Match Report | Ireland Hit Kazakhstan for Eight in Astana
Match Report | Ireland Hit Kazakhstan for Eight in Astana
October 9, 2026
The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team made a huge statement in their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off, recording an emphatic 8-0 victory over Kazakhstan at Astana Arena.
Carla Ward’s side were outstanding in the first leg of the Round One play-off, scoring five times before half-time before adding three more goals after the break to take a commanding advantage into Tuesday’s return fixture at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Kyra Carusa scored twice, while Chloe Mustaki, Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin, Jamie Finn, Shanade Hopcroft and Jessie Stapleton were also on target in a dominant Irish display.
Clinical Ireland Take Control
Ireland made the perfect start, opening the scoring in the seventh minute. After Nazym Ismailova saved Megan Connolly’s free-kick, Chloe Mustaki delivered an excellent cross for Carusa to head home.
Mustaki doubled the advantage in the 16th minute, reacting quickest after Abbie Larkin’s effort was spilled and Emily Murphy struck the woodwork. The defender fired home to register her first international goal.
Carusa then claimed her second of the afternoon on the half-hour mark, meeting another Mustaki delivery with a downward header to make it 3-0.
Kazakhstan’s task became even more difficult in the 33rd minute when captain Yulia Myasnikova was sent off following a VAR review for a professional foul on Larkin.
Ireland made their numerical advantage count before the break. Murphy converted a rebound in the 43rd minute before Larkin got the goal her performance deserved in first-half stoppage time to send the visitors in 5-0 ahead.
More Goals After the Break
Ward introduced Amber Barrett, Leanne Kiernan and Tyler Toland at half-time, and Ireland continued to dictate proceedings.
Jamie Finn made it six in the 58th minute, finishing a well-worked move involving Anna Patten and Aoife Mannion. It was Finn’s first goal for the senior international side.
There was a memorable moment for debutant Shanade Hopcroft, who came off the bench in the 70th minute and found the net just two minutes later, finishing a cross from Larkin.
Jessie Stapleton completed the scoring in the closing stages, looping a header into the net to round off an impressive performance from the Girls in Green.
Mustaki was named Sky Player of the Match after a superb display, contributing a goal and two assists.
Return Leg in Cork on Tuesday
The result gives Ireland an eight-goal advantage ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where kick-off is scheduled for 7.30pm.
With a place in Round Two at stake, Ireland will look to complete the job in front of the Cork crowd. The winners of the tie will face either Belgium or Poland in the next stage of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Tickets for Tuesday’s game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh are available through Ticketmaster.
Team Line-Ups
Kazakhstan: Nazym Ismailova (Angelina Portnova 39); Alexandra Burova, Yulia Myasnikova (C), Bibigul Nurusheva, Anastassiya Vlassova; Yekaterina Babshuk, Anastassiya Nizamutdinova (Kazyna Norbayeva 62), Karina Zhumabaikyzy (Valeriya Popova 75); Aida Gaistenova, Amina Bibossynova, Asselkhan Turlybekova (Leila Sadykova 75).
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan (C); Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes (Hayley Nolan 70), Anna Patten (Shanade Hopcroft 70), Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki; Megan Connolly (Tyler Toland 46), Jamie Finn; Abbie Larkin, Emily Murphy (Leanne Kiernan 46), Kyra Carusa (Amber Barrett 46).
Referee: Karoline Marie Jensen (Norway).
Sky Player of the Match: Chloe Mustaki.
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