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Ireland's Abbie Larkin and USA's Samantha Meza/ Ryan Byrne/INPHO

As it happened: USA v Ireland, international friendly

Carla Ward’s side suffered another 4-0 defeat in Cincinnati.

To Cincinatti, where Ireland face USA in an international friendly for the second time in three days.

Carla Ward’s side were defeated 4-0 by the world number one in Denver in the early hours of Friday morning, and are set for another big test in 30-degree heat in Ohio.

Kick-off is 8.07pm, with the game live on RTÉ 2.

Team news

Ireland have made four changes for this game: Tyler Toland, Marissa Sheva, Abbie Larkin and Saoirse Noonan all start ahead of Ruesha Littlejohn, Megan Connolly, Lucy Quinn and Amber Barrett.

Courtney Brosnan captains the team again in the absence of Katie McCabe, while US-born Dee Bradley is named on the bench after training with the squad in recent days.

Just a reminder that McCabe and Aoife Mannion were among those unavailable for this double-header, while Denise O’Sullivan and Megan Campbell have been ruled out through injury in further blows. 

Team news 

USA, meanwhile, have changed their entire XI. Emma Hayes is working with a new-look, predominantly domestic squad, with Chelsea’s million dollar defender Naomi Girma the only European-based representative getting the nod for this double-header.

Here’s a look at the venue, TQL Stadium:

a-general-view-of-tql-stadium-ahead-of-the-match Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Some interesting thoughts from the RTÉ panel…

The anthems are underway in Cincinnati, kick-off fast approaching. 

KICK OFF - USA get us underway.

USA 0-0 Ireland 

3 mins - Scrappy start here, as both sides struggle to keep possession, but USA, expectedly, looking brighter.

Looks like Ireland have set up in a 4-5-1, the back four unchanged and Saoirse Noonan up top as Kyra Carusa drops into midfield out of possession.

USA 0-0 Ireland 

5 mins - Carusa is fouled and wins a free kick, which is sent into the box by Chloe Mustaki. She finds Anna Patten deep at the back post, but her headed attempt drifts wide. The flag was up regardless.

USA 0-0 Ireland 

7 mins - USA, enjoying the lions’ share of possession as expected, begin to threaten, but Brosnan deals well with Izzy Rodriguez’s tame cross.

USA 0-0 Ireland 

10 mins - Brosnan is on her toes again, alert to the danger as Noonan slices a clearance from a USA free kick goal-ward. Ireland struggling to keep any possession they have, but their shape is pretty good as the US up the tempo.

GOAL! USA 1-0 Ireland (Lynn Biyendolo, 11 mins)

A superb first-time volley from Lynn Biyendolo to break the deadlock. Ireland completely exposed down their left, Biyendolo combining with Emma Sears and enjoying plenty of time and space as she taps home a pin-point cross. Biyendolo’s 25th goal for USA.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

14 mins - An early sucker-punch for Ireland. It was 18 minutes in Denver, 11 in Cincinnati. USA are smelling blood, the waves of attack keep on coming. Sears causing Mustaki serious problems.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

18 mins – A perfectly-weighted Rodriguez free-kick just beats Biyendolo and Brosnan collects. Completely one-way traffic, Ireland need to get out of their own half for a brief reprieve.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

21 mins – Caitlin Hayes with a big block to clear another Sears cross, Carusa and Jessie Stapleton follow up with crucial interceptions in the box.

USA 1-0 Ireland

22 mins - Croix Bethune fires wide from just inside the area. USA continue to pile on the pressure, Ireland lacking composure with any bit of possession they win back. Abbie Larkin has been one bright spark on the ball.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

DISALLOWED GOAL! USA have the ball in the back of the net again, Biyendolo once more after poking home. But Stapleton was adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up, so it won’t stand, much to the annoyance of the US crowd.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

26 mins - A much-needed water break after what Áine O’Gorman calls “a tough opening to the game” for Ireland on commentary. Sweltering heat in Cincinnati, temperatures around the 30-degree mark, and Carla Ward’s side constantly on the back foot as the world number one move through the gears and up the ante.

abbie-larkin-and-samantha-meza Ireland's Abbie Larkin and USA's Samantha Meza/ Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

USA 1-0 Ireland 

30 mins - Mustaki with an incredible block in the box to stop a shot from the slaloming Yazmeen Ryan. She’s congratulated by Anna Patten as Ireland clear their lines, and get up the field. Emily Murphy makes a break on the ball, but is intercepted.

USA 1-o Ireland 

33 mins – Another Mustaki interception in the box, another encouraging Murphy run as the US cough up possession. But Murphy is outmuscled and Ireland are on the back foot again.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

34 mins – Sears threatens again down the right and finds Yazmeen Ryan in the box, but her volley sails over the bar. Shades of the opening goal there.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

36 mins - Ireland enjoy a sustained attack, with Murphy to the fore. She’s caught fire, running at the US, and then looks to get on the end of a deep delivery but clashes with Jordyn Bugg and is down with a head knock. She’s back on her feet, and has won a corner for her efforts.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

38 mins - Decent delivery from Mustaki, but it’s headed clear by Bugg. More pressure from Ireland: they pounce on a loose pass; Murphy, Noonan and Carusa linking up and the latter flashing wide. They’ll be encouraged by that, much better.

USA 1-0 Ireland 

40 mins – After Ireland’s purple patch, the US are back pulling the strings and moving through the gears. Ireland caught playing out from the back, they need to find composure again and keep it tight until the break.

