Katie McCabe was the star of the show in Republic of Ireland’s UEFA Women’s Nations League first qualifying round first leg on Friday.
They beat Belgium 4-2 at Aviva Stadium, with our left-back netting a hat-trick to take her tally for the country up to 32 goals.
Her first goal came from the penalty spot on the brink of half-time and, after Belgium pulled one back, McCabe restored the lead with a stunning cross from the left wing that ricocheted off the post and the goalkeeper before crossing the line. She then added her third to provide a two-goal lead.
The second leg takes place at 7.30pm GMT on Tuesday in Belgium, with McCabe set to make her 100th Ireland appearance in that match.
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Elsewhere, Mariona Caldentey played 88 minutes of Spain’s 4-0 win over Sweden in the first leg of the Nations League semi-finals. Stina Blackstenius played 76 minutes and the two nations will meet again for the second leg at 6pm on Tuesday.
Victoria Pelova came on in the 62nd minute of Netherlands’ 0-0 friendly draw with Poland. They will face Canada at 7.45pm on Tuesday.
As for Canada, Olivia Smith was sadly forced off through injury in the 37th minute of their 1-0 friendly defeat to Switzerland.
Emily Fox played 90 minutes of USWNT’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Portugal. They play them again at 8pm on Sunday, before taking on New Zealand at 12am on Thursday.
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