Vera Pauw proud of display but rues costly mistake

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw said that one mistake had decided the game in her side's 1-0 loss to Australia in their World Cup opener in Sydney.

Despite a typically resilient and combative display, it was Steph Catley's 52nd minute penalty which settled the game, after Marissa Sheva had bundled over Hayley Raso in the box as a cross floated in from the left.

"It's very disappointing," Pauw told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue afterwards.

"We said at half-time this is a game that will be decided on one mistake, whether it's them or us. And that's what happened."

Asked whether she accepted the penalty decision, Pauw said, "I don't know. I haven't seen it on the bench. I will have to review it."

Ireland piled on the pressure in the closing stages, with Megan Connolly's late free kick grazing the top of the net, and Katie McCabe's snatched shot in the box saved by the Aussie keeper Mackenzie Arnold. However, they couldn't find the equaliser.

Vera Pauw predicted the game would be decided by a mistake and so it proved, however the manager is immensely proud of her Irish team