Ireland Women's Under-17s drew 1-1 with Portugal in the Estadio Municpal Engenheiro Silvio Henriques Cerveira, Anadia on Tuesday morning.This was the final game of three international friendlies for James Scott's team. The first game, a 3-0 loss to Poland, and then the second game, a 3-1 win to Scotland.This game began quite evenly, with both teams just figuring each other out and getting a feel for it. In the fifth minute, Hazel Donegan had the opportunity to break, and did well to earn a corner. On eight minutes, Kiera Sena won a free-kick just outside the box. Lauryn McCabe stepped up, but her shot on goal went just over the bar. In the 21st minute, Katie Lawlee released Sena down the left wing. The left-back put in a dangerous ball into the box which just skipped by substitute Aoibhe Brennan.40 minutes in, McCabe tried her luck after cutting in from the left side, but Portuguese keeper Mendonca did well to hold the ball.In the 56th minute, a penalty was given to Portugal after Lillie Quinlivan-Coulson was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Portugal’s Vicente slotted the ball away into the left-hand side to put Portugal ahead.On 62 minutes, Clodagh Daly’s lobbed free-kick found Brennan who took on the shot first time, but was saved by Mendonca.
FT | Lots of positives to take for the #IRLWU17’s as it finishes in a draw in Portugal 👊#COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/zQ6LA4RvLF
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 5, 2023
A looping ball over the top by Lawlee found Katie O’Reilly who was adjudged to be pushed in the back in the box. Lawlee struck home to level the game in the 73rd minute. Ireland were forced into defensive mode for the last quarter of the game, with Portugal heaping on the pressure and goalkeeper Enya Carthy making some impressive saves. One coming in the 82nd minute when she made a point blank save to deny Portugal’s Florentino.In the 93rd minute, Carthy came off her line to make a brilliant save to deny Nave, and in the last seconds of the game, the Irish goalkeeper made another fantastic save at her near-post to deny Portugal the winner. The game finished in a draw, with lots of positives to take for Scott’s side heading into the UEFA European Championship Qualifiers in October.Ireland: Clodagh Fitzgerald (Enya Carthy 46); Kiera Sena, Lillie Quinlivan Coulson, Clodagh Daly, Keeva Flynn; Eve O’Carroll (Amy Tierney 78), Anna Hegarty, Lauryn McCabe (Hannah O’Brien 68); Katie Lawlee (C), Sorcha Melia (Aoibhe Brennan 8), Hazel Donegan (Katie O’Reilly 46). Portugal: Mendonca, Lobo, Sousa, Simoes, Maisa, Goncalves, Rego, Ribeiro (C), Martins, Melo, Vicente.
