivan (c) , 11 Jess Ziu, 17 Lily Agg, 9 Amber Barrett, 21 Emily Murphy

Substitutes: 16 Grace Moloney, 23 Sophie Whitehouse, 2 Jessie Stapleton, 3 Megan Campbell, 4 Louise Quinn, 6 Megan Connolly, 7 Julie-Ann Russell, 15 Tyler Toland, 18 Marissa Sheva, 19 Abbie Larkin, 20 Leanne Kiernan, 22 Isibeal Atkinson

Goals: Russell 90+4’

Yellow cards: Fahey 55’, Kiernan 81’

Coach: Eileen Gleeson