England secured a straightforward victory against the Republic of Ireland, edging closer to Euro 2025 qualification.
On a rainy night at Carrow Road, the Lionesses took an early lead when Alessia Russo rounded goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and slotted into an empty net after a precise first-time pass from Beth Mead.
They extended their lead in the second half through Georgia Stanway’s penalty after Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey brought down Lauren Hemp in the box.
The Republic of Ireland scored a consolation goal in the final moments as Julie Russell poked the ball past goalkeeper Hannah Hampton from close range after a scramble in the box.
The Lionesses dominated the early stages and could have scored more, but Jess Carter, Hemp, and Mead were all denied by Brosnan.
Despite a lack of ruthlessness in converting their chances, they accomplished their task and will secure their place in next year’s tournament if they avoid defeat against Sweden in their final qualifier.
Sarina Wiegman’s side, aiming to defend their European crown, travel to Gothenburg on Tuesday (18:00 BST), while the Republic of Ireland are still seeking their first point in qualifying when they face France next.
The top two teams in each League A group qualify automatically for Euro 2025, while the other two sides enter the play-offs.
England are currently second in the group after France beat Sweden 2-1 in Friday’s other match, with the Republic of Ireland at the bottom.
Job done for England despite late Republic of Ireland goal
England knew that winning their last two qualifying matches would secure their spot in Switzerland next year, and this victory was a crucial step toward that goal.
After a challenging year with inconsistent performances and results, this win felt more routine for England, even though the margin was just one goal.
They dominated for large periods and secured the early goal they needed, similar to their 2-0 victory in Dublin.
However, there were still moments of sloppiness, and it was not a flawless performance. A few lapses in concentration led to losing possession in dangerous areas in the first half, requiring goalkeeper Hampton to be alert. The midfield was also too passive at times.
A defensive error deep into stoppage time allowed Megan Campbell’s long throw to cause problems, with Tyler Toland’s flick-on being pounced on by Julie Russell, who turned and scored past Hampton.
Despite this, England remained a threat going forward. Manchester City midfielder Jess Park impressed but lacked a clinical edge in the penalty area. Mead was active in the first half, and Hemp made an impact on her return to her home city of Norwich by winning the penalty.
Overall, it was a performance that got the job done for England, rather than one that entertained.
For the Republic of Ireland, facing a group with three of the world’s top six ranked nations was always going to be tough. They are already set for a place in the play-offs.
They showed resilience in defense for much of the match and had a late consolation goal to celebrate. However, their next test against France on Tuesday will be another tough challenge, and they might end the qualifying campaign without a single point.