Several West Ham United Women’s players were in action on Tuesday 11 October, with some taking part in crucial FIFA 2023 World Cup qualifying play-off matches.
Here’s a rundown of how our Hammers got on…
The Republic of Ireland have qualified for their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup having beaten Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park. Lisa Evans played the full 90 minutes for Scotland in the defeat at Hampden Park, whilst Izzy Atkinson was not named in the matchday squad for Ireland.
Turbine Potsdam forward Amber Barrett scored the only goal of the game for Vera Pauw’s side to send them to their first major tournament.
Jess Ziu has featured heavily for the Girls in Green throughout their qualifying campaign, but wasn't available for selection due to injury.
Elsewhere, Iceland were beaten 4-1 by Portugal in one of the other World Cup play-off matches. Dagny Brynjarsdottir played 110 minutes of the contest at the Estádio da Mata Real in Paços de Ferreira, after the game had gone to extra time with the score at 1-1.
Iceland had to play much of the game with only ten players after 21-year-old defender Áslaug Munda Gunnlaugsdóttir had been sent off on 52 minutes – and the player advantage showed in extra time. Goals from Diana Silva, Tatiana Pinto and Francisca Nazareth secured a 4-1 victory for Portugal.
Elsewhere, Thea Kyvåg scored for Norway U19s as they drew 1-1 with Belgium at the Complexo Desportivo da Tocha in their final group game of Women’s Under-19 Championship qualification.
Kyvåg fired her country into the lead on 38 minutes, but Zarah Taillieu would score late on for Belgium for a share of the spoils.
England U19s drew 1-1 with Denmark in their final group match of final Women’s Under-19 Championship qualification.
Halle Houssein and Alex Hennessy were unused substitutes in the draw.
Both England and Norway have already qualified for Round 2, in which 28 nations will play in seven groups of four, with the seven winners joining hosts Belgium at the finals next year.
Away from competitive action, Viviane Asseyi played 21 minutes for France, but couldn’t help her nation fight back in a 3-0 defeat to Sweden.
Asseyi scored in Les Bleues' previous outing, a 2-1 defeat to Germany, and it would be another for France, this time in Gothenburg.
Filippa Angeldahl scored inside the first minute at the Gamla Ullevi Stadium, whilst Amanda Illestedt and Madelen Janogy would add to the scoreline in the second half.
Hawa Cissoko was an unused substitute in the defeat.
Mel Filis played the full 90 minutes as England U23s shared a 1-1 draw against Sweden in Falkenburg in the second of their international games in October.
Both teams had chances in the first half, but it remained all square at the break when Marley introduced Aston Villa midfielder, Freya Gregory from the bench.
She made an impact from the off, first flashing a shot over the bar after a run down the left before she broke the deadlock just after the hour mark.
Sweden found an equaliser with just five minutes remaining when a floated ball into the area found Matilda Vinberg, who slotted past former Hammer, Emily Ramsey to draw her side level.
Finally, Mackenzie Arnold was an unused substitute as Australia beat Denmark 3-1 at Viborg Stadium.
Karen Holmgaard had put the Danes ahead inside one minute, but a double from Caitlin Foord and a strike from Katrina Gorry in the second half was enough to see the Matildas claim their second victory of the international break.
