Ireland set up huge game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh after late drama in Istanbul
Ireland’s Emily Murphy celebrates scoring their second goal late in Istanbul. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Ireland staged a dramatic late comeback to set up a winner-takes-all game in the race for automatic promotion with Slovenia at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh by coming from behind in Istanbul in the Women’s Nations League.
Emily Murphy’s first international goal in the dying seconds of normal time completed a dramatic turnaround that started with an own goal in the 80th minute. The Girls in Green are now three points behind the group leaders, and they will go top next Tuesday by outscoring Slovenia four times in Cork.
It didn’t look like this was going to be the case as Turkey were the better team for large parts of the game, with the spark in Turkey being the introduction of Saoirse Noonan and Kyra Caursa on the hour mark after Kader Hancar opened the scoring.
The home side were started with intent, beginning with a driven effort by Sejde Abrahamson that went straight into the hands of Courtney Brosnan.
Ireland then went through a period in possession, but struggled to create a clear-cut chance.
Turkey kept going and Kader Hancar worked with Miray Cin to create room for an Ilayda Civelek cross that found Hancar, who went to ground as she picked up the ball.
Ireland responded with their first shot on target, and Lucy Quinn’s driven strike was pushed out for a corner by Selda Akgoz. Katie McCabe took the corner and the full-back’s in-swinging delivery was easily dealt with by the home side.
Both teams had opportunities to go in front at the break, and this started with Brosnan pushing away a low shot from Cin at the neat post in the 40th minute. McCabe tried her luck at the other end just 90 seconds later and this was scrambled off the goal-line by Turkey.
Things were opening up and Turkey took full advantage of this when Civelek squared to Hancar for a close-range finish in the 48th minute.
Ireland retaliated by winning a free-kick and Connolly's inviting ball-in was cleared as Caitlin Hayes and Anna Patten went for it.
Ward looked to the bench as a source of inspiration, and Noonan was one of those brought on in a bid to ignite a comeback.
The striker injected a much-needed level of pace into the Ireland forward line, which helped pull Turkey apart while players like McCabe ran into the channels in wide positions.
Megan Campbell also came off the bench, and her long throws created havoc inside the box, and one of those was turned in by Busem Seker for the equaliser.
This re-energised Ireland, who sealed the victory when Abrahamson slipped inside the area and Murphy got in to score.
Selda Akgoz; Busem Seker, Gulbin Hiz, Sejde Abrahamson, Ilayda Civelek; Ebru Topcu, Meryem Cal, Melike Pekel, Ece Turkoglu, Miray Cin, Kader Hancar.
Elif Keskin for Cin (68); Arzu Karabulut for Pekel (68), Melike Ozturk for Hancar (75), Eda Karatas for Turkoglu (83).
Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe, Megan Connolly, Denise O'Sullivan, Marissa Sheva; Lucy Quinn, Amber Barrett, Abbie Larkin.
Caitlin Hayes for Mannion (HT); Emily Murphy for Barrett (60), Kyra Carusa for Sheva (60), Saoirse Noonan for Larkin (60), Megan Campbell for Quinn (74).
Kristina Georgieva (Bulgaria).
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