Ireland's UEFA Women's Nations League clash with Albania was suspended on Tuesday night, after farcical scenes saw the players spent 25 minutes of the first half attempting to play through a torrential thunderstorm.
Eileen Gleeson's Irish side came into the game off the back of a crushing 5-1 victory over the same opposition on Friday night in Tallaght and, depending on results elsewhere, could have secured first place in the group with a victory in Shkoder.
The remarkably wet conditions in Albania on Tuesday night forced referee Araksya Saribekyan to suspend affairs at half-time, but it now seems as though the game will recommence later this evening.
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Albania v Ireland suspended after torrential downpour
Ireland's game against Albania on Tuesday night began in clear conditions, though the changeable weather conditions in Shkoder meant that heavy rain was forecast to begin midway through the first-half.
After a bright start for Ireland, that rain arrived around 20 minutes in, with a thunderstorm descending upon Shkoder.
The heavens have opened amid thundery conditions in Shkoder
📱 Updates - https://t.co/krrOLSWsD0
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/JYf06csaIG pic.twitter.com/BLbxksC4xD— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 31, 2023
The conditions would only worsen, with the rainfall increasing in ferocity as the second-half ticked by.
By the 40-minute mark the game had descended into farce, with the Albanian half of the pitch taking the rainfall particularly hard, and massive puddles appearing either side of the halfway line.
It's 0-0 at half-time between Ireland and Albania in Shkoder with conditions increasingly difficult for both sets of players amid a continuing downpour #COYGIG #ALBIRL #IRLWNT
📱 Updates - https://t.co/krrOLSWsD0
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/JYf06csaIG pic.twitter.com/fsJHAUyX54— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 31, 2023
The game was becoming a dangerous affair for players, and any semblance of spectacle had disappeared long before the half-time whistle was blown by the referee.
Incredibly, the match managed to make it to half-time, with Saribekyan blowing the whistle bang on 45 minutes and the players retreating to the shelter of the changing rooms.
Neither side emerged at the scheduled kick-off time for the second-half and, shortly after, confirmation arrived from the FAI that the game had been suspended by 60 minutes, with a view to completing the game later on Tuesday night.
Video footage from the stadium showed stadium staff attempting to clear the pitch of water but, as RTÉ commentator George Hamilton would dryly comment on Twitter, the task at hand was huge.
It might take more than an hour lads! pic.twitter.com/2IHTOPlS0w
— George Hamilton (@HamiltonRTE) October 31, 2023
With the rainfall continuing to worsen and little sign of improvement on the heavily waterlogged pitch as the thunderstorm continues, it was extremely difficult to picture a scenario in which this game is completed.
However, the stadium staff were able to clear much of the standing water by the 60 minute mark and, at 7pm Irish time, the FAI confirmed that an attempt would be made to get the game back underway:
The referee has decided that the game will continue. Should conditions worsen, the referee will inform both teams as to what the next course of action will be.
The two lads appear to have worked the oracle. The rain has stopped, and the two teams are out warming up. Looks like the second half will be kicking off at about 1925/1930 and if it does, coverage will continue on the RTÉ News Channel.
— George Hamilton (@HamiltonRTE) October 31, 2023
Reporting from the stadium, RTÉ commentator George Hamilton confirmed that the game would restart around 7:30pm Irish time, and that coverage would move to the RTÉ News channel.
More on this story as we get it
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