Pauw's Irish tigers earn brilliant draw in Sweden

The Republic of Ireland survived an incessant Swedish onslaught to earn a hugely resilient 1-1 draw at the Gamla Ullevi stadium on Tuesday evening.

Vera Pauw has often referred to her side as being "a bunch of tigers", and they needed to show remarkable steel to pull off one of their finest ever results.

The world No 2-ranked Swedes only needed a point to seal qualification for the World Cup, but they threw everything past the visitors to steal victory.

Katie McCabe had put Ireland with a deflected effort just before half-time after the Girls in Green came through a period of immense home pressure.

The inspired Courtney Brosnan kept the Swedes at bay with a string of saves, but Real Madrid attacker Kosovare Aslanni eventually breached the Irish rearguard with a well-taken 79th-minute leveller.

Wave after wave of Swedish attacks followed but Ireland held firm. It was always going to be an evening where Ireland needed courage, composure and, yes, a dollop of luck. They had all of those things to take a hugely significant point from Gothenburg.

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