Ireland knew that they could not afford to lose against Canada in their second game of the World Cup on Wednesday, and that a fast start would be necessary if they were to get the better of the Olympic champions.
After an agonising opening defeat to Australia, Ireland knew that a draw would set them up well for a push at qualifying for the knockout stages - and that a win could put them in pole position.
Nerves were high ahead of kick-off, before a predominantly Irish crowd at the Perth Rectangular Stadium - but it did not take long for any nerves to be dispelled.
Much of Ireland's hope of succeeding at this World Cup will stand on the brilliance of captain Katie McCabe, and she made history after just four minutes of Wednesday's match, as she scored her country's first ever goal at a major women's tournament in style.
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Ireland v Canada: McCabe opens World Cup tally in sensational fashion
Ireland were all over Canada in the opening stages of their group stage game in Perth, and the breakthrough came in stunning style from the boot of Arsenal star Katie McCabe.
After Ireland earned a corner within the first four minutes, McCabe struck one of her trademark whipping corners - which curled all the way across the goalmouth to nestle in the net for a spectacular World Cup opener.
Straight from a corner Katie McCabe gives Ireland the lead against Canada with four minutes gone #wwc2023
📺Watch https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📻Listen https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8
📱Follow https://t.co/wLYTuOnlvw pic.twitter.com/PAscA2LWRh— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 26, 2023
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It was a piece of World Cup history, as Ireland's first ever goal in the competition, and it was fitting that it came from the star of this team in such memorable fashion.
Some Opta graphics showed just how outrageous a goal it was to have pulled off for McCabe, with Ireland standing on 0.0xG even after the goal.
The Katie McCabe xG graphic we've all been craving, obviously. pic.twitter.com/K7sGDKpVCw
— Andrew Cunneen (@Cunneen92) July 26, 2023
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McCabe became something of a public enemy in Australia after the opener against the hosts last week, but rightly earned widespread international praise for a battling performance.
Naturally, after such a stunning goal against Canada, there were more plaudits coming her way from the watching world.
Live look at our Twitter feed: pic.twitter.com/GMjf0qSNob
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 26, 2023
Yeessssss!!! #coygig
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) July 26, 2023
#COYGIG 🇮🇪🇮🇪 ☘️ ☘️ ☘️🇮🇪🇮🇪 https://t.co/e5Zz5U5mUA
— Stephen Kelly (@StephenKelly_2) July 26, 2023
Goal of the tournament #coygig #irlcan #irl https://t.co/pL35FZKTM5
— Luke McManus (@lukemcmanus) July 26, 2023
Katie clearly idolised Steve "The Gaffer" Staunton as a kid
Ridiculous goal!! https://t.co/m5myCMvLGV— Matty (@MattySixTimes) July 26, 2023
KATIE!!!!!! 🇮🇪 https://t.co/XpqgSSZULe
— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) July 26, 2023
There was also praise for McCabe from various worldwide broadcasters - and from fan pages of her club team Arsenal.
“Do you like me now Australia” pic.twitter.com/uCk7UOWX5c
— AWFCLIPS (@awfclips) July 26, 2023
KATIE MCCABE WITH THE OLIMPICO!!!!!!
What a way top score the Republic of Ireland's first ever goal at a major tournament 🤯🤯🤯
#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/vN0ToppYCk— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 26, 2023
OH MY GOODNESS, OH MY OLIMPICO 🇮🇪
KATIE MCCABE WHAT A WAY TO SCORE YOUR FIRST GOAL IN A FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP! pic.twitter.com/OFWwbMGd8W— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 26, 2023
Ray Houghton v England in Stuttgart in 1988 was Ireland's first goal at a men's major tournament, and Katie McCabe's opener against Canada was a stunning way to score Ireland's first at a women's tournament.
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