Germany 2-0 Republic of Ireland

Germany inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Republic of Ireland in Heidenheim as Sue Ronan's charges finished their 2015 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign in third place in Group 1.  

European Champions Germany, ranked second in the world, won all ten of their qualifiers, while Ireland were edged out by Russia for second spot in the group.

After conceding two goals in a six-minute spell midway through the first half, the Irish regrouped and kept the Germans scoreless for the rest of the game.

The visitors almost pinched a goal in the second half when Louise Quinn headed narrowly wide.

The opening German goal followed Ireland’s best chance of the first half.

A Megan Campbell free-kick on the edge of the Germany penalty area failed to beat the wall and when Julie Ann Russell’s effort from the rebound was charged down, the home side swept forward on the counter-attack. The fluid move was finished off by Melanie Behringer, who hammered the ball past Emma Byrne in the Ireland goal.

Worse was to follow six minutes later as Behringer shanked a shot across the penalty area, and Celia Sasic showed tremendous skill and composure in volleying past Byrne into the roof of the net.

Ireland regrouped after that and Quinn went close to pulling a goal back after the restart when she headed a Campbell free-kick just past the post with Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer at full stretch.

The Germans had chances to add to their total but found the Irish hard to break down. When they did breach the Ireland defence they found Byrne in imperious form as she produced a string of top-class saves.

Germany head to the World Cup in Canada next summer while Ireland will turn their attention to preparations for Euro 2017. 

Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne (Arsenal); Áine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Niamh Fahey (Arsenal), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves); Shannon Smyth (Amazon Grimstad). Dora Gorman (UCD Waves), Megan Campbell (Florida State University), Ruesha Littlejohn (Sandviken), Fiona O’Sullivan (Notts County), Julie Ann Russell (UCD Waves).

Subs: Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City) for F O’Sullivan (64), Stephanie Roche (ASPTT Albi) for Russell (72), Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Littlejohn (89).

Germany: Angerern (GK) (C), Peter, Krahn, Kemme, Laudehr (Faisst 46), Behringer, Marozsán, Hendrich, Leupolz (Henning (69), Mittag, Sasic (Bajramaj 46)

Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)