Scotland ladies have didn't qualify for a second successive World Cup after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Eire on Tuesday evening.
Pedro Martinez Losa's group loved a robust group marketing campaign to achieve the playoffs however the convoluted course of meant qualifying was by no means going to be simple. Abi Harrison's late winner in opposition to Austria despatched the Scots by the primary playoff stage they usually met Eire in entrance of a file aggressive crowd of 10,708 at Hampden understanding a win might ship them straight to the event - supplied outcomes elsewhere went their approach.
However it was to be Vera Pauw's facet who booked their ticket to subsequent yr's showpiece due to Amber Barrett's strike deep into the ultimate quarter of the conflict. It's the first time the Irish have certified for a significant event. Scotland bossed 74% possession however might solely muster three pictures at Courtney Brosnan's objective whereas Caroline Weir's spot-kick was saved halfway by the primary half.
And talking to BBC Alba after the sport, Martinez Losa apologised to the nation for the end result. He mentioned: "I am very disillusioned - for the women, and for the entire nation. It was an unbelievable alternative. I feel the sport was onerous on us, however these issues occur in life and in soccer. In apologise to the followers. We wished to qualify for the World Cup so badly.
"We missed little particulars. We did not rating the penalty, and after that, I am undecided what number of alternatives the opposition needed to rating. The sport plan was executed nicely. It was one motion at one facet of the field and one other on the one facet of the field that determined the sport. The onerous work of the gamers has been superb - I could not ask for any extra. We'll stick collectively, come again collectively, and hopefully we now have one other alternative quickly."
The most effective two groups within the European playoffs certified immediately whereas the third winner faces a February Inter-Continental playoff in New Zealand. However outcomes elsewhere the place Switzerland's additional time win over Wales and Portugal thrashing of Iceland booked Eire a ticket straight to subsequent yr's event finals and despatched Martinez-Losa's women soul looking.
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