Katie McCabe is no stranger to wonder goals—I mean, she didn’t earn the hashtag #KatieMcCabeOnlyScoresBangers on Twitter for nothing! But somehow, her latest strike still left fans and pundits in awe.
In the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2025 playoff against Georgia, McCabe picked up the ball from 40 yards out, spotted the keeper off her line, and chipped a beauty straight over her. Sure, the keeper didn’t cover herself in glory but the audacity and execution from McCabe shows just how much of a game-changer she is for Ireland.
1. McCabe Steps Up Under Pressure with a Penalty Finish
Ireland’s road to their first-ever European Championship got off to a tense start, with Georgia keeping the score level for over half an hour. But in the 37th minute, Abbie Larkin’s cross caught the arm of a Georgia defender, setting up a golden opportunity for the Girls in Green. McCabe calmly slotted the penalty to the keeper’s right, putting Ireland up 1-0. It was the goal they needed to settle the nerves, but McCabe wasn’t done just yet.
2. Kyra Carusa Or Johan Cruyff?
Katie McCabe’s wonder goal might have stolen the headlines, but Kyra Carusa’s sublime finish was pure footballing class.
In the 18th minute, Abbie Larkin whipped in a low cross, and Carusa timed her run to perfection, arriving at the near post. With a touch that would make any striker proud, she pulled off an audacious Cruyff flick, sending the ball through the keeper’s legs to double Ireland’s lead. It was a moment of pure instinct and finesse—Carusa’s quick thinking and control showed her knack for creating something out of nothing, marking a standout performance in a game she dominated up front.
🇬🇪 0-2 🇮🇪
Ireland have doubled their lead with Kyra Carusa turning the ball home at the near post #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates – https://t.co/2uyo5Zlao9📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grVqF📻 Listen live – https://t.co/6cFzxLAkk3 pic.twitter.com/136fv1BL4z
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
3. Then Comes the Goal of the Match
In the 67th minute, McCabe found herself with space 40 yards out. Seeing the Georgian keeper, Tatia Gabunia, off her line, McCabe went for it, launching a perfectly-placed strike that soared over the back-pedaling keeper and dropped neatly into the net. The audacity, the technique, the vision—it was a goal that epitomises McCabe overall.
🇬🇪 0-3 🇮🇪
Ireland have a third goal and Katie McCabe has her second with a shot from miles out floating over the Georgia goalkeeper #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates – https://t.co/2uyo5Zlao9📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grVqF📻 Listen live – https://t.co/6cFzxLAkk3 pic.twitter.com/XnbJeCVrKh
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
3. Jessie Stapleton’s Debut Goal Adds More Drama (and VAR Suspense)
Just a few minutes later, Jessie Stapleton got her first international goal, chesting the ball in from close range after a corner. But, in typical VAR fashion, the celebration was short-lived as officials took a painstaking FIVE minutes to check for a potential handball.
Next Stop: Tallaght Stadium
Marrisa Sheeva and Aoife Mannion rounded out a resounding 6-0 win for the Republic of Ireland in Tbilisi. They now travel back to Dublin and will look to finish the job off in Tallaght next week. If they do so, they’ll be just two games away from their first ever European Championship appearance with a potential play-off against either Wales or Slovakia waiting in the wings. Slovakia hold a 2-1 lead against Wales going into the second leg.
FT: 🇬🇪 0-6 🇮🇪
Aoife Mannion rounds off the scoring for Ireland as the defender heads in a sixth just before the final whistle #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates – https://t.co/2uyo5ZkCyB📺 Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7📻 Listen live – https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv pic.twitter.com/u17POuXon2
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
