Ruesha Littlejohn played a starring role for Republic of Ireland in the side’s 1-0 UEFA European Championship qualifying Group I victory over Greece.
The versatile West Ham United attacking midfielder played 86 minutes for her nation on Thursday evening, putting in a masterclass to help her team to a crucial win.
The Hammers’ No16 enjoyed the best of Ireland’s early opportunities, whistling a shot over the crossbar from distance, before The Girls in Green tool the lead through Louise Quinn, who slotted in from Katie McCabe’s free-kick.
90 Mins | ?? 1-0 ??
— FAIreland ⚽️?? (@FAIreland) March 5, 2020
Congratulations to Ruesha Littlejohn ?#IRLGRE#COYGIG pic.twitter.com/2NJauh51rO
Littlejohn pulled the strings all evening for Ireland in an exquisite individual performance and was unfortunate not to find the net for her side on her 55th appearance for her country. Her fellow Hammer Courtney Brosnan was an unused substitute for Ireland in the midweek win.
The victory keeps Ireland unbeaten in Group I as they seek to reach next summer’s UEFA Women’s European Championship finals, with three wins and a draw from four matches played. They sit second behind leaders Germany, who have won four out of four and scored 31 goals without reply. Only the nine group winners and three best second-place nations qualify automatically for the tournament, which will be held in England next summer, with three play-off winners joining them.
Elsewhere, Grace Fisk got her first taste of an England matchday as she was an unused substitute for Phil Neville’s Lionesses in a 2-0 defeat to the USA.
The defender watched from the bench, having linked up with the senior squad for the first time for the SheBelieves Cup, as Christen Press and Carli Lloyd scored in quick succession in the second half.
Fisk, 22, will hope to feature when England take on Japan in New Jersey on Sunday.
