Irish women beat Germany!

World Student Games Bangkok

Ireland 1-0 Germany

Irish women shock Germany

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Date: Thursday, 09 August 2007 Section: Womens (Senior)

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THE Irish women’s team caused the shock of the tournament at the World University Games in Bangkok today when they defeated the highly fancied Germans thanks to an early goal from Emma Mullen. After just five minutes, Mullen sprung the German offside trap to race on to a perfectly weighted through ball from Shannon Smith and then showed tremendous composure in coolly lobbing the ball over the advancing keeper into the corner of the net.

The Germans, who had opened up the tournament with an impressive 4-0 win over hosts Thailand on Tuesday, couldn’t find a way through the solid Irish defence in which centre back Niamh Fahy, an FAI scholarship student at NUI Galway, was outstanding. Others to impress were full backs Emma Griffin and Maire Curtin while midfielders Edel Malone and Emma Mullen worked tirelessly.

After the match Ireland team manager Noel King said he was delighted with the result.
“This will send shockwaves through women’s football throughout the world because everybody knows the strength and talent at the Germans disposal. Every player on this team plays for a Bundesliga club so this is a massive win for us.

“The girls were fantastic. They were very unlucky on Tuesday against North Korea as they conceded two goals in the final five minutes but once they got their noses in front today they were determined to stay there. This result puts us right back in the competition.”

Ireland now face Thailand on Saturday knowing that a win would leave them in with a chance of finishing in the top two and qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Ireland: Sarah Peters; Emma Griffin, Niamh Fahy, Meabh De Burca, Marie Curtin; Edel Malone, Emma Mullen, Sonya Hughes, Victoria Mallet; Shannon Smyth.
Sub: Tara Mahon for Emma Mullen (60 mins).