Ireland play out stalemate with China in Spain

Republic of Ireland 0-0 China

The Republic of Ireland played out a 0-0 draw with China at Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Cadiz on Wednesday afternoon, as Vera Pauw's dogged side took another important step in their preparation for the summer’s World Cup.

Aoife Mannion, Deborah-Anne De La Harpe and Marissa Sheva all made their debuts against a strong Chinese outfit ranked 14th in the world, nine places above Ireland.

Both teams had a goal disallowed in the second half – China’s for handball, Ireland’s for a harsh call against Louise Quinn – but Pauw will be satisfied with another impressive defensive showing.

Manchester United defender Mannion was the big positive of a cagey encounter.

Aggressive in the tackle and composed on the ball, she has without doubt given Pauw serious food for thought.

Ireland have lost just once in their last 14 games, and that came against Russia in the Pinatar Cup last February, when the manager fielded an experimental side.

Bigger tests are still to come, not least April's double-header with the USA, but for now this dogged Irish side remain on an upward curve.

Pauw had said the three new faces would feature in Cadiz and proved true to her word, starting Mannion in a central defensive three alongside Louise Quinn and Megan Connolly while Sydney-born De La Harpe was stationed at right wing-back.

Ireland made a sharp start, holding a high line and feeding De La Harpe and Abbie Larkin in particular.

But China aren’t ranked 14th in the world for nothing. Shui Qingxia’s side settled and began to pin Ireland back, albeit Zhang Xin’s tame header and a miscued effort from skipper Wang Shanshan were the only opportunities of note in the first 15 minutes.

The Girls in Green found it hard to penetrate the Chinese