Overview
- Ireland won the first leg 4-2 at the Aviva Stadium in the Nations League A/B promotion/relegation play-off.
- Katie McCabe scored twice and set up another, with UEFA later confirming she was officially credited with two goals rather than a hat-trick.
- Marissa Sheva added a thunderous fourth for the hosts, while Tessa Wullaert and Marie Detruyer netted for Belgium to keep the tie competitive.
- The performance was widely described as the best of Carla Ward’s tenure, with Ireland leading 4-1 before Belgium pulled one back late.
- Jamie Finn made a late return from an ACL injury as Ireland managed minutes ahead of Tuesday’s return leg in Leuven.