A second half Lily Agg strike sealed a spot in the FIFA World Cup playoffs for the Ireland Women's Team, but after an unlikely turn of events over the past day, it looks as though Ireland could receive a buy to the playoff final.
It's been a terrific campaign for Vera Pauw's side, winning four and drawing two in their qualifying campaign so far. After narrowly missing out on the European Championships, the World Cup became the main focus.
READ ALSO: A Late Arrival, Lily Agg Is Relishing Every Second Of Her Ireland Journey
There's a complicated format to the playoffs with just two places in the World Cup available for the nine playoff sides, but the three best sides from the qualifying campaign receive buys from the first round.
What the Ireland women's team need
Last night, Norway beat Belgium thanks to this worldie of a strike from Tuva Hansen.
Tuva Hansen! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/X6plTFIjfD
— Curt Baker (@curtabaker) September 2, 2022
READ ALSO: Vera Pauw Elated After Ireland Defied The Odds To Reach World Cup Play-Offs
Elsewhere, Portugal defeated Serbia, doing the Ireland women's team a huge favour.
Those results mean that Serbia or Belgium can no longer overtake Ireland in the best runner-up rankings should Ireland defeat Slovakia on Tuesday night.
This afternoon, should already qualified England beat Austria, a win for in Slovakia will guarantee a buy to a playoff final for Vera Pauw's side.
As things stand, Austria are the only team who could finish with a better record than Ireland, but a loss to the European champions will end their hope for a buy. England defeated them 1-0 during their other meeting earlier in the group, so it could well be a tight game later today.
Should that one finish in a draw, it will be whoever has the better result on Tuesday that decides the fates of the teams.
Austria's final game is against North Macedonia who they have already beaten 6-0, and while the Girls in Green have a tougher task as they travel to Slovakia, a side who held Ireland to a draw at Tallaght Stadium already this campaign.
Should they receive a buy, they could be only one game away from their first ever World Cup appearance.
Two of the three final winners will go straight to the World Cup, while the third will be decided by rankings and the results in the final to get a second chance in an intercontinental playoff.
SEE ALSO: Ireland Player Ratings As Pauw's Side Secure Historic Play-Off With Stunning Finland Win
