Katie McCabe, the 27-year-old captain of Ireland, scored an impressive goal early in the match against Canada in the Women’s World Cup.
She skillfully curled the ball into the net from a corner, making it a standout moment in the tournament.
Despite McCabe’s strong leadership and performance throughout the cold and windy night, her team was unable to score again. The Olympic champions fought back and prevented Ireland from advancing to the knockout stage.
“With the rain and the wind, it obviously helped the ball swing into the back of the net.”
“(I was) delighted to see it go in and get us off to a good start, it was obviously bittersweet because we lost the game,” the left-footer told reporters after the match.
In the fourth minute, McCabe scored Ireland’s first-ever goal in a World Cup. Her teammates celebrated with her as the well-placed ball managed to get past Canada’s goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan.
“It was just about putting it in the area where it’s going to be difficult for the goalkeeper,” she added.
Ireland will regret their missed chances in this tournament as they lost 1-0 to Australia due to a penalty and an own goal that allowed Canada to equalize. In the 53rd minute, Canada’s Adriana Leon scored the decisive goal with a skillful toe-poke.
“We’ll pick ourselves up, we’re obviously disappointed but we want to end this tournament on a high and we’ll be giving it everything we can do to that against Nigeria (on Monday),” McCabe said.
“This is our first ever major tournament and I know for a fact, given the performances we’ve put in it won’t be our last.”
“I want young girls and young boys in Ireland to dream and look up to us because it could be them one day sitting here playing (for) and representing their country.”
The midfielder from Arsenal fought valiantly to maintain Ireland’s chances, misfiring a shot in the 79th minute and skillfully evading Quinn from Canada three minutes later, but unfortunately, his strike from outside the penalty area had too much height.
“You can see on everything she does that it is on a different level, she was by far the best player today,” Ireland coach Vera Pauw said.
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