Women’s Nations League match suspended after descending into farce following heavy downpour
The first half was played out in awful conditions at the Loro Borici Stadium, the tie reaching half-time at 0-0 - but neither team have reappeared for the second half after a suspension of over an hour
Katie McCabe wipes rain water from her face
Ireland’s UEFA Nations League tie with Albania was suspended for over an hour due to torrential rain in Shkoder.
The first half was played out in appalling conditions at the Loro Borici Stadium, with the tie reaching half-time at 0-0 despite a heavily waterlogged pitch. But with the rain continuing to fall throughout, the surface became completely unplayable.
Referee Jelena Pejkovic then delayed the start to the second half with both teams remaining in the changing room for an hour. The amount of surface water on the pitch meant the game already looked in major jeopardy, but the added delay created a farcical situation, with both teams failing to re-emerge for the second half as scheduled.
Ireland, who included Arsenal star Katie McCabe in their team, were looking to maintain their unbeaten record in League B Group 1. But their tie in Albania was compromised by the appalling conditions with neither side able to play the ball with any sense of purpose on the waterlogged surface.
A defensive lapse, caused entirely by the state of the pitch, almost allowed Albania to score not long before the break as the conditions made the contest farcical. Large puddles of standing water made the pitch unplayable, but the two teams battled on until half time.
When Pejkovic delayed the restart both teams stayed in the changing room, amidst the monsoon like conditions. The game has not yet been officially abandoned or postponed, but the officials are continuing to assess the pitch during the lengthy delay.
The FAI took to social media to provide an official update with the match failing to restart on time, with the suspension running to over an hour. Their post read: “Game Update. The referee has decided to suspend play for 60 minutes due to the weather conditions. A decision will then be made whether the game can be resumed.
Albania’s Megi Doci with Denise O’Sullivan of Ireland (
Image:
©INPHO/Nikola Krstic)
Efforts were made to clear the pitch at half-time, but the heavy rainfall looks set to continue in Shkoder, with the forecast showing that it won’t clear until the morning. The last official word from match officials was that play would be suspended for at least an hour.
With little room for manoeuvre in the international calendar, UEFA will be hopeful the match can be completed this week. The final Nations League fixtures are set to take place in December before the tournament finals next year.
Ireland won the reverse fixture 5-1 on Friday with McCabe scoring a hat-trick after Megi Doci’s shock equaliser for the Albanians. That was their third win on the bounce in the new Nations League tournament as Eileen Gleeson looks to win promotion to League A.
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