GOAL! USA 2-0 Ireland (Izzy Rodriguez 42)

A hammer blow for Ireland before half time, just like in Denver when the US went 2-0 up in the closing minutes of the opening period. Rodriguez fires home a rebound on her debut, after Brosnan produced a stunning save to stop Sears’ initial effort.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

44 mins – The referee waves play on after Bethune goes down in the box, Marissa Sheva the Irish player in focus. Two minutes added on.

HALF TIME: USA 2-0 Ireland

the-irish-team-ahead-of-the-match Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Just like in Denver three days ago, Ireland go into the dressing room 2-0 down. Lynn Biyendelo broke the deadlock for the US in the 11th minute, and debutante Izzy Rodriguez doubled their lead in the 42nd.

Emma Hayes’ new-look side have been excellent, Ireland struggling to live with them at times. The searing heat has not helped Carla Ward’s understrength outfit.

They did show some encouraging signs after a water break in the 25th minute, Emily Murphy among those stepping up, but the second goal was a real sucker punch.

Megan Connolly, Lucy Quinn and Hayley Nolan getting ready to come on.

SECOND HALF - We’re back underway.

Quinn, Connolly and Nolan come in for Larkin, Murphy and Mustaki. Ireland gone to a back three/five, with Nolan right-wing back and Quinn left-wing back… I think.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

49 mins – Both sides settling back in, Ireland doing so with several tweaks. USA take the initiative once more.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

50 mins – Rodriguez sends in another threatening delivery, but Biyendolo’s volley goes awry. Great work from Olivia Moultrie in the build-up.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

52 mins - Brosnan denies Biyendolo, US winning possession back from an Ireland throw-in and the goalscorer with a clever run in behind before taking aim once more. Brosnan’s save trickles out for a corner, after which Ireland clear their lines.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

54 mins – USA constantly on the front foot, the attacks coming in waves. Jessie Stapleton heads Sears’ latest cross clear, but only temporarily, as Tara McKeown goes on the hunt from the opposite flank, squaring to Bethune. Her effort is blocked by Quinn.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

57 mins – Ireland coping a little better with the relentless US in their new shape, forcing them back the field more and more and doing their utmost to frustrate them. But the US can play any which way, and they’ll stay patient. Sears pounces on a loose clearance and blazes over.

Substitution for Ireland - Amber Barrett for Saoirse Noonan.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

60 mins - Moultrie pounces on another loose Irish pass and gets away from the lunging Megan Connolly but sends her effort wide.

Heavy Stapleton challenge on McKeown, the US opt to go short with the free as Ireland are caught napping but nothing comes off it in the end.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

62 mins - Lucy Quinn booked for tangling with Sears just outside the box as the US counter fast, and they now have a free kick in a good position. They’re making some substitutions first, with Sam Coffey among those entering the fray.

USA 2-0 Ireland 

65 mins - Brosnan gets down low towards her left-hand post to brilliantly swat Moultrie’s free away. Ireland eventually clear the danger.

GOAL! USA 3-0 Ireland (Yazmeen Ryan 66)

The US are celebrating once more, Yazmeen Ryan getting her name on the scoresheet with an excellent drilled finish. Again, they move through the gears, making it look easy, with Sears and Moultrie prominent again, the latter with the drag back and Ryan smashing home to leave Brosnan with little chance.

USA 3-0 Ireland 

70 mins - Rodriguez goes in the book for a challenge on Nolan. Connolly sends the long-range free directly into the hands of Mandy McGlynn. USA counter at speed directly from the restart, and a fourth goal looks imminent, but Brosnan does just enough to pinch the ball from Moultrie.

USA 3-0 Ireland 

72 mins - Another water break, and an opportunity for Carla Ward, Alan Mahon and co. to impart some words. Ruesha Littlejohn comes in for Anna Patten. 

The US players are joining in with the chants from the crowd, Rose Lavelle to the fore. The Cincinnati hometown hero looks set to come on next. 

USA 3-0 Ireland 

76 mins – The hosts are back on the hunt, Quinn and Hayes doing their utmost to stem the tide with blocks, the second on a Moultrie long-ranger. USA counter, but fluff their lines, also denied by the offside flag.

USA 3-0 Ireland 

80 mins - Brosnan claims a delivery, and lies on the ball, staying down for treatment. An important Irish break.

USA make some more changes: The excellent Alyssa Thompson coming in for the last 10 minutes. Eeeek…

USA 3-0 Ireland 

84 mins – Another brilliant save from Brosnan to deny Sams on the spin, from another Rodriguez free kick into the box. That was awarded after Nolan fouled Thompson.

Izzy Atkinson replaces Tyler Toland.

GOAL! USA 4-0 Ireland (Alyssa Thompson 85)

Don’t say we didn’t warn you… Thompson fires home her second goal in three days against Ireland. She’s played in by Sears, and makes no mistake as she smashes home. What a star.

USA 4-0 Ireland 

88 mins - The waves keep on coming through the endgame. Lavelle the latest to fire over, just after coming on to a huge reception in her hometown.

USA 4-0 Ireland 

90 mins - The referee calls it a day.

FULL TIME: USA 4-0 Ireland 

anna-patten-dejected-after-the-united-states-score-a-goal Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

That’s that. Just like Denver three days ago, it finishes 4-0, the gulf in class clear for all to see against an understrength world number one. 

We’ll have a report on The 42 imminently. Thanks for reading!

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