Ireland boss Vera Pauw admits her side must find their scoring touch after they scraped past Greece in last night’s Euro qualifier.
A solitary goal from Diane Caldwell on her 75th cap edged out the visitors at Tallaght Stadium to keep a play-off spot for next year’s finals in Ireland’s hands.
Unlike the last meeting in Athens, there wasn’t the Greek tragedy of conceding a late equaliser but Pauw’s side endured a few nervy moments before seeing out a narrow 1-0 win.
“I wouldn’t describe my emotion as relief because I’m too proud of my players,” said Pauw.
“It was a battle out there and we know that the team have to score more goals.
“We know the Greeks and how difficult they are to play against. The good thing, though, is that we have left them behind in the group.”
Before a crowd of 4,511, Ireland laboured in the first-half before making the breakthrough from a set-piece.
On the stroke of half-time, Spanish referee Maria Dolores Madrona drew mock applause from the crowd for finally awarding a free-kick to the home team.
In a rehearsed move, captain Katie McCabe’s lofted delivery from just midway the opposition half fell perfectly for Louise Quinn at the back post to nod across goal for Caldwell to force the ball over the line.
On 56 minutes, Glaswegian Ruesha Littlejohn evaded two defenders inside but after goalkeeper Athian Papakonstantinou parried her initial effort, the midfielder smashed the rebound wide with the goal gaping.
Player-of-the-match Littlejohn went close again with another piledriver past the far post and substitute Amber Barrett, on for the drained Rianna Jarrett, fizzed a shot on the turn just wide.
