Scotland Women vs Republic of Ireland Women. Women's World Cup Qualifying Play-off Round 2.
Hampden ParkAttendance10,708.
Amber Barrett's 72nd-minute strike for Republic of Ireland enough to see off Scotland at Hampden Park and book their place at next year's tournament in Australia and New Zealand; Scotland's Caroline Weir misses early penalty
Wednesday 12 October 2022 11:04, UK
Amber Barrett came off the bench to send the Republic of Ireland to the Women's World Cup finals for the first time in their history with a 1-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.
Barrett's 72nd-minute strike - just four minutes after coming on - was enough to secure victory at Hampden Park and book their place at next year's tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Real Madrid star Caroline Weir had a first-half penalty saved as the Scots struggled to assert themselves and saw their own hopes of emulating their 2019 finals appearance perish.
Both sides started the night unsure of their respective fates but results elsewhere cleared up the situation and left Republic of Ireland clear that a win would be enough to seal their place in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Scotland, whose fate was more complicated, got the first opportunity when Niamh Fairley handled the ball in the box in the 19th minute, but Weir's weak spot-kick was well saved by Courtney Brosnan.
Martha Thomas had a second penalty appeal turned down five minutes later as Scotland pressed, but the hosts had a lucky escape on the half-hour mark when Megan Campbell's long throw ended up in the net but was ruled out because it had evaded everyone in the box.
Republic of Ireland ended the first half well on top, with Aine O'Gorman somehow steering a free header over the bar from six yards, followed by a mighty goalmouth scramble in which Fairley and Lily Agg were among those who saw shots cleared off the line.
Scotland regrouped in the second half, with Fiona Brown firing wide and Weir and Claire Emslie also coming close, before Barrett staged her dramatic intervention.
With her first touch, she picked up the ball deep in the Scotland half and pressed forward to fire a superb shot past Gibson and ultimately make World Cup history for her team.
The result means Scotland will miss out on two consecutive major championships having qualified for Euro 2017 and the World Cup two years later.
Earlier in the evening, Wales suffered World Cup play-off heartbreak as Switzerland ended their finals dream with a last-gasp 2-1 extra-time victory in Zurich.
Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa told BBC Alba: "I'm very disappointed - for the girls, and for the whole nation. It was an incredible opportunity.
"I think the game was hard on us, but those things happen in life and in football. I apologise to the fans. We wanted to qualify for the World Cup so badly.
"We missed little details. We didn't score the penalty, and after that, I'm not sure how many opportunities the opposition had to score. The game plan was executed well. It was one action at one side of the box and another at the other side of the box that decided the game."
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe: "I'm so proud of the girls' performance. It wasn't pretty tonight at all, but it was an unbelievable save from Courtney for the penalty.
"We put our bodies on the line, we worked for each other, we ran for each other, and that's what this team is all about.
"We've got an identity we've been working on throughout this campaign. It's not pretty and it's not everyone's favourite style of football, but it works for us and we enjoy it."
