Ireland were left holding out for a couple of positives after they were soundly beaten by the world champions in Pasadena.
Caretaker Ireland boss Tom O’Connor was always facing a tough task on Saturday night as he took his newly inherited side to face the USA at the Rose Bowl. The game was the first of what the Americans have dubbed the ‘Victory Tour’ after they won the World Cup in France, in June.
Over 37,000 fans headed along to the Rose Bowl to salute the world champs and the atmosphere was not dampened too much by the playing absence of Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd.
O’Connor brought Niamh Farrelly and Jess Gargan into the Irish XI, joining familiar faces such as Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn and captain Katie McCabe.
The Republic of Ireland team, back row, form left, Niamh Farrelly, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Marie Hourihan, Jess Gargan and Niamh Fahey, with front row, Claire O’Riordan, Harriet Scott, Katie McCabe, Heather Payne and Amber Barrett. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Sportsfile)Buoyed by a Florida crowd in party mood, with some swatches of Irish fans across the ground, the home side started strongly and effectively won the game in the opening 45 minutes. Tobin Heath grabbed the opener for the USA as she beat Harriet Scott to a looped cross to the back post and headed home.
Amber Barrett came closest to scoring for Ireland but her curled effort, on 22 minutes, whistled past the far post. On 31 minutes, the hosts doubled their lead when Lindsey Horan ghosted into the box and stroked the ball past Marie Hourihan.
Some last-ditch defending and a couple of smart Hourihan saves kept Ireland in the contest until, just before half-time, when Carli Lloyd towered above Diane Caldwell and Harriet Payne to head home her 114th international goal.
Carli Lloyd headed home her 114th(!!) international goal against Ireland last night pic.twitter.com/KkB3s8qEp2
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 4, 2019
3-0 at the break and the game all but over, both managers used the second half to see some new faces. While the Americans were able to send on the likes of Rose Lavelle and Ali Krieger, who impressed at the World Cup, O’Connor was handing out a debut to 17-year-old Eabha O’Mahony.
“It’s 3-0 and no one likes to lose,” O’Connor said, “but I think you have to put it in context. We’re playing against the world champions in their home match, on their victory tour. Overall, I’m very, very pleased with the performance and the way the girls played tonight.”
Ireland are back in competitive action, in a European Championship qualifier, against Montenegro on September 3.
