Vera Pauw rues own goal turning point as Ireland bow out of World Cup

Vera Pauw rued the game-changing concession of a Canada equaliser on the brink of half-time as a 2-1 defeat ended any hopes of the Republic of Ireland advancing to the FIFA Women's World Cup knockout stages.

Coupled with the opening defeat to co-hosts Australia in Sydney last Thursday, today's subsequent loss to Olympic champions Canada leaves the Girls in Green on zero points and mathematically eliminated despite a final group game to come against Nigeria next Monday.

Ireland had performed well in the first half, taking the lead through captain Katie McCabe's fourth-minute goal straight from a corner, and continuously pressurising the Canadians.

However, an own goal by Megan Connolly deep into the first-half stoppage time, which saw the ball skim off her foot on the increasingly wet surface and into the back of the net, meant that the Irish side were unable to go into the break with what would have been a valuable lead.

Canada scored what proved to be the winner through Adriana Leon eight minutes into the second half.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport at full-time, manager Pauw admitted that losing the lead just before the break was the turning point.

"We've experienced that before and we've spoken so much about it but at the end of the first half, you have to keep everything, the organisation, tight and it was one moment where there was no cover," she said.

"(Canada) cut in and there was no cover so they could have a free cross."

Up to that point, Pauw felt her side had been able to master the occasion and set the tone. In the second half, Ireland made five substitutions within the first 20 minutes with teenager Abbie Larkin introduced for Lucy Quinn on the right of the attack during the interval.

"We felt that we could control the game in