Featured Image Credit: ITV Football/Twitter
Topics: Republic of Ireland, Womens Football, Womens World Cup
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Republic of Ireland, Womens Football, Womens World Cup
Katie McCabe opened the scoring for Republic of Ireland in their Women's World Cup clash against Canada on Wednesday with a goal of the tournament contender.
The 27-year-old winger, who plays her club football for Women's Super League side Arsenal, caught Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan out with a swinging delivery from the right-hand side.
As you can see from the footage below, McCabe netted an Olimpico goal [a corner kick that scores without being touched by another player] after the ball sailed over Sheridan's head.
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It took just three minutes and 36 seconds for the Ireland captain to give Vera Pauw's side an advantage at the Perth Rectangular Stadium – and my word what a strike it was.
You can see that goal below.
Here's how social media reacted to the scenes in Perth.
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One fan said: "That was a cracking corner kick…genius. As a neutral observer absolutely top shelf," while another commented: "Katie McCabe adding another amazing goal to her compilation."
A third wrote: "Goals directly from corners will never be good goals, just goalkeepers not doing their job."
A fourth commented: "Captain Katie Mccabe scoring Ireland’s first goal at their first ever World Cup, it’s so so deserved."
A fifth added: "There’s something so special about Katie McCabe getting Ireland's first ever World Cup goal."
Ahead of the Group B clash against Canada, media outlet news.com.au criticised McCabe for her style of play in their opener against Australia; a game they went on to lose 1-0.
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“Irish captain Katie McCabe sparks controversy with aggressive play against Matildas in tournament opener,” they wrote.
“Ireland’s controversial captain Katie McCabe sparked a biff with the Matildas and sent the football world into a frenzy with one incident."
Ireland manager Vera Pauw, however, brushed off those suggestions while speaking to reporters.
“Australia are very powerful, I don’t know how many fouls were given,” she said. “We had to take the heat out of it a bit but there was the same proportion on both sides.
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“We try to play within the rules of the game and one of the key things in training we always try to play without fouls. I don’t know how many fouls there were today."
Pauw added: “But we are a team that is battling, we are Irish, the DNA of the team is to battle. There was a few challenges from both sides and that was just before half time.”